1 / 13

Best Practices: Study Abroad Alumni Programming

Best Practices: Study Abroad Alumni Programming. Kirsten Laufer Study Abroad Assistant Director, U Florida. What services do students need post-return? What is the role of the study abroad office in developing alumni programming? What is feasible for the study abroad office?

akiva
Download Presentation

Best Practices: Study Abroad Alumni Programming

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Best Practices: Study Abroad Alumni Programming Kirsten Laufer Study Abroad Assistant Director, U Florida

  2. What services do students need post-return? What is the role of the study abroad office in developing alumni programming? What is feasible for the study abroad office? How can we help the whole student through the entire study abroad process?

  3. University of Florida: 2000-2200 students abroad annually. Six advisors. 2/3 participants: summer short-term programs. 50,000 students in Gainesville.

  4. Main activities Re-Entry programs Study Abroad Peer Advisors UF NaviGators International Ed Focus Group “International Careers” listserv.

  5. Re-Entry Programming Spring and fall. Two-hour session designed to link study abroad with future opportunities. -Meet and greet; guest speakers. -Discussion of reverse culture shock. -Overseas opportunities: -Non-profit/NGO/PVO -Career opportunities -Introduction to alumni organizations -Breakout groups

  6. Re-Entry Programming Spring and fall. Challenges: -How do we reach out to all study abroad students? -How can we create programs that directly relate to a wide group of students?

  7. Study Abroad Peer Advisors Who are they? -50 study abroad alumni. -Competitive app process. -Commitment to int’l opportunities and the study abroad experience. What do they do? -Advise students. -Assist at info sessions; freshman preview; study abroad fairs. -Host country-specific orientations. -Organize student-led events on campus. -Fill in for UFIC for presentations outside of regular work hours.

  8. UF NaviGators Who are they? -Social organization for inbound exchange students and degree-seeking students. -Buddy matching for participants. -Hosts social events, both in Gainesville and in the local area. -Open to all students!

  9. International Ed Focus Group Purpose: To provide extended re-entry services to study abroad alumni. Events offered throughout the semester: -Advisement on international careers. -Overseas English teaching positions. -Peace Corps recruitment. -International graduate school opportunities. -Presentations by those in the field. Open to all!

  10. International Careers Listserv • -Notify alumni of related job opportunities. • -Primarily job postings on SECUSSA/NAFSA. • -Meetings with students interested in obtaining jobs in IE. • Open to all!

  11. Possible next steps? ”Baggage Claim” – Weekly support group for alumni to discuss reverse culture shock and other issues resulting from the return to the U.S.; in conjunction with the UF Counseling Center. Formalized internship program – To give students the opportunity to learn in and from the study abroad office. Internships thusfar have been ad hoc.

  12. Summer 2011 -Change emphasis from short-term to long-term goals: -Develop new programs (B1): -Internship -Service-learning -Alumni Director; Evaluator; Advisors + Receptionist -Create “Re-entry While Abroad” program. (D4) Director; Advisors

  13. Other steps? …thoughts/ideas? What do you offer for alumni? How do you seek to expand?

More Related