Examining how an institution develops support services for international students
As the needs and international student mobility trends continue to shift, institutions are tasked with finding strategies to support international students. This study expanded on research around the acculturation process as the current research lacks a multidimensional approach to understanding the acculturation process. The research also explored the institutional role in the in the acculturation process as well as the influence of culture and the political climate in the acculturation process. The purpose was to understand how an institution of higher education creates support services for international students. By focusing on staff, programming and support services for international students at one institution, the study specifically addressed factors considered and processes used to create resources and services to support international students throughout their enrollment. The study also explored how these factors relate to creating a culturally engaging campus environment. This narrative study included twelve virtual interviews with staff members from the research site who work to support international students. The following categories emerged as factors related to developing support for international students: changes in demographics and needs, financial expectations, student feedback and involvement, political climate and immigration, institutional priorities, human resources and staffing, personal connections, faculty and staff knowledge of student needs, and reflections on institutional support. The second research question focused on how the factors influence decisions about providing support for international students. The following categories emerged from the interview data: incorporating international student groups into sociocultural programming, collaboration with departments, faculty and staff support, targeted career and immigration support, financial support, mental health support, and individual advocacy. The study also examined how support services relate to Museus et al. (2017) model of a culturally engaging campus environment. The interviews addressed categories of cultural familiarity, culturally relevant knowledge, cultural community service, cross cultural engagement and cultural validation and holistic support and humanized educational environments. importance of institutions being resilient and resourceful, mission and student centered to navigate current challenges for international student support. The study also further examined implications for the future of international student support, international student recruitment, innovation and global engagement as institutions continue to maximize limited resources to support international students.
Higher education administration, Policy, organizational and leadership studies
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations