IlliAAC October 2014 General Meeting
October 22, 2014
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Introductions of everyone present
E-Board Announcements
o Membership/
 Elaina Kutz had membership forms available.
o Technology
 The website has been updated and has a cleaner look. Be sure to check it out!
 Will be starting a Facebook page soon so be on the look-out.
o Treasurer
 Aaron Surratt is accepting the membership forms with $10 payment for dues\
o Professional Development
 Minors and certificates Snack Byte on Oct. 29
 Looking for a new co-chair since Suzi is not at UIUC anymore. Let Todd Spinner
know if you are interested.
o Assessment
 Working to reschedule the assessment presentation from The Career Center.
Culture Shock Presentation from ISSS – Afroza Faruque and Amira Al Mutairi
o Who are our international students?
 There are about 10,000 international students on campus.
 Top countries at UIUC are China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Iran and Singapore
o Four Stages of Cultural Adjustment
 Honeymoon
 Exhilaration, anticipation
 Crisis
 Culture shock
 Frustration, anger, fear, sickness
 Suggestions to help with coping:
o Calling home
o Taking care of yourself
o Talking to someone
o Normalizing the situation
o Improving English skills (when applicable)
 Recovery
 Humor stage
 Able to laugh at misunderstanding
 The recovery stage is experienced differently by different students.
 Home/Adjustment
 Feel “at home” in new environment
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Hold on to cultural traditions but still feel comfortable in new
environment
Cultural adjustment lasts about one semester.
Adjustments to campus – Academics
 Differences in education systems – lecture vs. participatory
 Receive questions about how to participate, no clear on how this will impact
grade
 Role of instructors/professors/advisors. May be helpful to clarify each role with
students.
 Communication – how to best communicate and how often
 Adjustment to teaching methods will not happen in a few weeks. It takes time.
Adjustments to campus – “College Experience”
 Expectations and purpose of going to college varies culturally
 Previous understanding of college may be shaped by popular culture and may
not be favorable
 Show students opportunity for involvement
 Non-US universities do not put the same value on student development
 Building a well-rounded portfolio
 Encourage students to understand value in:
 Joining student organizations
 Participating in community serves
 Self-reflection
 Broadening friendship circle beyond culturally similar friends
 Students may battle parents over some of this.
Help-Seeking Culture
 Pressure from parents sometimes silences students
 Depending on the culture, counseling may be stigmatized
 Students may rely on home-country contacts for information
ISSS Resources
 Pre-arrival communication and shuttle service
 About 900 people used the shuttle service this year
 Shuttle had a $25 fee and brought students from O’Hare to ChampaignUrbana. It was only for first time students and is only available prior to
fall semester.
 Orientation
 Takes place in Fall, Spring and Summer
 Covers “What is ISSS?”
 Resources – student insurance, writing workshop, counseling center
 Social Events – geared toward international students only
 Newsletter is emailed out every other week
 Welcome appointments and response team
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 Intentional programming (Ex. Football 101)
 Interconnect, Amish trip, Native American pow-wow, and other events
o Ways Academic Advisors Can Help
 Open lines of communication
 Encourage students to become involved
 Socially or academically, strengthening relationships will help students
feel more comfortable in their new environment
 Recognize cultural and parental pressure
 Normalize the situation
 Acknowledge cultural differences but not always as an excuse
 Keep ISSS in the look for trends you might notice – good or bad!
o Heard from an international student who is a double major in STAT and ECON.
Announcements:
o Winter break job shadow program through The Career Center