Sessions will be held on March 8 at Loyola University Chicago!
SESSIONS
New to the Field: How to thrive as a first year ISSS advisor presented by Haylee Zhou & Mx. Victoria Goodman The International Student Advisor role requires considerable knowledge of immigration rules and regulations. We help international students resolve questions and concerns including but not limited to employment authorizations, visa renewals, maintaining and changing immigration status. Knowing how to effectively navigate the resources and fostering advising style could be challenging to professionals who are new to the field. In my presentation, I will discuss how I find the various resources as a green hand advisor and how I utilize them in my daily work. I will address my transition from an international student to a program assistant to an advisor. I will also share instructional strategies that helped me learn the regulations, communicate with students, and develop my own advising style.
Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Field Representative & Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Updatespresented by Saskia Hofman & Kelly Pilleux-Petronia Illinois-based SEVP Field Representatives and Chicago-based CBP officers will present their latest updates. PDSO Perspectives: Embracing responsibilities, navigating challenges, and mastering best practicespresented by Amy Soub & Katherine Haan PDSOs, Amy Soub and Katherine Haan, will discuss the vital responsibilities of PDSOs and the ethical, legal, and institutional challenges that PDSOs face on a regular basis. The presentation will lead to a discussion with the audience on additional challenges that PDSOs face, and finally best practices that we can all consider in helping us master this important role. This presentation is geared towards PDSOs, DSOs and those interested in becoming a PDSO.
What’s Next? Employment-Based Immigration Options Beyond F-1 and J-1presented by Lindsay Fullerton, Paola Carrera, & Christine Murphy Judson Overview of employment-based nonimmigrant visa categories (e.g. H-1B, TN, O-1) and green card paths (e.g. PERM, National Interest Waiver, EB-1) potentially available to international students, scholars, and school employees. This panel provides background for institutions that handle employment-based immigration cases in-house or work with outside counsel. The panel will also provide educators with background for speaking with students about their next steps after completing their F-1 or J-1 program.
Crisis Management and Training in ISS(S) Reception Environmentspresented by Anna Duong-Topp Whether they fear their visa status is about to be terminated or have just been in a car crash, for many international students, their college or university’s international student services office is the first place they turn to in a crisis. ISS(S) staff are uniquely positioned to understand both international student needs and the capabilities of other offices to meet them, but how can this gap be bridged in emergency situations? And how can front desk managers prepare their staff to address these situations with care, efficiency, and adaptability? During this interactive session, we will discuss the various crises that can manifest in ISS(S) reception environments, factors that slow down or obstruct solutions, and workflows our offices employ across front desk staff and upper administration to resolve these crises
Preparing Non-Study Abroad Staff to Lead Short-Term Programs Abroadpresented by Scott Ozaroski & Elizabeth Hall How do you prepare staff to help lead short-term faculty-led study abroad programs—especially when those staff aren’t study abroad professionals? This session will examine how one school has created a system for providing study abroad leadership opportunities for staff from across the university. Staff not only help co-lead short-term programs abroad but are also responsible for delivering a global learning curriculum to the students in class before they travel—covering topics such as group dynamics, diversity, travel logistics, financial planning, and health/safety. This session will detail how this staff leadership model was created, how staff are selected, and how they are trained to deliver the student curriculum and successfully co-lead their program abroad.
Communicating and Engaging with Gen Zpresented by Becca Yount & Chelsea Lakdawala Communicating with Gen Z students can feel like a struggle at times. If you’re seeking new ways to improve your student communications to get them the important information needed for a successful study abroad experience—this is the workshop for you! In this facilitated conversation, we’ll allow space to discuss what strategies have (and haven’t been) effective, cover vital insights about this audience, and give our top tips and tools to turn the dial on your student communications.
Predeparture Advising and Managing Expectations with Today's Study Abroad Studentpresented by Alyssa Schmirler & Kate Gosson In this session, attendees will gain insight on predeparture processes and emerging trends, changes, and challenges in the post-covid study abroad setting. The audience will learn strategies for setting expectations and supporting students through visa processes, housing registration, and academic-related concerns. Attendees will also be invited to engage with this interactive session by sharing trends they are noticing and strategies they are implementing with their students. After this session, attendees will be better equipped to anticipate student needs and prepare students for going abroad, all while empowering them to take the lead in their study abroad experience.
Is My Experience Abroad Relevant in Advising: If and When to Talk About Your Own Experience When Advising Studentspresented by Shanté Fencl As international educators, many of us found our passion for the field from our own experiences abroad. The first time we had our passport stamped may be our most memorable moment; but is it relevant in advising? We take the question of whether advisors should incorporate their own lived experiences abroad a step further, by examining how advisors with their own unique, intersecting identities can provide support to students who may encounter similar transformations and challenges abroad.
Advising Students with Decolonization & Intersectionality in Mindpresented by Norvell Watts Often times Education Abroad (EA) professionals support students from underrepresented backgrounds through a focus on just one of a student’s identities. However, with Gen Z being the most racially diverse and openly LGBT+, it is imperative that EA professionals are equipped with tools to advise students with intersectionality in mind. In recent years, emphasize on decolonization in EA has been seen as an essential step for recruiting and advising students from underrepresented backgrounds. In this session, we will explore how multiple identities students possess can conflict with their study abroad goals, how EA professionals unintentionally perpetuate Europe-centric study abroad based on student identities, and actionable items to implement in your advising sessions.
