Annual Report 2007-2008
International Students and Scholars
Division of Student Affairs
University of Arkansas
Submitted by Michael Freeman, Director
July 28, 2008
The mission of International Students and Scholars at the University of Arkansas is to serve foreign students, scholars, and their family members at the university, and to enhance the global awareness of the University of Arkansas community.
The goals of the office for FY 2007-2008 were to:
 Add a full-time foreign student adviser, deploy batch transmission capability with the SEVIS immigration database, and implement a robust means of gathering data from ISIS to monitor student events.
 Develop a system of early contact of newly admitted international students through electronic means (E-mail, chart), engage students in active learning during orientation, provide comprehensive training of Cross-cultural mentors to include Professional Development Institute and understanding of ISS goals, and assess the needs of spouses and families of students.
 Solidify cross-cultural training programs through Human Resources, Career Development, Pre-
College programs, and Friendship Family program, provide intensive training to International
Culture Team (ICT) members through a retreat format, and increase participation of new ICT attendees who attend training sessions.
 Increase the total number of international students enrolled at the University of Arkansas by 6.5 percent, and increase the number of grant proposals submitted by International Students and
Scholars.
Vice Chancellor
Student Affairs
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Program Development
Director, ISS
Foreign Student
Adviser
Associate
Director
Secretary II
Foreign Student
Adviser
Student
Employees
Program
Coordinator
Graduate
Assistant
Graduate
Assistant
Program
Coordinator
Student
Employees

Executive Summary
Through enhancing continuing services and implementing new programs, International Students and Scholars progressed toward its 2010 goals during the 2007-2008 year. The number of international students enrolled at the University of Arkansas increase to 958 with India, China and
Japan sending the most students to the University of Arkansas. International Scholars participation at the University of Arkansas also increased from the previous year, reaching 239. International
Students and Scholars received needed resources to comply with Homeland Security requirements while also assisting students to maintain immigration status. Emily Ironside joined the office as
Foreign Student Adviser, adding support for the immigration advising of students. The University of Arkansas began the batch processing of information for students in “F” status from ISIS directly to the Homeland Security database. The batch process allows the University to comply with
Homeland Security reporting requirements in a timely manner. Contacts with the College of
Engineering, the Walton College of Business, and employers and students present at the University of Arkansas Career Fairs helped the advisers reach students, departments and potential employers with information about employment procedures and new immigration regulations. Sudden changes in employment regulations for students put an additional burden on the staff in their attempts to educate students and meet regulatory deadlines. The outreach component of International Students and Scholars reached 6200 participants in the Northwest Arkansas region. The Japanese Immersion program engaged over 250 participants and 80 volunteers in a Japanese Summer Festival. The
Arkansas Union Ballroom was transformed into an outdoor summer fairground with all the sounds, smells, games, and food typical of the Festival. The Living Library program, hosted with the
Ombuds office and Career Development allowed patrons to “check out” volunteers who talked about the stories of their lives. Cynthia Smith, coordinator of the outreach efforts of the office, was awarded a Freeman Foundation grant to participate in a study tour to China and Japan with other educators from Arkansas. International Students and Scholars began two new initiatives that will be implemented during the 2008-2009 year. A fee to support the International Visiting Student
Program was approved. The program is designed to encourage foreign partner institutions to send their students on a semester or academic year study abroad experience to the University of Arkansas by providing additional services and programs for their students. The Fulbright College of Arts and
Sciences partnered with University Housing and International Students and Scholars to offer a
Fulbright Perspectives section in Holcombe Hall fall 2008. The vision is that this section will be joined with the Living/Learning initiatives implemented by University Housing for those students interested in international affairs.

