Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to help ease the transition international students faced when coming to the United States for academic study by creating a year-long partnership between one international student and one domestic student. This partnership program allowed for international students to have a point of contact with a domestic student should they require assistance with adjusting to life in the United States. Each component of the program was designed to assist in the attainment of the goals of the program, which incorporated training, socialization, personal relationships, and evaluation. The International Student Services Office, Housing and Residence Life, and an English as a Second Language program collaborated in order to ensure the program reached its goals and maximized the benefits for both international and domestic students. The goal of this project was to increase international student satisfaction with their experience while studying in the United States and to maximize international students' personal and academic success. At the end of this program, international students had a point of contact with a domestic student in cases of emergency, stress, or confusion, gained knowledge of campus resources from a domestic peer, had the opportunity to build friendships with other international and domestic students, and were prepared to meet the numerous challenges international students faced in the United States.
