Working with Academic Advisors to Prepare

International Students for SuccessPresented by:

Laura Masterson, Academic AdvisorAsha McCauley, Academic Advisor

Jennifer Nisevich, International Student Advisor

Agenda

• Discussion• Background• Advisor Feedback• Student Feedback• In our experience…• Recommendations

What do you think are the biggest concerns of academic advisors when working with international students?

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The International Scene at IUPUI• 1,364 international students on campus

Fall 2010• Enrollment increase of nearly 48%

between 2001-2002 and 2010-2011• China, India, South Korea, and Saudi

Arabia are the top 3 countries sending students to IUPUI

• Engineering and Technology, Business, Science, and University College host the largest number of undergraduate international students at IUPUI

Our Research• How we got started• Student focus groups and advisor

survey– Comparison of international students’

perceptions of academic advising and related support services with academic advisors’ perceptions

• Ongoing working relationship between academic advisors and international student advisors

ADVISOR FEEDBACK

Reported advisor challenges when working with international students

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Results from Advisor Survey• Demographics

– Faculty advisors and staff advisors (N=55)– Advisors in 11 academic schools across campus

• Strong interest in understanding student needs• Increase in international student advising, mostly

in University College• Increased comfort level advising international

students• Three areas of focus:

– Specific questions or concerns– Services and resources university should provide for

international students– Training and support for advisors

Specific Questions or ConcernsN=31 N Sample Responses

Transfer Credit Evaluation/Process

9

“Transfer credit is unclear to all – students and staff”“My problems are with interpreting their credits and making exceptions”

Placement and Course Selection

8

“Too many international students think the math placement test places them too low. And that they know more math than American students with same background. However, my experience is that when the math placement test is over-ridden, the students hit a brick wall at midterm time”“When they arrive just before classes start they barely have time to get their placement testing done and finding open courses that are appropriate for them can be very challenging”

Understanding Policies

7

“OIA and U.S. policies for international students”“I am unsure of many of the policies and procedures across the university pertaining to international students”

Services and Resources University Should Provide for International StudentsN=29 N Sample Responses

Resources and Access to Daily Living Needs

10

“Contacts for safe and affordable housing and transportation”“Additional campus housing and transportation services are desperately needed. Students also need to know how to obtain medical care at a reasonable cost”

More Specialized Advising Assistance

6

“More advisors in Office of International Affairs”“Academic advisors that focus on international student…especially transfers”

Language Support 5

“Strong EAP program and writing support”“ESL for other purposes besides academic ones”

Training and Support for AdvisorsN=27 N Sample Responses

Professional Development/Training

9

“Training on how to interact with international students”“I could probably use international student etiquette and advising 101”

Up-to-date information on Policies

6

“Updates or any changes to international policies”“More information on different types of Visas”

Increased Role of the Office of International Affairs (OIA)

6

“I would like to see OIA working more closely with UC, to be partners, in serving our students”“We need the support of OIA, especially about requirements of Visas and some cultural questions”

Knowledge of the Process Students go Through

4

“A step-by-step overview of whole process and what is involved for students. We are expected to know everything about the steps and processes without the benefit of training.”“Faculty and staff need to be educated on international affairs process with incoming students as well as what it means from an international students perspective to be new to the US Educational system”

Major Themes Summary• Major Themes:

– Process of Transfer Credit Evaluation– Knowledge of Policies – Training Specific to International

Students– Course Selection and Placement– Student Access to Resources/People

ADVISOR PERSPECTIVEGreatest challenges facing international students

STUDENT FEEDBACKReported student challenges

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Student Demographics• Undergraduate

students who have attended IUPUI for at least one semester and enrolled in Fall 2007 or later

• Three focus groups in spring 2009

• Ten students total including one graduate student

• Represented majors– Business– Mathematics– Computer Information Technology– International Studies– Communication Studies– Pre-Nursing

• University College Students (N=4)

• Participated in Learning Communities (N=8)

• Represented Countries– Saudi Arabia– India– Germany– China– Benin– Qatar– Korea– Niger

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Major Themes Summary• Data Analysis, coded by response• Major Themes:

– Financial issues• Information about scholarships• Difficulty in finding a campus job • Work authorization

– Course placement• Secondary Themes

– Transfer credit evaluation– Meeting with the same advisor– Living needs– Learning community feedback

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Comparison

• Financial importance• Course

placement/registration

• Understanding university policies

• Course placement/registration

• Transfer credit evaluation

• Cultural competency and communication

• Student access to resources and people

• Living needs• Learning community

importance

Differences Similarities

IN OUR EXPERIENCE….

