Outreach to International StudentsLaura Baker and Jenny ColvinFurman University21 October 2015

Snapshot

886,052 students studying at US colleges and universities in 2013/2014

(record high)

• Source: Open Doors Fast Facts, IIE, 2014

Economic Context

Challenges

Discussion: What challenges do international students face at your institution?

Challenges• Breaking down barriers – language, culture, religion• Pressure and distance from home• Academic expectations• Community• Legal issues and requirements

What is it like to be an international student?Hands on time!

Reflect on Writing Exercise• Challenges• Strategies

Snapshot – International students in the US

• Places of origin of international students:China 235,597India 96,754South Korea 70,627Saudi Arabia 44,566Canada 27,357

• Top Fields of StudyBusiness & ManagementEngineeringMath & Computer ScienceSocial Sciences

Source: Open Doors Fast Facts, IIE, 2014

Snapshot – International students in SC

• South Carolina ranked #35 (including District of Columbia)

• Total students: 5,215• Institutions with the highest # of foreign students

Clemson 1,967USC 1,578Trident Tech 289Winthrop 211College of Charleston 165

Source: Open Doors Fact Sheet-SC, IIE, 2014

Furman 138 (2015-2016)

Source: Furman University, Rinker Center for Study Away and International Education, 2015

2015-2016

AFRICA (9%) 12 ASIA (65%) 91 EUROPE (15%) 19 AMERICAS (11%) 15 AUSTRALIA (1%) 1

Cameroon 1 China 60Bosnia & Herzegovina

1 The Bahamas 1 Australia 1

Ethiopia 1 India 6 Brazil 1

Ghana 3 Indonesia 1 Bulgaria 2 Canada 8

Kenya 1 Japan 3 Georgia 3 Colombia 1

Rwanda 1 South Korea 5 Germany 3 Jamaica 2

S. Africa 1 Malaysia 1 Greece 1 Mexico 2

Tunisia 1 Mongolia 1 Russia 2

Zambia 2 Myanmar 2 Serbia 1

Zimbabwe 1 Nepal 3 United Kingdom 6

Pakistan 2United Arab Emirates

1

Vietnam 6

By Class # Male Female

Freshman 34 15 20J -1 Exchange Visitors

Sophomores 36 16 16Language House Assistants

4

Juniors 32 23 13 Exchange 8

Seniors 36 15 20

Total: 138 69 69

138 degree-seeking F-1 Visa students representing 37 countries

Comparison of 2012 to 2015

2015 2012 2015 2012 2015 2012 2015 2012AFRICA 12 7 ASIA 91 53 EUROPE 19 7 AMERICAS 15 6

Cameroon 1 1 China 60 36Bosnia & Herzegovina

1 0 The Bahamas 1

Ethiopia 1 1 India 6 2 0 Brazil 1

Ghana 3 1 Indonesia 1 0 Bulgaria 2 2 Canada 8 3

Kenya 1 0 Japan 3 3 Georgia 3 0 Colombia 1 1

Rwanda 1 1 South Korea 5 2 Germany 3 1 Jamaica 2

S. Africa 1 2 Malaysia 1 1 Greece 1 0 Mexico 2 1

Tunisia 1 0 Mongolia 1 1 Russia 2 0 El Salvador 0 1

Zambia 2 1 Myanmar 2 2 Serbia 1 0

Zimbabwe 1 0 Nepal 3 1 United Kingdom 6 3 AUSTRALIA 1 0

Pakistan 2 3 Australia 1 0

Thailand 0 1 Romania 0 1

United Arab Emirates

1 0

Vietnam 6 1

2015: 138 F-1 degree-seeking students from 37 countries; 2012: 73 F-1 students from 26 countries

Changes at Furman

Campus Response• August 2012 – Assistant Director of Study Away and

International Education hired• Fall 2012 – Laura met with Assistant Academic Dean for Study

Away and International Education• Summer 2013 - “Supporting International Students Across the

Curriculum” workshop for faculty• August 2013 – Expanded orientation for international students• Fall 2013 – International Connection Program

International Student Orientation

What we do…

• Slideshow on the library• LC Brainstorming activity • Browse for a book• “Show & Tell”• Review of library website • Search the catalog

What we give them…

International Student Orientation

International Student Orientation

International Student Orientation

• Fall 2015 Survey• Surveyed incoming international students from 2014 and 2015• 21 responses• 13 - 2015, 8 - 2014

How do you use the library (check all that apply!)?

# Answer Response %1 Research 11 69%2 Computer/software/email 14 88%3 Study space 12 75%4 Meeting friends 5 31%5 I work there! 3 19%6 Food 1 6%7 Class sessions 3 19%8 Help Desk, Academic Assistance 6 38%9 Other 1 6%

How do you rank the topics?• #1 – Overview of the libraries • #2 – Physical organization of the library • #3 – Meeting the librarians• #4 – Library website overview • #5 – Browsing the collection • #6 – Searching the catalog• #7 – Brainstorming subjects

Other Library Connections

Exploring New Resources

More discussion• Conversation about international student outreach• November 16-20th

Resources• Bibliography handout• Powerpoint will be

posted to SCLA website• Contact:

Laura Baker laura.baker@furman.edu Jenny Colvin jenny.colvin@furman.edu