International Student and Scholar Services is committed to providing culturally sensitive services of the highest quality to both our international population of 15,000 students, faculty, staff, and scholars, and to our campus units and partners. We do this through advising, immigration services, programming, advocacy, and outreach to create an environment that is conducive to a successful international education experience.
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) welcomed a record 3,415 new international students to campus in Fall 2016, which included a new single day record of 664 on August 14, 2016.
In August 2016, ISSS also launched an ambitious programming project named ISSS35. The goal was to provide 35 programs in 35 weeks to our international population, while being intentional about the type of programming offered. The target was 15 events focusing on American culture, 10 events focusing on cross-cultural connections, 5 community connection events, and 5 immigration issues events. ISSS35’s first year was an unqualified success, as 35 programs were offered by the first week in April resulting in additional programs for the remainder of the semester under the banner of ISSS35+. Approximately 2,500 students and scholars have participated in at least one ISSS35 program in its first year.
Over the past 2 academic years, iENGAGE, an ISSS collaborative program with the Office of Volunteer Programs and Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations–International Education, has taken close to 300 students on service and sightseeing trips to Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Menno Haven, Springfield and Champaign-Urbana (and counting!). On each trip, domestic and international students come together to learn about civic engagement and intercultural communication through hands-on service projects. Students also have the opportunity to explore a new city, in both urban and rural settings, with a new group of friends. iENGAGE is funded through the Student Affairs-run Strategic Initiatives Grant (SIG) and will enter its third year in Fall 2017.