Issue 16 | October 2018
Advising Essentials: International Students
Behrend prides itself on being welcoming to students from around the world. There are over four hundred international students from forty-seven different countries on campus. It's important for advisers to understand the unique needs of this student population.
Advising as a Retention Tool
Why It Matters
According to this article , academic advising is one of the areas that can have the greatest influence on international student retention. The article found that intrusive advising practices work best with this student population. Intrusive advising means advisers don't wait for the students to come to them; instead, advisers reach out and offer support to their advisees in a proactive manner.
What You Can Do
Some proactive advising actions could be:

  • Sending a "welcome back" email to your advising roster at the beginning of each semester that includes helpful campus resources
  • Responding to Early Progress Reports that your advisees receive
  • Reaching out and asking your advisees to make appointments with you to discuss their course selections for the next semester during scheduling time
Important Information
What You Need to Know
There are a few important pieces of information to keep in mind when working with international students:

  • International students MUST maintain a course load of at least 12 credits each semester. Any fewer credits could influence their immigration status.
  • There are sections of ENGL 15 reserved for international students each semester. When looking at the schedule of courses, they will be listed as "closed" and have section numbers in the 900s. Students should sign up for that course in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences office.
  • If you are working with a student who is struggling with their English skills, there are resources available on campus to help. Check them out here.
Your Next Steps
  • Reflect on your advising practices. How can you be more proactive with your international students?
  • Reach out to the International Student Services office if you have any questions.
  • Attend the ACPC's Faculty Adviser Professional Development Series workshop this month. They will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 4-5pm and Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 2:30-3:30pm in Reed 114. Representatives from International Student Services will be co-presenting information that is most relevant for working with international students.
As always, please feel free to reach out to the Academic and Career Planning Center with any advising questions you might have. Additionally, you can check out our Information for Faculty website.

Thank you,
The ACPC Advisers