Chapter 17:

 Services and Programs for International and Domestic Students

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INTRODUCTION

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A major component of internationalizing the university relates to internationalizing the student body. Two ways of accomplishing this are to bring international students to campus and to send domestic students abroad. This chapter will discuss the university's activities in this arena by focusing on international recruitment and outreach; international student services and programs; study abroad and exchange; and other programs and services for international and domestic students.

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In an increasingly interdependent world, the university experience must prepare students, both undergraduate and graduate, with the skills to become globally competent. Study abroad is one of the most effective ways for students to acquire these skills. SFSU offers a number of study abroad programs [www. sfsu.edu/~studyabr/] and also assists faculty who lead short-term study tours to overseas destinations.

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SFSU also provides essential services to all enrolled international students. From the time these students arrive on campus to the time they graduate, they can access university services for information on a wide range of matters, including employment, immigration, and cultural adjustment issues. [Please see www. sfsu.edu/~oip/.]

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Strategic Plan Recommendations

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The strategic plan recommended that the university provide more opportunities for domestic students to internationalize their education by: (a) increasing domestic students’ awareness of the university’s international dimension as part of new student orientation; (b) increasing the number of domestic students studying abroad; and (c) establishing a structure that will offer returning study abroad students the opportunity to share their knowledge and experiences with the campus community.

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Additionally, the strategic plan recommended that the university augment the international student presence on campus and provide these students with enhanced support services by: (a) meeting their needs, including English language training and (b) acknowledging and utilizing the rich resources that international students can offer the campus in terms of knowledge, perspectives, cross-cultural experience, and expertise.

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OIP Staffing to Meet Student Needs

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In 1994, with the decision to restructure the Office of International Programs, three new student services professionals, in addition to a systems analyst, were hired to coordinate various aspects of international programs. International Student Services, Study Abroad and International Exchanges, and International Outreach Services were created as three distinct units within OIP. A director was hired to supervise this new commitment to international programs and to extend OIP’s involvement to include working closely with faculty to internationalize the curriculum and seek external support for some of the new initiatives in this arena. Between 1996 and 1999, additional hires were made, including one international student adviser, a half-time study abroad adviser, an office receptionist, and an international grants and protocol coordinator to work with the international visitor programs and U.S. and foreign government grant programs and with J-1 visas. The OIP staff in effect has more than tripled between 1992 and 2000. (See Chapter 16 for more detail.)

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International Student Recruitment and Outreach

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SFSU in the early 1990s experienced a series of campus-wide budget and curricular cuts. This subsequently impacted international student enrollment at SFSU, which dropped from 1,483 matriculated visa students in 1990 to 928 matriculated visa students in 1993. The only services provided for these students included an orientation program and workshops on employment authorization. There were few cross-cultural programs; there was only one full-time and one part-time international student advisor; and there was no prospective student recruiting program.

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In 1993, the university developed a plan for the recruitment and retention of international students. As a result of these efforts, the matriculated international student population showed a dramatic increase from 928 matriculated visa students in Fall 1993 to 1,935 matriculated visa students in Fall 2000. Approximately 90 percent of all matriculated international students are F-1 visa holders—the primary student visa issued by the U.S. government. Other visa types include J-1 sponsored student visa, H-1/H-4 work/dependent visa, A-1/A-2 diplomatic/dependent visa, and other visas.

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In 1994, with the easing of the budget crisis and a resurgent interest in the internationalization of the university, a new unit, International Recruitment and Outreach Services, was created and a coordinator was hired to conduct recruitment activities and provide outreach services to international students interested in pursuing a degree program at SFSU. The goal was to expand SFSU’s visibility within the Bay Area community, as well as to project a user-friendly campus especially at the information gathering and application stage for prospective students. As a result, once again international students in California and overseas saw SFSU as an attractive destination for study.

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At the present, the university conducts extensive international student recruiting in many of the ESL schools and most of the community colleges in the Bay Area and at a selected number of colleges in Southern California and the state of Washington. In 1996, SFSU also began to engage in overseas recruitment with regular visits to Asia and occasional participation at fairs in Sweden and Canada.

