Conference presentation from the Texas Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (TxGAP) 2012 Professional Development Conference. Author: Krista Tacey Director, International Student Services Texas A&M University Description: So, you have international graduate students, now what? Starting graduate school is a big deal for anyone, but for your students who have to overcome the hurdles of getting a visa, traveling thousands of miles, finding someplace to live, and adapting to an entirely new culture – it can be overwhelming! How can you effectively prepare your international students to meet these challenges and succeed? This session will take a look at all of these issues and offer suggestions for effective, affordable programs. For more information, visit www.txgap.com.

1. International Graduate Students:
Closing the Deal 1
Krista D. Tacey, Director
International Student Services, Texas A&M University
TxGAP Summer 2012 Professional Development Conference
July 20, 2012

2. 2
Session Description
• So, you have international graduate students, now what?
• Starting graduate school is a big deal for anyone, but for your
students who have to overcome the hurdles of getting a visa,
traveling thousands of miles, finding someplace to live, and
adapting to an entirely new culture – it can be overwhelming!
• How can you effectively prepare your international students to
meet these challenges and succeed? This session will take a look at
all of these issues and offer suggestions for effective, affordable
programs.

3. 3
Audience Profile
• How do you do your orient your international graduate students?
• In-Person Orientation?
• Online Orientation?
• Both?
• None?
• Who does it?
• You?
• International Office?
• Does what?

4. About Texas A&M University 4
College Station, TX
49,000 students
4th-largest public U.S. university
4,750 int’l students
• Fall: 1,200 new int’l students
• Spring: 190 new int’l students
• Summer: 80 new int’l students
76% are graduate students
Texas A&M University defines
any student who is not a U.S.
Citizen or Lawful Permanent
Resident to be an international
student.

5. 5
Overview of Orientation Programming
• 2008 & Before
• Mandatory in-person orientation
• 2009
• Online orientation (OO) alternative to mandatory
in-person orientation
• 2010
• OO mandatory
• In-person orientation optional
• 2011 – Present
• OO mandatory
• In-person orientation expanded to International
Student Conference (ISC) held twice a year

6. 6
Who Does What?
Online Orientation International Student Conference
Int’l students required to take OO: Invited to attend ISC:
• Those planning to enroll for the first • New int’l students
time who will reside in U.S. take OO
• Current int’l students
before arriving
• Family members of int’l students
• Those who have or will change status
to F-1 or J-1 • Faculty and staff
• Those who have taken a leave of • Resource fair hosts
absence for one year or more and wish
• Other schools/organizations?
to resume enrollment
Fall 2011: 1,278 people completed OO, Fall 2011: 785 people attended,
1,269 new int’l students checked in including 566 new int’l students

7. 7
Sections We Suggest
Sections in red have a quiz.
1. Introduction
2. International Student Services
3. Getting Here
4. Immigration Basics
5. Employment
6. Taxes
7. Health Care and Health Insurance
8. Living Essentials
9. Personal Safety
10. Getting Involved
11. Academic Integrity
12. Conclusion

8. 8
International Student Conference
2008 & Before
1 – 2 days 2010 2012
Varying presentations, Renamed ‘New Added faculty/staff
one at a time International Student sessions
All students together Conference’ Expanded registration
Resource fair 1 day/time materials
New students only 20 concurrent sessions 37 concurrent sessions
2009 2011
Offered two identical Renamed
orientations on ‘International Student
different days/times Conference’
for students to choose Invited current
3 break-out sessions students &
by status faculty/staff to attend
All other presentations Added lunch
one at a time 33 concurrent sessions

9. 9
What’s Included in the ISC?
• Lanyard
• Nametag
• Ribbon
• Agenda
• Session Descriptions
• Refreshments
• Concurrent Sessions
• Resource Fair
… FREE to attend!

10. 10
Registration & Sign-In Process
• Still improving each semester
• Initial impression of conference
• On-the-spot attendance statistics
• Real time updates to social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter)

11. 11
Who Makes It Happen?
• All ISS staff members
• About 40 volunteers, mostly students
• Presenters
• Resource Fair hosts
• Refreshment vendors
• Building proctor
• Equipment rental vendor

12. 12
Two Faculty/Staff Sessions
• It’s All So Different: Arrival, Orientation, and Adaptation
• The Baggage That Can’t Be Checked: What Educational
Experiences International Students Bring from Home to the U.S.
Classroom

13. 13
Resource Fair
• 40 – 50 tables
• On-campus departments & organizations
• Dining Services
• ISS
• Rec Center
• Student organizations
• Community organizations & businesses
• Apartment complexes
• Police departments
• Financial sponsors
• Assign table locations

14. 14
Why We Do Both
• Answer common questions prior to arrival
• Reach more students with critical info
• Flexibility in communicating important info
• Fewer document errors and questions at Check-In
• Use ISC for Q&A, in-depth info, & interactive discussion
• Able to present wider variety of info at ISC
Benefits far outweigh both the financial and workload-related costs!

15. 15
What We Wish We Had Known
Online Orientation International Student Conference
• Realistic completion timeline • Transportation
• Team effort • Weather
• Choosing software • Campus politics
• Programming knowledge • Free food ≠ Stress-free
• How to enforce • Coffee with your creamer?
• Educating campus about new • Room temp. water though 100°
process
• No YouTube in China!

16. 16
That is TOO Much!
• How do we get students the help they need, if we don’t have the
resources you have?
• EducationUSA advising centers offer pre-departure orientations!
• http://www.educationusa.info/highered-orientations.php
• http://www.educationusa.info/5_steps_to_study/graduate_step_5_prepar
e_for_your_departure.php#top
• Attend NAFSA conferences (state, regional and national)

17. SUMMARY 17
How to make it
happen!

18. FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Krista D. Tacey, Director
International Student Services
Texas A&M University
979-845-1824
http://iss.tamu.edu
iss@tamu.edu