New Blue Hens from around the world are welcomed to UD.

Welcoming international students

International Student Orientation provides information on key resources

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10:17 a.m., Sept. 10, 2015--This fall, the University of Delaware welcomed the largest new international student class in its history, with more than 450 graduate and undergraduate students arriving in Newark from every corner of the globe.

For many students, arrival on campus for the fall semester was their first experience at UD and perhaps in the United States. For these students, University officials said an informative and inclusive first few days are integral to their ultimate success.

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For this reason, the Office for International Students and Scholars, in partnership with New Student Orientation and the Office of Graduate and Professional Education, crafted a collaborative community model of International Student Orientation (ISO).

In a daylong series of seminars, panels and events, ISO brought together more than 10 campus units designed to inform new students of the resources available to them. Students were introduced to the key services provided by Career Services, Counseling and Student Development, Residence Life and Housing, Student Health Services and Student Financial Services, as well as other support services at UD.

“New students have a lot on their plate in the beginning, and we have to be mindful not to overload them with more information than they need,” noted Ravi Ammigan, director of the Office for International Students and Scholars. “Our orientation model is to make sure that they get the most critical information right away and then follow up with a wealth of programming opportunities throughout the semester.”

A highlight of the program, representatives of the UD Police introduced new students to the role of law enforcement in the U.S. According to Ammigan, the safety of the international community is of utmost importance. “Oftentimes safety measures, understanding your rights, your role, and your responsibility might fluctuate across cultures,” he said.

New to this year’s ISO schedule, Andrew Haines, the city of Newark’s deputy city manager, spoke to the newest Blue Hens about local businesses, transportation and primary and secondary schools for dependents, among other essential pieces of information for living in and around the city.

“With such a large international student community here at UD, we will inevitably see their impact on the local community and vice versa,” said Ammigan. “We want to better prepare them to engage with the local community and take advantage of all the wonderful resources available.”

Transcending each of these presentations was a sense of community created by the presence of hundreds of new students in the Trabant University Center Multipurpose Rooms. Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to meet and network with others who will share the same University experience.

Members of the inaugural OISS International Student Advisory Committee, which includes international student leaders from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, took to the stage to give new international students advice and a unique student perspective on what life is like at UD.

OISS later hosted an International Coffee Hour exclusive to new students, offering yet another opportunity for early community building amongst peers.

Along with its campus partners, OISS will continue to collaborate throughout the year in a series of over 100 events and programs designed to reinforce the messages of support presented at International Student Orientation in August. These programs include immigration workshops and sessions with campus partner units, as well as social events including the signature International Coffee Hour.

On Sept. 23, the University will come together for its annual UD Welcomes the World reception, a celebration of and testament to UD’s commitment to a globally focused and inclusive campus.

For those who are meeting and interacting with new members of the international community, Frances O’Brien, OISS assistant director, reminds the greater UD community to be cognizant of their own culture and understanding of those who are in a new environment for the very first time. “Difference is relative, and understanding more about what you value can help you understand what it would be like to land in a place where expectations are different and in many cases, unknown,” she said.  

For more information on International Student Orientation or any of the programs offered by the Office for International Students and Scholars, visit the website or contact oissprograms@udel.edu.  

About the Office for International Students and Scholars

The Office for International Students and Scholars is the designated office at the University of Delaware that provides immigration advising and support services to more than 4,000 international students, scholars and family members from more than 95 different countries. 

Throughout the year, the office also offers a series of workshops, sessions and programming events for the international community at UD. 

For more information, visit the OISS website, which provides comprehensive information and resources on how to navigate issues that are most common to international students and scholars in the United States. 

The OISS office is located at the Wright House at 44 Kent Way and can be reached by email at oiss@udel.edu or by phone at 302-831-2115.

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