Programs and Services
New Collaborations
International Students and Scholars (ISS) developed several new collaborative partners during the
2007-2008 academic year.
Living Library - One of the most exciting new collaborative programs of the year was the Living
Library. This program was co-hosted in the fall by ISS and the Ombuds Office and was joined by the Career Development Center in the spring semester. A living library functions similarly to a regular library; however, the books are real, diverse, human beings, who teach others about themselves and their experiences through interpersonal dialogue. We hosted the event in the fall and the spring. In the fall we had 19 books and for the spring we increased to 34 books, with several books from the fall repeating.
Engineering Cooperative Education - In the area of Immigration Compliance, the staff initiated a new program collaborating with the College of Engineering and Career Development Center. The
College of Engineering developed policies regarding students receiving course credit for off-campus employment through Cooperative Education both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. ISS staff members were involved in the development of this policy since many of the students who participate in graduate COOP experiences are international students. As a result of the development of a COOP policy in the College of Engineering, ISS established an orientation session for new students to assist in explaining the impact of this policy on their ability to work off campus.
International Scholar Services – The filing of immigration petitions and SEVIS documentation for international faculty and researchers has traditionally been the responsibility of International
Students and Scholars, although the responsibility is quite outside the role of a unit within Student
Affairs. Academic Affairs and the Graduate School supported the proposal to provide financial resources to maintain scholar services within the office.
Career Fair participation – Nicholas Cogan and Emily Ironside participated in the spring Career
Fairs sponsored by Career Development. The advisers talked with students about the documents needed to gain employment authorization in the United States. But as importantly, the advisers discussed the process of hiring international students with the employers represented at the fair.
Consultant – Dr. Michael Smithee conducted a thorough assessment of International Students and
Scholars, its mission, staff, resources, and facilities. The report from the assessment will guide the office in its services for the next strategic planning cycle.
On-Going Collaborations
New Student Programs – Through assistance of community volunteers, University Housing and cultural organizations, new students received transportation from the Northwest Arkansas Regional
Airport to temporary housing for the fall and spring semesters. 172 students and 83 students attended the fall and spring orientation programs, respectively. The Cross-cultural mentors program continued with 33 applications from students with 22 students selected to serve incoming students in the Fall and 15 returning CCM’s for the Spring. First Year Experience, with recommendations from the Orientation Advisory Board, separated international undergraduate students from U.S. students for the advising and registration process. Cross-cultural mentors met with new students

throughout the semester for coffee at RZ’s or for lunch at a dining hall courtesy of Chartwell’s.
Through these meetings, the office learned more about the needs of first semester students.
Conversation Club – 49 students participated in 13 groups for the fall conversation club and 33 students participated in 10 groups for the spring conversation club. The language coaches came from registered student organizations on campus as well as community volunteers.
International Education Week – November 12-16, 2007. Education Week was filled with many events highlighting the influence of international education on the campus: Governor’s proclamation of International Education Week in the state, International Bazaar sponsored by the
International Students Organization, mock interviews for international students, immigration seminar, and study abroad photo contest. Collaborative partners included Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange, Middle East Studies, Spring International Language Center,
Multicultural Center, and Tidwell Swaim and Associates.
International Culture Team – 102 international students and staff made presentations within the
Northwest Arkansas community to over 6,200 participants. The hosts for these presentations included: Campus: International Bazaar, International Education Day, Japanese Immersion, Human
Resources (various), Friday Night Live (various), University Housing (Japan, India), Multicultural
Center (International Women’s Day), Ombuds (Living Library), Enhanced Learning Center
(Colombia and India), Social Work (Colombia), and Pre-College Programs (various). Local Schools:
Busy Bees Elementary School (China), International Days at Leverett Elementary, Holcomb
Elementary, and Root Elementary, Read Across America at Root Elementary, Green Forest School,
Northwest Arkansas Korean School, West Fork (Russia, India). Local Community Organizations:
Altrusa, M&N Augustine Foundation (M&N Augustine Festival), Fayetteville Public Library, The
Gardens at Arkanshire Retirement Community, Northwest Arkansas Girl Scouts (Girl Scout
Thinking Day).
One highlight for the team this year was our continuing Immersion series. This program is a collaboration between the ICT, the Multicultural Center, a university department (Japanese faculty in the Department of Foreign Languages), and Human Resources. Each year we select a specific country or area of the world and focus on one of their celebrations, ceremonies, or cultural events.
This year we highlighted the Japanese Summer Festival. This year’s immersion was our largest yet in participants and size of the venue. We hosted over 250 faculty, staff, students, and community members for the event in the Arkansas Union Ballroom. We were able to replicate an actual festival by having authentic food, drumming performances, dances, clothing, information booths, activities, lantern lighting, Japanese hosts, and yen to spend. Besides bringing Japanese culture to the UA, the event also encouraged student leadership through implementing the event.
Friendship Family program – 86 and 30 new students were placed in families for the fall and spring semesters, respectively. This year we hosted several events through the program. These programs included two receptions for new students and hosts; a fall picnic at Lake Wedington; a swim party at the Swim Ranch; Thanksgiving in an American Home; Coffee Hour at RZ’s; Ice
Skating Party at the Jones Center for Families; and a Friendship Family Finale on the Old Main
Lawn. Through increasing our programs we made contact with over 100 more students and families than in prior years. Some students and families attended nearly all of the events, while others attended events that piqued their interest.