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Another area of university recruitment has been to encourage talented Fulbright scholarship and foreign government-sponsored students to study at SFSU. The university maintains close working relationships with several Fulbright sponsoring agencies (such as LASPAU-Latin America, Amideast-Middle East, the Institute of International Education, and other Fulbright Commissions around the world). SFSU offers half-time tuition waivers to needy Fulbrighters upon request from the various agencies. This form of cost sharing has generated increased interest among sponsoring agencies in referring Fulbright recipients to SFSU. Through these agencies, SFSU gets applicants from several Third World countries who otherwise would not have thought of SFSU as a destination.

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As a result of its various endeavors, the volume of domestic and overseas inquiries that OIP handles has quadrupled from 1,138 in 1995 to 5,120 in 1999. Increased inquiries have led to increased numbers of applicants and students admitted. (On the following two pages are charts depicting international student application inquiries; the numbers of international students applying to, admitted to, and attending SFSU; and the total number of visa students.)

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Benefiting from the university comprehensive recruitment plan, the international student population growth rate in the mid-1990’s was in the double digits. At the present time, SFSU enrolls the largest number of international students among the 23 campuses of the CSU system, with 2,324 total international visa students in Fall of 2000 (matriculated and non-matriculated). SFSU is ranked third in international student enrollment among master’s degree-granting institutions nationwide (Chronicle of Higher Education, December 10, 1999).

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In order for SFSU to maintain its competitive edge, the university needs to extend its recruitment efforts to South America and the Middle East and to develop stronger and broader visibility and referral networks/linkages. An increase in student population from these countries will also enhance the diversity of international students represented at SFSU. The university needs to develop new markets and linkages world-wide and at the same time continue to maintain its presence in Asia, the primary provider of international students in the U.S., as well as other established markets. Unlike other institutions involved in overseas recruitment, SFSU engages in only a few overseas recruitment events. Even SFSU’s annual participation in selected Asian college fairs is very minimal in terms of both destinations and frequencies, given that Asia is regarded as the biggest market for recruitment for the U.S.

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The university needs to enhance and supplement recruitment through technology. It must strengthen its own web site and offerings of information electronically and participate in an education recruitment Internet search engine (e.g., Embark.com; Petersons). It must also, however, have the staffing capacity to respond to increased, electronically-generated inquiries and applications, as well as to provide quality admission-related advising and outreach services.

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International Student Application Inquiries to be added
International Student Applicants/Total Visa Students to be added

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International Student Services and Programs

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Once international students enroll, the next goal is to ensure that they stay and successfully adapt to life both at the university and in the U.S. SFSU offers a wide variety of services and programs to support and enhance international student well-being on campus. This includes counseling and advising services, as well as providing assistance with needs related to housing, immigration (visa and legal matters), academic issues (class registration), and personal and cultural adjustment concerns.

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SFSU has a long history of welcoming international students. In fact, we have hosted international students from all parts of the world since 1954, when the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service granted the university permission to admit international students.

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SFSU International Students

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As of the Fall 2000 semester, the university has been serving a diverse international visa student population of 2,324. Of that total number of students, there are 1,935 matriculated international visa students who are pursuing a degree from the university. There are, in addition, 389 non-matriculated international visa students who are involved in various types of programs at the university. (See the charts on the next page for the numbers of matriculated and non-matriculated international students for 1992-2000.)

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These students come to SFSU from 112 countries from around the world, with Japan (402 students), Taiwan (276 students), Indonesia (139 students), China (139 students), and Korea (113 students) comprising our top 5 countries of origin. Seventy-three percent of our international students come from Asia, 16% from Europe, 4% from Central and South America, 2.5% from North Africa and the Middle East, and 4.5% from elsewhere. In terms of gender, 59% of our international students are female. Also, 64% of the international students enrolled at SFSU are undergraduates.

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Services and Programs for International Students

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International students require special services above and beyond those needed by domestic students. For example, international students require assistance with adapting to American culture and to the U.S. education system. They require staff professionally trained in all areas of visa and immigration law to advise them about complex legal and immigration matters. They also need special assistance in selecting and registering for classes, finding suitable housing, and learning the English language.

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To meet the international students’ special needs, the university provides a wide variety of services specifically designed for them. To begin with, prior to their arrival in the U.S., the university sends an admission letter, an I-20 or an IAP-66 Form, and a welcome letter. This letter includes information about housing, important dates, visas, and other information useful to new international students. They also receive a welcome packet that provides important information that will help them prepare for their journey to SFSU. It describes some of the programs and services which will be of immediate use to them as they prepare for their first semester with us.