Students expect many things out of their academic advisors

What do you think students want from their academic advisor?

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In our experience…Student Expectations for

Academic Advisors• May expect advisor to tell them what to

take, rather than be given choices and expected to make the ultimate decision.

• May wish to build a relationship with one particular advisor, rather than meet with whoever is available.

• May expect that negotiation and exceptions to rules are a normal part of the advising process.

In our experience…Perceived Student Expectations

for Academic Advisors• May expect advisor to help them find a

job.• May expect that academic advisors be

aware of all of the special rules that apply to international students.

• May expect that help will be offered, without having to directly request it.

• May not be willing to contradict or disagree with advisor, because advisor is an authority figure.

RecommendationsEducate advisors throughout the year

How?• Offer workshops:

– basics of enrollment requirements and limitations

– overview of the process students undertake to come to the US

• Invite advisors to attend your international orientation.

• Explain any checks-and-balances your school has in place to keep students in status.

• Share information about other campus offices that have special knowledge of the needs of international students.

Educate students at orientation and beyond

How?• Explain the role of Academic Advisors, and what

they will expect from students.• Explain that ultimate responsibility for status lies

with students.• Make aware of other resources on campus.

Recommendations

Make resources availableHow?• Create a webpage that explains the Transfer Credit

Procedure. (See example)

• Create an easy-to-use reference sheet or webpage to explain basic enrollment requirements. (See example)

• Share International Student Handbook with advisors. (See example)

• Remind advisors they can always contact the international office directly with any questions.

Recommendations

Collaborate on tricky topicsHow?• Work together to identify courses appropriate for

enrollment before placement tests are done.• Work together to encourage the creation of more non-

work study jobs on campus.• Identify liaisons among academic and international

advisors to meet regularly to identify new issues and needs.

Recommendations

Evaluate

How?

• Survey your academic advisors once per year to determine where they feel they need additional training and support.

• Ask your academic advisors to identify convenient (and inconvenient) times of year to offer this training.

Recommendations

Advertise

How?• Take advantage of opportunities to talk to departments

about your services.

• Hold an Open House and invite academic advisors to meet International Office staff.

• If your school has an advising listserv, send out an email at the beginning of each semester reminding advisors of the services available from the International Office. If not, create your own contacts.

Recommendations

QUESTIONS?

Acknowledgments

• Michelle Hansen, Director of Assessment• Cathy Buyarski, Sarah Baker - University

College• Brooke Watson• Eric Williams and Betsy Trees• Sandi Lemons, Jennifer Nisevich, Sara Allaei -

Office of International Affairs• Nathan Byrer• Barbara Lingle• All students and advisors

Sources• Academic Affairs: Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of

Faculties (2008, February). IUPUI Academic Plan. Retrieved April 25, 2008, from IUPUI, Office of Academic Affairs website: http://www.iupui.edu/administration/acad_affairs/actionplan/academic_plan_final.pdf

• Institute of International Education (2004, November 10). Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange [Electronic version]. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/?p=50137

• Institute of International Education (2008, November 17). Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange [Electronic version]. Retrieved April 25, 2009 from http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/?p=131590

• Office of International Affairs, IUPUI (2010). 2010 International Enrollment Report [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved October 25, 2010 from http://international.iupui.edu/campus/enrollment-report.pdf.

• Office of the Vice President for International Affairs (2008, March). Indiana University International strategic plan. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Office of Creative Services.

• US Academic System. Office of International Affairs, IUPUI. Retrieved May 9, 2008 from http://www.iupui.edu/~oia/AD/system.html