April 12, 2019
By Kate O’Neill
International Student Orientation, formerly Global Start, will be offered in September prior to Welcome Week to all incoming international frosh, transfer and exchange students.
International Student Orientation for incoming undergraduate students will take place from Sept. 16 – 19. Throughout the four-day program, international frosh learn about campus resources, academic life in the U.S., meet advisers, and connect with their fellow banana slugs. The program includes support from peer global leaders and current students who provide guidance and first-hand experience to participants during orientation. Frosh are encouraged to get involved in the campus community to support their transition to UC Santa Cruz.
Parents of incoming frosh also have the opportunity to participate in an optional parent orientation. The program enables parents to learn about the college system, student support options, and hear from campus leadership while getting a glimpse of campus life.
International transfer and exchange students participate in a one-day orientation on Sept. 20. This one-day orientation supports transfer and exchange students’ transition to help them adjust to academic and student life by providing an overview of campus resources, and classroom culture. Throughout the program, students are encouraged to get involved with the community and connect with current students to ease their transition to campus life.
Global Engagement also offers an international graduate student orientation in partnership with the Division of Graduate Studies on Sept. 25. Graduate students spend this one-day program learning about classroom culture in the U.S., maintaining their immigration status, and Title IX.
“Global Engagement has found that face-to-face programs for international students help to create a network of support and enhances student success and retention outcomes. Students get to know staff, each other, and peer mentors to support their cultural transitions to UC Santa Cruz,” director of Global Programs for the Division of Global Engagement, Lisa Swaim said.