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Once the new international students arrive, a comprehensive two-week orientation program is offered prior to the start of the semester. The orientation program provides more than 40 different workshops, seminars, events, and social activities designed to give new international students an opportunity to make new friends and to obtain important information about the university.

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After the semester starts, OIP offers on-going, comprehensive, advising services on complex immigration and visa-related matters, as well as help with financial, employment, acculturation, and personal issues and concerns. In addition, workshops and seminars are offered on an on-going basis each semester on topics such as practical training, employment, H-1B visas/U.S. permanent residency, and taxes.

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In order to assist students in making a successful cultural transition to life in the U.S., and to help them become aware of the cultural diversity of the San Francisco Bay Area, several cross-cultural enrichment programs are also offered each semester. These include activities such as walking tours of various San Francisco neighborhoods; visits to local ethnic/international restaurants; trips to places of interest outside of the city; and language partner programs.

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English Language Training

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One of the strategic plan recommendations stated that the university should provide international students with enhanced support services including English language training. The English Department has long been the center for extensive services for international students. For the past forty years, the department has offered courses in grammar, oral communication, reading, and composition for international students and immigrant students. In Spring 2000, the department offered sixty sections of courses for these English learners, with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. These ESL courses include some that satisfy General Education Segment I requirements for oral and written skills and some which satisfy the JEPET requirement for upper division literacy.

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In addition to these regular courses, the department offers services in tutoring for international students through the English Tutoring Center, where students are matched with graduate and upper division student tutors on a drop-in basis. Many of the graduates of the MATESOL program serve as staff members of the university's Learning Assistance Center (LAC), which offers tutoring and small-group courses in English and composition. Until it recently closed as a result of structural and toxic mold problems, the International Living Community served as a venue for tutorial classes for international students offered by the LAC—a project that was a successful start to integrating ESL instruction with international student life.

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In addition, the College of Extended Learning sponsors the American Language Institute, a semi-private intensive English program for about 150 international students each term, three terms each year. The

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Total Matriculated and
Total Non-matriculated
MATESOL program counts among its members many international students, who are receiving training in the teaching of English which they will take back to their home countries. Several of the international TESOL graduate students have served as ALI teachers as well. [Please see userwww.sfsu.edu/~alisfsu/.]

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International Student English Language Proficiency

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A number of faculty members have been concerned for some time about international students' low level of English proficiency, especially among graduate students. During academic year 1999-2000, there were some committees at the university working independently on the issue of language proficiency. These groups were: (1) the university Graduate Council's subcommittee on language proficiency; (2) the Task Force on Writing in the Disciplines; and (3) the All-university Committee on International Programs.

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In April 2000, the chair of the Graduate Council convened a joint meeting on graduate writing proficiency attended by the three groups and others interested in the issues of English proficiency. The purpose was to combine efforts and work on developing a plan to deal with the English proficiency concern. At this meeting, it was noted that, of the students who took the Graduate Essay Test (GET) from July 1999 to March 2000, the pass rate was 69%. On the other hand, the pass rate for January and August 1999 GET takers with TOEFL scores (international students) was 26% (see the chart on the next page). The participants also discussed additional efforts needed to help the international students, including additional language courses and tutorial sessions. These recommendations and requests were discussed by the Council of Academic Deans in Spring 2000. As a result of that discussion, the Colleges of Creative Arts and Science and Engineering have now joined the Colleges of Business, Education, and Humanities in offering a "preparation for graduate writing" course for students who fail the GET.

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Needs Assessment Survey

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SFSU is concerned about being a "user-friendly" campus and wants to ensure that its international students are well taken care of. In order to solicit feedback from the international student community about their level of satisfaction with various university programs and services, and to determine their needs and concerns, the strategic plan strongly recommended that the university conduct an international student needs assessment. The needs assessment study was conducted between Spring 1998 and Fall 1999. The process included a series of focus groups led by university marketing classes and a questionnaire distributed to 1,700 international students. Although there were only 104 responses, the survey has provided some specific findings that can be used to improve services to students.