Educational Field Trips – Three group trips were taken throughout the year to Tulsa, Little Rock, and Hot Springs. The purpose of these trips is to inform international students about the various cultures that can be found in the Northwest Arkansas region. 19 students, 22 students, and 29 students attended the trips to Tulsa, Little Rock and Hot Springs, respectively.
Holcombe International Living Learning Community – In the second year of the International
Living Learning Community of Holcombe Hall, University Housing and International Students and
Scholars worked closely together to provide a unique living experience on the University of
Arkansas campus. Some of these included Resident Assistant training in cross-cultural conflict, language tables, country/culture nights, music and food events, and steering committee meetings.
Plans have begun for a Fulbright Perspectives course to be taught in Holcombe.
Training – In addition to the diversity training conducted by ICT members, the staff facilitated training across campus through several programs:
“In Their Shoes” – In collaboration with Human Resources, ISS staff presented scenarios highlighting issues that alter the lives of international students in ways much different than the effect on
American students. Cases included being arrest, dealing with the death of a loved one, applying for a driver’s license, overcoming financial issues, and dropping courses.
Graduate School Workshop – Presented with International Admissions, Sponsored Student Programs,
Spring International Language Center, and Study Abroad, the workshop is designed to educate and equip graduate coordinators and department representatives regarding international resources and procedures at the University of Arkansas.
H-1 Issues cap gap planning – Michael Freeman and Audra Johnston worked with Graduate School of
Business and the College of Engineering to assist their international students in understanding and planning for issues related to transition to H-1 employment status
Graduate Assistant Training – Michael Freeman presented information about cultural diversity within the classroom as part of the Enhanced Learning Center pilot program of Graduate Assistant
Training with the College of Engineering.
PASS Implementation – In August 2008, through the collaboration of the Registrar’s Office,
International Admissions, International Students and Scholars, and the ISIS team, the University of
.
Arkansas implemented PASS, PeopleSoft’s functionality to allow batch transmission of reportable data regarding international students to the Department of Homeland Security.

Progress toward Planning Goals
Departmental Goals
Goal 1: Enhance the quality of international student experience by providing high-quality immigration advising and preventing all but willful status violations
Division’s Strategic Goals: Promote innovative programs and services
Advocate rights and responsibilities
Encourage app/ use of new emerging technologies
Institutional Priority: Improve quality and reputation of the institution
Objective 1: Add a full-time foreign student adviser.
Progress and Status: We have hired Emily Ironside and now have two full time foreign student advisors whose focus is on proactive and educational advising work with F-1 nonimmigrant students
Objective 2: Deploy batch transmission capability with the SEVIS immigration database
Progress and Status: We are now batch transmitting reportable information to the Department of
Homeland Security on a daily basis for all but a very few items/processes. We are continuing to work with the offices of the Registrar, International Admissions, and ISIS to bring all our recordkeeping and reporting into the batch environment.
Objective 3: Implement a robust means of gathering data from ISIS to monitor student events.
Progress and Status: We have added ISIS queries and reports to assist us in anticipating and being made aware of reportable events; we have implemented a compliance calendar to ensure that we will be able to contact students in advance of an expiring document or other reportable events
Goal 2 Increase the matriculation and retention of international students
Division’s Strategic Goals: Foster the developmnet of an inclusive community
Enhance student learning
Promote innovative programs and services
Institutional Priority: Increase size and quality of the student body
Objective 1: Develop a system of early contact of newly admitted international students through electronic means (E-mail, chart).
Progress and Status: Students were contacted by email with a welcome letter informing them of many matters pertaining to arrival and preparing for their time at the University. The website was also redesigned and updated with important information that should allow students to find what they initially need on the internet.
Objective 2: Engage students in active learning during orientation.
Progress and Status: Cross-cultural mentors served as a focus group to assess the orientation sessions. Information/sessions that did not promote active learning were moved to formats that better served the student such as on-line or information fair setting.
Objective 3: Provide comprehensive training of Cross-cultural mentors to include Professional
Development Institute and understanding of ISS goals.

Progress and Status: Students serving as Cross-cultural mentors attended a team building Saturday workshop and attended the Diversity Leadership Training in order to be better equipped to serve new International students
Objective 4: Assess the needs of spouses and families of students
Progress and Status: A new spouse resource page was composed and put on the internet that has information pertaining to many matters that new families in the area may need information for as they arrive in Fayetteville
Goal 3 Strengthen cross-cultural training for the campus and community.
Division’s Strategic Goals: Foster the developmnet of an inclusive community
Enhance student learning
Promote innovative programs and services
Institutional Priority: Increase diversity of faculty, staff, and students
Objective 1: Solidify cross-cultural training programs through Human Resources, Career
Development, Pre-College programs, and Friendship Family program.
Progress and Status: Cynthia Smith worked with two departments to partner with crosscultural/international componant to their training with students, staff, and faculty: Human
Resouces and Pre-College Programs. The programs with Human Resources and Pre-College
Programs were well received and had strong planning and assessment componants. Surveys conducted after each Human Resources session showed that many participant offered much more information and fun than they expected. Sessions averaged a rating of 4.4/5 per session on how participants would rate the sessions. Programs that were co-sponsored by ICT and UA HR drew served more than 500 people over the courseof the year. Pre-College programs received speakers every other week in the winter. Pre-College sent from the high school participants to each speaker following their presentation, along with additional questions that the students still had which allowed the presenter another contact with the class following the presentation. In addition,
Cynthia and her staff worked with the Japanese Student Association in planning the Japanese
Immersion. Notes from the focus group that followed the event showed that improving leadership skills was a great outcome of the event! This event involved a leadership team of 8 students and over 60 volunteers. The focus group consisted of the ISS staff who worked with the immersion and student leadership team. Students also greatly enjoyed the collaborative opportunity that it offered
Objective 2: Provide intensive training to International Culture Team (ICT) members through a retreat format.
Progress and Status: Due to the extensive work required for the Japanese immersion, a formal retreat for ICT members was delayed to 2008-09.
Objective 3: Increase participation of new ICT attendees who attend training sessions.
Progress and Status: 17 new students attended training sessions which is an increase from the previous year of 12 students.
Goal 4 Increase the resource base that supports the mission and goals of the Office of International
Students and Scholars
Division’s Stategic Goals: Increase and responsibly manage resources
Institutional Priorities: Increase private support

