Maximizing your campus resources

Lydia Chiang Leanne Johnson

Study Abroad Pre-departure Orientation



A requirement for all involved:

 Protects the students  The faculty leaders  The Study Abroad staff  The university  Should be a mandatory requirement prior to leaving

Study Abroad Pre-departure Orientation

 Team Effort  Administration  Staff  Faculty  Parents

Campus Wide Event

 Representatives from:  Health and Wellness  Campus Security  Accounting or Finance Departments  Housing and Residence Life  Dining or Culinary Departments

First Impressions:

 Unified support for students and families  Faculty involvement important  Past participants – Students & parents share experiences  Family – parents/guardians, spouses/partners

Basic topics to be covered

 Academics  Health  Housing  Money  Packing  Phones  Safety  Travel Documents

Academics

 Differences between academic systems  What will classes be like?

 What are requirements?

 What will be expected of me while I’m away?

 Requirements to return home  Will my grades transfer home?

 Will I receive credit for my classes while overseas?

 Can I drop classes while overseas  Can I change to a P/F grade while away?

 Will I receive credit if I change classes while overseas?

Health

 Get any required shots  Get a physical prior to leaving  Fill up on prescriptions  Dental work completed  Use the facilities available at the foreign institution  Counseling Centers help overcome home sickness  Get involved with the new students surroundings  Skype is great  McDonald’s Fries taste the same worldwide

Housing

 Toto this isn’t Kansas…  Expect the unexpected  Be accepting of what you have… to a degree  Size difference  Roommate issues  Cooking, cleaning, caring for yourself  Important numbers and contact names

Insurance

 This should be a requirement for all international travelers. Be wary of waiving insurance  All student should have their policy information prior to leaving & share it with family/safety contact  Medical insurance is not travel insurance  Know your process and procedures – pay up front for reimbursement or is it covered in country?

 Know the evacuation or emergency visit policy

Money

 Recognize the currency  Know how to convert currency (XE.com)  ATMs -- # passwords  Reloadable cards  Travel Cards  Travelers Checks  Cash  US and Foreign

Packing

 3-1-1  Carry On  Packing vs Shipping vs Overweight Luggage  Electronics: Adaptor vs Convertor  What to take: Day Backpack, suitable weather gear, comfortable, acceptable shoes, items that represent your school, state, country, culture  What not to take: irreplaceable items, anything that isn’t practical and you wouldn’t want to throw away

Phones

 If the provider has a phone use it… why would anyone waive it?  Great for local emergencies  Pre-loaded contact numbers  Use for local use only  Check with carrier for phone rentals  Cheaper to buy overseas than here  Skype, Yahoo, AIM are great…

Safety

 Think safety first…  Yourself  Buddy system isn’t for kindergarten schools only  Your property  Lock your valuables away  Your housing situation   Fire exits, windows, doors Traveling – Be Aware   Protect your property Don’t stand out

Travel Documents

 Scan everything – passport, visa, acceptance letter, credit cards, drivers license, ID cards – and leave it where it is safe and accessible (Google Doc)  Make copies of everything in case you’ll need to present them  Know the rules of the country…Do you need your passport on you at all times or will a copy do?

Global Perspective Program Pre-departure Orientations

Leanne Johnson Assistant Director Global Perspective Program Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Help students understand…

 Health and safety issues  Emergency contact info, resources, and procedures  Host culture  Their role  WPI, IGSD, and on-site advisors’ expectations  Logistics (travel, housing, on-site travel, etc.)

Help us understand…

 Student concerns  What students do and don’t know  Issues to emphasize and re-emphasize

Mandatory Orientations

 Orientation I: General    International project center groups & Puerto Rico Safety & Study Abroad DVD Advisor(s)’ attendance encouraged  Orientation II: Site-specific    Required for all groups Three-part, interactive and engaging format Advisor(s)’ and Center Director(s)’ attendance necessary.

 Orientation III: Sexual assault    Facilitated by Counseling Center staff Lost in Translation DVD Discussion and Q&A

Orientation II: Site-specific

 Circle of Trust (20 to 30 minutes)  Snapshot of positives and negatives  Social contract  Student behavioral responsibilities   To themselves To each other  To the program

Orientation II: Site-Specific

• • • • Team presentations: (30 minutes) Topics sent to advisors 2 or 3 weeks ahead of orientation Project groups/teams present topics Engaging and creative presentations encouraged Discussion after each presentation  Facilitator and faculty advisors flush out points of emphasis

Presentation Topics

Does the WPI code of conduct go with me to Namibia, really? What other codes and or policies do I need to worry about? Health and safety issues – Where do I go if I get sick? Can I expect to get sick? What constitutes an emergency? What do I do in an emergency? Do I need shots? What exactly should I discuss with my healthcare professional before I go?