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Most of the respondents indicated that they utilized OIP for services such as issuance of travel documents, certifications, immigration advising, and practical training and employment concerns. More than 75% indicated that OIP "usually" or "always" served as their advocate. A high percentage of the respondents indicated that both the welcome packet for new students and the international student newsletter were "somewhat" or "very" helpful. Respondents also offered suggestions for additional OIP programs and services, including increased social activities and assistance with registering for classes, finding inexpensive housing, and securing financial aid. OIP plans to conduct an in-depth survey every 3-4 years, together with smaller (and more frequent) e-mail surveys of our international student population, in order to ensure that the university is offering programs and services that are of use to our students and to solicit their feedback about their experiences on our campus.

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Study Abroad and International Exchange Programs

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Preparation of students to be members of the global community is a part of the educational mission of San Francisco State. Study abroad and international exchange programs are key components in fulfilling this goal. Study abroad programs, as coordinated by the Office of International Programs, encompass the officially-recognized, state-supported programs which enable CSU students to travel and study overseas for a semester or a year. The Office of International Programs also provides leadership and assistance to the academic departments in the establishment, maintenance, and monitoring of bilateral exchange programs which meet the needs of SFSU students and enhance the program of study relating to a specific academic field.

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A full-time coordinator of study abroad and international exchange programs was hired in 1994. At that time, only 24 students participated in the CSU system-wide study abroad programs, with 29 more participating in SFSU's bilateral exchange programs. Furthermore, although oversight and responsibility for all SFSU bilateral exchange programs rested with the Office of International Programs, this authority was not exercised. The individual department-sponsored bilateral exchange programs were run in an independent manner, with limited information provided by the sponsoring departments to OIP.

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In 1995, all SFSU bilateral exchange programs, including department-sponsored programs, were brought under the direct supervision of the coordinator of study abroad and international exchange programs. His responsibilities include evaluation of on-going exchange programs; a monitoring of the student exchange balances; and a coordination of pre-departure orientations (as a supplement to any department-sponsored orientation efforts), so that all departing students would receive a consistent orientation which would meet minimum requirements. With the increase of responsibilities and the increase in the numbers of students seeking service from the office, a new staff position was created to work with J-1 visa exchange students and scholars and handle special projects and protocol matters. In 1998, in a continuing effort to meet the demand of the workload, a new half-time study abroad advisor position was added.

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Study Abroad Activities and Advising

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The Office of International Programs conducts a wide variety of activities to achieve the goal of sending overseas as many well-prepared students as possible. These activities include publicity and promotion on campus through the campus media, classroom presentations, and flyers; outreach to faculty and administration; information and application meetings; and major events such as Study Abroad Fairs, Pre-departure Orientation Programs, and Re-entry Workshops. The International Education Exchange Council (IEEC) [www.sfsu.edu/~recsport/ieec.html], a registered student group under the SFSU Associated Students, assists in a number of these activities (see "Other Programs and Services" below). Advising covers concerns before, during, and after the study abroad experience and includes a wide variety of issues, ranging from simple matters like grade transfer to much more complicated concerns such as possible and necessary adjustments for wheel-chair bound students going to Mexico; the medical services and support required for a heart transplant patient selected for Israel; learning-disabled students with special needs going to Zimbabwe; and a number of students with other special health and personal needs. The growth in the number of students participating in study abroad and exchange programs has been significant; to illustrate the increase in numbers, two charts have been included on the following page.

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CSU International Programs

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The California State University International Programs administered by the CSU Office of the Chancellor gives the opportunity to all CSU campuses to send students to study overseas for a year. The CSU International Programs is affiliated with institutions in 16 countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe. [Please see www.gateway.calstate.edu/csuienet/.]

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In 1992, there were 37 SFSU students studying abroad in the CSU International Programs; in 1993 and 1994, there were only 20 and 24, respectively. In 1995, the numbers increased to 54, reached a high of 96 in 1999, and decreased to 64 in Fall 2000. For the Fall of 1999, SFSU's number was the highest for any campus in the CSU program. The five top countries selected by the 96 students in 1999 and again by the 64 students in 2000 were: Italy, Spain, France, United Kingdom, and Japan.

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SFSU Bilateral International Programs

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Bilateral exchange programs are arranged between SFSU and a single overseas institution of higher education in accordance with the rules and regulations of the California State University. The majority of these programs are sponsored by specific academic departments for students who are specializing in that department’s field of study.