Objective 1: Increase the total number of international students enrolled at the University of
Arkansas by 6.5 percent
Progress and Status: Enrollment of international students was 958 in the fall 2008, an increase of 2 percent from the fall 2007.
Objective 2: Increase the number of grant proposals submitted by the Office of International
Students and Scholars
Progress and Status: International Students and Scholars submitted four grant proposals and three internal funding proposals during the year. Two of the four grant proposals were funded and the three internal funding proposals were granted
Grant proposals:
 $1,000 ICT scholarship support from Altrusa
 $10,000 value - Freeman Foundation China Study Tour
 White River Hardwoods – still pending
 Women’s Giving Circle – not funded
Internal proposals
 $1,000 program support from Human Resources
 $22,356 from the Graduate School for scholar services
 Visiting Student Program fee
Major Awards and Accomplishments
The staff and students associated with International Students and Scholars were recognized locally as well as regionally for their efforts to promote international education. Below are a few of their outstanding awards and accomplishments over the year:
 The International Culture Team New ICT member award went to Eid Abo Hamza; Yuki
Hatano received the Outstanding ICT member award. 10 additional scholarships were given to ICT members thanks to the grant from Altrusa
 Cynthia Smith was awarded a study tour in China and Japan through the Freeman
Foundation and the International Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock that was a value of $10,00-12,000
 To honor the commitment and outstanding work as Cross-cultural mentors, Grace
Richardson and Michele McKee were awarded the honor of Outstanding CCM.
 Audra Johnston was selected to present a nationally broadcast web seminar focusing on utilizing technology to better serve international students and scholars with NAFSA:
Association of International Educators.
 Michael Freeman was selected to serve as the Region III coach for NAFSA’s Academy V for professional development of new or newly assigned professionals.
 Yuki Hatano, Tomoe Hayashi, and Jhonny An Kwon represented the University of Arkansas at the Arkansas International Leadership Conference held in Russellville, Arkansas with international students from other institutions.
 Marzouck Moussiliou Coles was selected as the John and Marie Lavallard International
Scholarship recipient.
Challenges
 Although the batch process was implemented, many issues revolving around this new procedure were unanticipated. Staff time and reorganization of job duties were required.

 Sudden changes in Optional Practical Training reporting requirements by the Department of
Homeland Security added additional work to the compliance team. Former students had to be contacted to gather employment information. Along with the changes in reporting requirements, additional regulations made the filing of Optional Practical Training confusing for both students and office staff.
 Office renovations – renovations to the office suite was completed by the start of the fall semester. As with most renovations, some items took more time to correct such as keyed locks on doors, secure space in the programming area, organization of storage space, internet connectivity, and classroom furniture.
 Lack of mobile technology and resources needed to make ICT presentations accessible to hearing impaired participants and to rural venues.
 Calendar – The month of November is filled with events such as the annual NAFSA regional conference, International Education Week, and holidays, which limit advising time during a crucial time for immigration appointments.
 Integrating Spring International students into the UA experience continues to be a challenge.
 Personnel – Veronikha Salazar received a promotion to the Multicultural Center. Matthew
Sokoloski accepted the position of Program Coordinator and Elizabeth Baker received the graduate assistantship position in place of Matthew. Nicholas Cogan resigned on June 27,
2008 after returning from an extended paternity leave.
Conclusions and Recommendations for FY2009and FY2010
The foundation of staff, facilities, and resources are in place to make significant progress next year toward the development of a comprehensive office of International Students and Scholars.
Continuing to pursue collaborative partners through scholar services, Holcombe International
Living/Learning initiatives, visiting students, and cooperative education will strengthen the ties between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs.

Appendix I
See accompanying Excel File of 2001 to 2010 Performance Measures.