Getting to Windhoek – passport, visa and entry issues; what do I need and when? Do I need to worry about what I say when going through customs? Do I need to carry identification with me? Living in Windhoek - Is it different than in Worcester? What are my behavioral obligations to my advisors and the other students? What are my personal dress code standards? What are my safety concerns? Cell phones, laptops and staying in touch – Do I have to carry a cell phone? How do we make sure to get a laptop? How should I plan to stay in touch with the folks back home?

Cultural adaptation - What are some of the cultural adaptation issues associated with living and working in a culture different from your own? What are some of the issues that can arise when you return home? How can you prepare yourself to handle the effects of culture shock?

        

Sample Quiz Questions

There is a list of risky behavior in which I am forbidden to participate and anything not on the list is okay.

Anyone who visits me can stay overnight in my room when they come to Windhoek.

If my passport gets stolen the U.S. State Department will not mail a replacement to me in Africa.

The ISIC will pay to return my body back to the States if I should die on site.

I am over 18, so my parents will never be informed of anything that occurs in Africa. I should surrender my passport to anyone who asks for it. I can probably expect to contract some sort of intestinal bug the first few weeks I am on site.

All of my completed paperwork is due in the IGSD before 3:00pm on _______.

I should contact my health insurance provider to determine what I must do in case of serious illness or injury while overseas.

Orientation III: Sexual assault

 Facilitated by professional counselors  Lost in Translation DVD shown  Real-life, student actors  Discussion  Counselors ask students questions.

  The Las Vegas mentality Fitting in vs. being naïve

On-campus partners…

 Counseling Center  Understanding sexual violence abroad  Team/group dynamics dynamics  Dean of Students  Judicial review process  Faculty advisors  Academic prep  Introduction to culture, social issues

Optimally

 Reinforce: Enthusiasm for the journey and experience  Educate: Personal responsibility  Provide: Knowledge and resources  Underscore: Policies and procedures  Inform: Students’ understanding of what a successful off campus experience entails.

Debbie Donnelly Hrayr Tamzarian

• 774 international students in 9/10 • 406 graduate students • 160 undergrads • 113 ESL students • 95 on OPT • 2 International Student Advisors • International Orientations Each Year • 4 for grads • 3 for undergrads • 6 for ESL students

ESL Orientation

 ESL department placement test in morning  Lunch, catered or we go through cafeteria line in small groups  2 ½ hour afternoon orientation using simplified language and topics

International Undergrad Orientation

 Starts 1-2 days before domestic UG orientation  Two parts, each 2 hours  Part 1 for those students new to SNHU, followed by campus tour and shopping trip  Part 2 designed for all undergrads, including those flying up from ESL

International Grad Orientation

Two parts, each 2 hours  Part 1:   On Friday afternoon before term starts Designed for int’l grads new to SNHU  Part 2:  On first day of classes, during open block  Designed for all int’l grads, including those flying up from ESL or undergrad

On-Campus Presenters Used in All International Orientations

 VP of Student Affairs  Academic Advisors  Campus Programming & Leadership  Cousins Program  International Students Association  Wellness Center nurses + counselor  Bursar’s Office  Public Safety

On-Campus Presenters Used in Select International Orientations

 Residence Life (ESL and undergrads)  Community Service (undergrads and grads)  Learning Center (undergrads)  Career Services (undergrads and grads)  Library (grads; covered in SNHU 101 course for undergrads)

Goals of Using SNHU Staff

 For students:  Friendly staff, smiling faces  Awareness of available resources  For staff:  Reminder of new international students on campus

Challenges

 Somewhat more time-consuming to coordinate with other offices  Faculty not available  Can’t control what they say (slang, speed, long-winded, etc.)  Keeping the message positive vs. focusing on the don’ts

Rewards



More interesting for students



Less for my office to cover



Strengthens inter-office dialogue and collaboration

Mandatory attendance?

Family participation?

Campus offices support?

Insurance coverage?

Safety items?

Ice breakers or discussion starters?

Lydia Chiang: [email protected]

Debbie Donnelly: [email protected]

Leanne Johnson: [email protected]

Hryar Tamzari: [email protected]