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At the beginning of 1994, SFSU had 28 bilateral exchange programs, with 14 of those dating prior to 1991. After a careful evaluation of the 28, those that were inactive for many years or were not truly bilateral were discontinued. Presently, the coordinator of the study abroad and international exchange programs supervises the bilateral program to insure that the programs are truly bilateral; that is, both universities are fulfilling their responsibility within the contract agreement and there is active exchange as defined by the agreement goals.

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At the present, SFSU has 23 active bilateral programs in 13 different countries in Europe (Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom); Asia (Japan, Korea, and Taiwan); South America (Argentina); North America (Canada); and Australia. In 1992, there were 31 SFSU students studying in the various bilateral international programs; in 1995, the numbers increased to 41. In 1997 and 1998, there was an increase in the number of students to 82 and 78, respectively. For the Fall of 1999, the number was 52, increasing to 66 in Fall 2000. The five top countries selected by the 52 students were: Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Argentina, and Japan. (A list of SFSU bilateral exchange programs will be found on page 325.)

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International Exchange Students

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The international counterparts to the domestic study abroad students are the J-1 exchange students who may be matriculated or non-matriculated students. The majority of these J-1 students are traditional exchange students who stay with us for a semester or a year as part of a CSU International Exchange Program or an SFSU bilateral exchange program. There are also a number of matriculated, degree-seeking students, usually graduate students, who are on scholarships such as Fulbright, LASPAU, or Fundayacucho. In 1999-2000, there were 109 J-1 international students on campus.

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OIP provides a wide variety of services to assist these exchange students, including the preparation of IAP-66 forms; sending them necessary pre-arrival information; offering a comprehensive orientation program when they arrive; and advising them throughout their stay on issues related to visa, academic administration, culture, etc. Exchange students are encouraged to talk to domestic students about their home countries and exchange program possibilities. All exchange students are members of the International Education Exchange Council (IEEC). Participation in this organization allows the exchange students to meet domestic students and become more integrated into SFSU campus life and gives the domestic students an opportunity to discuss going abroad with the exchange students from different countries.

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Short-Term International Programs

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Short-term programs are vital to our effort to provide SFSU students with an international experience. Students who may otherwise be unable to spend a semester or a year away from family and work are able to participate in a short-term project. For example, there are two Raza Department short-term study group tours a year to Cuba, with about twenty students participating in each. There is also a Black Studies Department summer study group to Zimbabwe, with about 15 to 20 students participating.

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In addition to sponsoring the above study groups, the College of Extended Learning also sponsors a number of other short-term programs to a number of other countries. Between 1994 and 1999, a total of 1,035 students participated in a CEL short-term study program abroad. In the Summer of 2000, CEL sent 129 students to China, Cuba, Mexico, France, Italy, Egypt, and Zimbabwe.

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Study Abroad CSU  - chart to follow
Study Abroad Bilateral - chart to follow
Bilateral Programs - chart to follow
Challenges for the future

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Since 1994, many changes have occurred in the area of study abroad and international exchange programs. Responsibilities have increased; the number of services offered to the faculty and students has increased; the number of SFSU students participating in study abroad programs has increased; and the complexity of issues affecting study abroad has also increased. To meet the additional workload and responsibilities, a number of services have been streamlined and approached in a more efficient way; such as, using group advising and e-mail for communication whenever appropriate. While there has been some growth in resources, the increase has not been equal to the increase of the workload. The result has been that the coordinator of study abroad and international exchange programs and the study abroad advisor have not been able to focus on study abroad recruitment and advising efforts to the extent they would have liked. This ultimately has an impact on the number of study abroad applications received.

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One other challenge for the future is the need to monitor the increasing number of bilateral exchange programs. This will undoubtedly require faculty and staff visits to SFSU partner institutions overseas, in order to insure that the quality of the academic program, of support services, and of the physical environment is high.

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Other Services and Programs for
International and Domestic Students

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To offer support to SFSU international and domestic students, the university offers a variety of additional international programs and services. The following are brief descriptions of some of them.

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International Education Exchange Council (IEEC)

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The International Education Exchange Council (IEEC) is a student organization composed of students who are alumni of CSU and SFSU study abroad programs, international exchange students, and students who are interested in applying to participate in overseas study programs. This organization was founded in 1995 and is registered and funded through the SFSU Associated Students. IEEC attempts to: (a) promote study abroad opportunities to SFSU students; (b) internationalize the campus environment; (c) foster international and U.S. student interaction; (d) sponsor program activities; and (e) provide leadership and representation for study abroad and international exchange students within the campus community.

