THE FORUM: Office of International Students and Scholars
Editor’s note:
The forum is the students’ chance to ask questions of Utah State University’s administrators. Questions for administrators can be sent to editor@statesman.usu.edu
The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) serves more than 1,200 international students and scholars in undergraduate and graduate programs representing 84 countries.
We are committed to providing professional support services to international students and scholars to succeed both academically and personally. The office provides leadership and support to enhance the academic, social, and personal interactions of students and scholars while at Utah State University, in the Logan community, and in the United States. It serves as the primary link between the students and government agencies locally and around the world.
The staff is eager to assist with advising on immigration and the academic, personal, and social adjustment of students and their families. The OISS staff strives to create a warm and inclusive environment in which all students can learn and interact in a culturally sensitive community of scholars. Throughout the year, the OISS offers services and cultural programs responsive to the needs of linguistically diverse groups at USU.
These services include academic and cultural orientation programs, general and academic advising, transportation needs, conflict resolution and mediation, immigration matters, peer mentoring, cultural events planning, and referrals to other campus services to ensure academic success through graduation.
The OISS strongly believes in providing support to international student organizations to enhance campus activities and to create an enriched college environment that is a characterization of our global community. Through international and multicultural education and tailored student support services, the OISS serves as a cultural bridge for students to develop and practice the skills necessary to become world citizens.
Our students include freshmen, transfer, Study Abroad, and Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) students. In addition, we serve more than 100 family members who will require assistance while in Logan. We also network with international alumni to promote USU’s international presence.
We hope to see an increase in overall student satisfaction, enrollments, retention, student engagement and involvement with cultural programs and various other activities.
The Office of International Students and Scholars is instrumental in creating campus diversity and global awareness. Its services and programs are essential to recruit and retain international students and scholars from all over the world. In our world today, it is in our national interest to educate students from other countries and expose them to American values and practices.
It is equally important to educate American students about the cultures and languages of other nations to better prepare them for the global market place and economy. International education is a tool to promote cultural awareness and world peace.
Negar Davis is the director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. OISS is located on the third floor of the Taggart Student Center. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For further information please contact 435-797-1124 or e-mail us at: oiss@cc.usu.edu