Spring 2025 has been a tumultuous time for international students studying in the US. In addition to the support that DePaul’s Global Engagement Division provides to international students through the Office of International Student Success, the International Resource Center, and the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, DePaul’s faculty and staff are committed to a broader base of support for this population of students. Examples of how faculty and staff support international students throughout the university include:
- a Faculty Learning Community (FLC) focused on supporting international students in the classroom
- DePaul’s Academic Advising Network (DAAN) hosted a staff development workshop to assist staff in better understand and support students who have come from abroad to study in the US
- the inclusion of a session on teaching writing to international students in the annual Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) Conference, and
- the inclusion of the International Student Career Conference on the Career Center’s calendar.
In the FLC and DAAN sessions, faculty and staff learn about the various cultural contexts in which our students have previously studied as well as the differences in cultural expectations and norms between students’ home countries and the US. By working to understand where our students come from, we can better engage our values of Vincentian personalism and meet our students where they are. Recognizing these differences is the first step in working to overcome them. Working together, we can help our faculty and staff develop their own intercultural competencies which are critical to supporting international students.
One of the members of the Faculty Learning Community (FLC), Dan Schober, Associate Professor, College of Science and Health, developed a session “Implementing Best Practices for
Teaching Writing to International Students.” As a professor in the Masters of Public Health program, Dr. Schober works with students from around the world. These experiences inspired him to join the FLC and later share his learnings at the CTL conference. Dr. Schober shared resources and approaches to teaching international students to use writing in their content area.
In addition to the many approaches to supporting international students academically, International Student Success has partnered with the Career Center and the Kellstadt Career Management Center to develop support for students as they shift their focus from the classroom to career. Offered in the Fall and the Winter, the International Student Career Conference offers students help in understanding the expectations of US employers and the job search process as well as in developing the standard US job search package - resume and cover letter. International students often arrive at DePaul with a desire to work in the US, but without a clear sense of the efforts and tools necessary to achieve that goal. The Career Conference helps orient students to employers’ expectations of resumes and cover letters. They are also introduced to the concept and importance of networking. This event helps jump start students onto the career path.
It takes a village to support students…so what can you do to help our students through what has been a stressful season? Our colleagues at Health, Promotion and Wellness have developed a handy guide that can help our faculty and staff guide students who may be in need of resources. For example, for students who are experiencing anxiety, loneliness or lack of connection, staff can refer students to the International Student and Scholar Services Office, Office of Student Involvement, Dean of Students, or UCAPS for support.
At the end of the day, uncertainty can be very unsettling for all of us. The easiest and most straightforward way for us to support our students is for us to engage in radical hospitality to ensure that All Are (Still) Welcome.