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Leadership Training for International Student Organizations

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OIP provides support, assistance, and training, including leadership training and assistance with program development and information dissemination, to the following international student organizations: International Student Club, Chinese Student and Scholar Association, Indonesian Student Organization, Japan-U.S. Student Business Association, Taiwan Chinese Student Association, and Thai-American Student Association.

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Peace Corps Support Program

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The Peace Corps Support Program is another program offered by OIP to interested students. OIP's responsibilities include publicity on campus, advising students, conducting information meetings, assisting with the applications, and disseminating information. There is a Peace Corps Advisory Committee composed of Peace Corps staff and SFSU administrators, staff, and faculty that meets twice a year to discuss the implementation of the program. At the present, SFSU has 16 students in the Peace Corps. Since 1961, we have sent 1,084 students as Peace Corps volunteers. SFSU ranks 17th in the nation among colleges and universities (and 1st among non-Ph.D.-granting institutions) in its number of volunteers. [Please see www.sfsu. edu/~oip/peace.htm.]

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Fulbright and National Security Education Programs

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SFSU attracts Fulbright students and scholars from abroad who want to enroll in various programs. These students are mostly graduate students who are sent to us by different Fulbright-sponsored agencies such as LASPAU-Latin America, Amideast-Middle East, the Institute of International Education, and other Fulbright Commissions around the world. Additionally, OIP has been designated as the campus unit to coordinate the U.S. Fulbright Program and the National Security Education Program for students seeking funding to study abroad under their auspices. The work includes publicity for the programs, advising students, application distribution, convening campus interview committees, and all other related administrative responsibilities.

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International Alumni Services and Development

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Currently, SFSU has three overseas alumni clubs officially chartered by President Corrigan. The first one was founded in Japan in 1997, the second one in Taiwan in 1998, and the third one in Hong Kong in 2000. At the present, there are also two active informal alumni groups in Thailand and South Korea.

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The alumni are a valuable resource that assist with the recruitment of international students and also help our faculty who plan to conduct research or visit their country. Most of the alumni development efforts have been focused on Asia, but alumni gatherings have also been organized in France and Sweden. Future plans include the expansion of alumni clubs and activities abroad and better and more frequent communication with alumni overseas. The OIP continues to publish an International Ambassador Newsletter to maintain contact with overseas alumni.

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Study Abroad Resource Center

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The Study Abroad Resource Center in the OIP office has grown significantly over the past few years. Students can access information about study opportunities in many different parts of the world through books and fliers. A computer is now available in the resource center dedicated to retrieving information via the web.

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International Student Handbook

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One of OIP's accomplishments in 1999-2000 was the completion of the International Student Handbook—an information resource guide for international students. It was written with the new international student coming to the San Francisco Bay Area for the first time in mind. It contains information about immigration and visa matters, tax issues, safety and security concerns, health care, U.S. social customs, academic success, living in San Francisco on a student budget, housing information, etc. The handbook was used for the first time at the Fall 2000 International Student Orientation Program. OIP plans to update and revise the handbook each year to be used in the fall and spring semester orientation program.

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CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATIONS

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The university, through its Office of International Programs, has been actively implementing strategic plan recommendations regarding the provision of programs and services for international and domestic students. The data presented in this chapter show that in the Fall of 2000 we had 2,324 total visa international students enrolled at SFSU. This was the largest number ever for SFSU and also the largest number for any campus of the CSU. Additionally, the number of SFSU students going to study abroad has doubled between 1992 and 2000.

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Important decisions need to be made regarding the continued growth of the international student population and the optimal number of such students at the university. In addition, the university also needs to discuss the issue of expanding the geographical areas from where we are presently recruiting our international students. This will help to ensure that we have a balanced and diverse representation of students from all parts of the world.

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As we look to the future, the university will need to continue to offer and to expand the programs and services provided to international students—especially if continued growth is envisioned. The university should also consider offering a credit course for all students planning to participate in a study abroad experience. The course would provide a comprehensive orientation for potential study abroad students, allowing them to prepare for the experience in a more systematic way. Additionally, as was recommended in the strategic plan, the university should attempt to search for funds and resources to help financially-strapped domestic students go abroad.

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