As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Office for Global Engagement (OGE), it is a reflective moment on the evolution of the office and the growth of services and support for international students, scholars, employees, and families. The International Services Office (ISO), as a unit within the OGE, has played a crucial role in this journey. Through our partnership with the OGE and collaboration with constituents and stakeholders, we have fostered an enduring relationship that makes the University a welcoming place, a space to belong and flourish for our international population.
Growth in International students
Over the last decade, the international student population at the University of Rochester has seen an upward trajectory in total numbers, with the exception of the COVID years, and our concentration of international students is higher than most of our peers. One-third of international students studying in the U.S originate in China. At the University, nearly 50% of the international population are students from China followed by India, South Korea, and Canada. International students represent near 30% of the total student body, and the level of support and engagement provided by the International Services Office (ISO) has evolved and now is aligned with ISO Enduring Priorities, OGE’s priorities and the University’s strategic plan.
Organizational Response to growth
In response to the growth and evolving needs of our constituents and stakeholders, ISO undertook an organizational restructuring to meet the new challenges by integrating advising services, merging service operations, and strengthening the support and engagement services to reflect our mission, vision, and organizing principles.
Growth in Programming and Advising Structure
ISO has expanded its programming efforts in how we support and engage our international students by launching a new Support and Engagement team in 2022. As a result, our programming and community outreach efforts is data-driven to provide the necessary foundations for students to flourish and belong at the University of Rochester.
ISO introduced a new advising model which ensured students remain with the adviser for the duration of their academic journey at the University. This ensured consistency in advising on immigration policy, process, and procedures, allowing advisers to know their students and gain in-depth contextual knowledge of their experience, thus enabling holistic advising.
As a critical strategic initiative, ISO is committed to partnerships and collaboration, especially with the Center for Education Abroad and schools and other service units.
Utilizing Technology to Enhance Services
ISO utilizes technology and training tools to optimize and support staff work to ensure compliance with federal reporting requirements and achieve operational and managerial efficiencies.
To engage students and scholars and empower them, the advising teams introduced an online appointment system in conjunction with rolling out several electronic forms that provided students, scholars and hosting departments a streamlined process and significantly reducing response and processing times.
The creation of the Document Management and Training team introduced further efficiencies in document processing times to two to three days instead of the traditional two weeks, thereby giving new students flexibility and advantage in visa appointments at US Consular Posts. Aligned with the educational mission of ISO, the team will launch a training series for faculty and departments on foundational issues of immigration and challenges faced by international students.
ISO looks forward to the next decade of innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. We aim to build on the foundations of the past ten years, creating, nurturing, and equipping our students to flourish in a complex, interdependent, and interconnected world.
Congratulations to the Office for Global Engagement! Happy 10th anniversary.