The International Student Services Office: A Conceptual Framework for Comprehensive International Student Services And Programs

The study investigated international students’ adjustment needs, help seeking behaviors, frequently used campus and community resources and their level of satisfaction with programs and services provided to assist with their adjustment. Data was obtained from 35 questionnaire responses completed by international students enrolled at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. The results of the case study indicate that international students experience the following adjustment needs: Educational System Adjustment, Cross-Cultural Adjustment, Social Network Adjustment, Living Practicalities/Basic Needs Adjustment, Visa/Legal Status Needs and English Language Adjustment. According to the results of the study, international students prefer to turn to their friends, classmates, academic departments and the international student services office for assistance in meeting their adjustment needs. As a consequence; providing comprehensive arrival, on-going and re-entry orientation programs, innovative social and English language programs, on-going cross-cultural and educational system adjustment advisory services, and on-going immigration and legal status advisory services are vital for the successful adjustment of international students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities. The results of the study provide a conceptual framework for comprehensive international student support programs and services. The conceptual framework outlines international student needs, their help seeking behaviors, their frequently used resources and their levels of satisfaction. The framework provides information, theories, principles, ideas and suggestions for international student services offices to use when designing and implementing comprehensive international student services and programs. The framework may be applied by international student services offices throughout the U.S