"Should I Stay, or Should I Go": Effective Post Pandemic International Recruitment Strategies presented by Laura Hosford-Yunker This session will explore effective post pandemic recruitment strategies and strategic recruitment planning. In a post covid world, we have seen an increase in international student mobility and a reported increase in the number of F-1 visas issued by U.S. consulates. However, not all schools have seen an increase in international student enrollment. This session will share recruitment strategies that our institution has found effective and different ways to diversify international recruitment strategies. The session will introduce how to build a strategic recruitment plan and explore how to develop a target market in stages. Lastly the session will bring an awareness of how bias can affect recruitment decisions and discuss the different ways enrollment data can be used to inform recruitment decisions. This session will also provide an opportunity for participants to collaborate and share ideas for effective recruitment strategies.
Introduction to International Collaboration Colleges and Programs in Chinapresented by Brock Goldflies & Jack Wang This session will present an overview of international institutions and program collaborations in Chinese higher education. There will be an explanation of their historical context and the differences and similarities between Sino-foreign collaboration institutions and the regular, domestic institutions across China. In addition, we will cover the importance of these collaboration programs in credential evaluation and international enrollment management, such as the verifiability of awarded credentials and program admission requirements. The session will conclude with recommendations for establishing policies for evaluating these types of programs.
Modernizing International Student Recruitment: Navigating the Evolving International Education Landscape through Omnichannel Marketingpresented by Emma Howes & Mariah Thomson Over the last few years, the international student market has undergone a significant transformation, calling for a reevaluation of the traditional agency model in student recruitment and the adoption of more innovative strategies. This session will highlight the changing dynamics in the international student market, the decreasing relevance of traditional agency models, and the critical role of omnichannel marketing in enhancing a school's global brand and boosting enrollments. This session is designed for international enrollment professionals, admissions officers, marketing teams, and university administrators seeking innovative solutions for student recruitment and global brand enhancement for the schools and programs they represent.
Collaborative Recruitment Planning for Intensive English Programspresented by Kate Pope & Priya Shah Do you recruit for an intensive English program (IEP)? Are you an IEP administrator who also does recruitment? IEPs are often relegated to the sidelines in international student recruitment and strategic planning. In this session, an IEP administrator and an international recruitment manager for a small regional university will share best practices and tips to communicate program outcomes, the value of the IEP, and low-budget, collaborative tactics that enable institutions and administrators to communicate effectively and efficiently about IEP information with prospective students and other stakeholders. Participants will have time to ask questions and talk in small groups to share their own struggles and successes. Attendees will leave with resources and ideas about how to implement new strategies at their own institution.
Creating & Leveraging Support for International Education Across Your Campuspresented by Tony Marotta & Lucy Bruno This interactive session will discuss how to create and leverage campus partnerships to maximize support for international education across your campus. Utilizing training for key constituents and IE practitioners will best situate international educators as campus leaders, as well as prepare campus for various enrollment disruptions (foreseeable and unforeseeable). The session will emphasize identifying strategies to reach and train campus partners and stakeholders, including faculty, advising, student affairs, and others.
CBP Academy: New Options for Professional Developmentpresented by Rachel Krein & Dr. Geet Vanaik The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Field Office in Rosemont is now offering three academies: Family, Partner, and Community. In this session, the Director and Associate Director of the Office of International Student and Scholar Services at Northwestern University will share their experience of the academy, CBP Alumni Association, Detroit Northern Border Tour, and ways to build your partnership and allyship with CBP staff members.
We’re Still Standing: International Office Morale Strategies for a Crazy Worldpresented by Jacob Schoofs & Sara McGuinn Today’s offices across international education are plagued by low morale, staff burnout, demanding deadlines, ambiguity, and competing priorities. Each of us asks ourselves, how do we keep our staff motivated, honor the need for work/life balance, and deal with limited staff, all the while being asked to do more? There are strategies both big and small which can help to contribute to a positive working environment and help keep staff engaged, fulfilled, and ready to address the realities faced by our field and supporting our students and institutions in all the work that we do.
Leveraging the Power of Data Analysis in International Educationpresented by Mouna Bounouader & Aline Vivirito-Valais In an era of data-driven decision-making, the field of international education is not immune to the transformative influence of data collection and analysis. Institutions, educators, and administrators worldwide are increasingly recognizing the potential of data analytics to enhance student success, improve program effectiveness, and inform strategic decisions. This session aims to explore the pivotal role of data collection and analysis in international education.
What we do in the Mentorship Programpresented by Jacob Schoofs & Jim Brosam Come learn more about the IEI Mentorship Program. The program is a great way to build your network, develop your professional skills, navigate the field of International Education, so much more. Whether you are looking to be a mentee or a mentor, you will hear more about the program, hear from current and past participants, and learn how you can get involved.
LOCATION
Loyola University Chicago Water Tower Campus 25 E Pearson St Chicago, IL 60611