First-Year Experience: International Students

International students come from various backgrounds, academic ability, English fluency, and knowledge of American and academic culture. Through a series of student surveys and interviews with both students and international education professionals, this capstone attempts to meet the need that international students are expressing at Worcester State University (WSU). One way international educators can attempt to fill this gap is through building a First-Year Experience (FYE) program that is uniquely for international students. The FYE will start as a series of workshops called International Student & Scholar Workshop Series. The workshops will cover the areas students said they were lacking in support, which include finding on-campus jobs, applying for scholarships, getting social support, and having more resources to comfortably integrate into WSU’s community. The second component of the FYE is the Student Social Hour hosted by the International Programs Office. The social hours are important because international students expressed difficulty meeting other international and American students. Social hour sessions will be geared towards helping students improve their English skills, inviting different clubs and organizations on campus to come mingle with international students, and other related activities. This part of the program is designed to help bridge the gap international students feel when trying to make American friends and find a niche in Worcester State’s community. The foundation for a future First-Year Experience program will address the explicit needs of international students at WSU and utilize on-campus resources