S15-11 International First-Year Experience Seminar The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) and the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) have established an International First-Year Seminar (IFYS) for incoming international undergraduate students to Iowa State University. This seminar is also targeted to transfer students who have attended a U.S. university for less than two semesters Rationale Undergraduate international students transitioning to university life in the United States need an incredible amount of information to make that transition successful. At Iowa State University, this information has typically been presented during 3-4 day orientations prior to the beginnings of semesters. However, this can create information overload for the students. Best practices at US universities with large international student populations is moving toward a three-tiered model for helping international students to successfully transition to university life in the United States. The three tiers include (1) delivering targeted pre-arrival information to incoming students, (2) implementing a well-developed on-campus orientation program, and (3) continuing to provide students with timely information throughout their first semester. The International First-Year Experience Seminar focuses on the third tier of this model. Overview The 1-credit 16-week course designated as University Studies 110X (U ST 110X) which was approved as an experimental course, starting in Fall 2015. The course format includes 2-3 large lecture sections of 100 - 150 students once a week for 50 minutes and an estimated 40 - 50 small recitation groups, consisting of 10 – 12 students meeting once a week. The course will continue in Spring 2016 with the goal of becoming a permanent course for new international students. An LAS faculty member will work in coordination with ISSO staff to direct the seminar, with ISSO staff and guest faculty and staff lecturers covering the cultural, academic, and campus resources topics, such as strategies for academic success, academic dishonesty, U.S. culture, campus resources, immigration regulations, and other topics as they arise. A graduate student will be selected and assigned to work with each lecture section and its attached recitation sections. Each recitation section will be led by a current American and a current international student. To ensure these student leaders are prepared to facilitate the recitation sections, they will complete a leadership training course the semester prior to leading the recitation section. Student leaders will be paid for this training and for leading the recitation sections. These student leaders would also have ongoing leadership training sessions with ISSO staff during the semester they are leading the recitation sections to allow the student leaders to debrief their recitation facilitation experience for that week. At this time, the seminar instructor would also go over the material the leaders would be presenting the following week. Motion: Require all international undergraduate students to take University Studies 110X.
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International First-Year Experience Seminar · 2016-03-07 · International First-Year Experience Seminar focuses on the third tier of this model. Overview The 1-credit 16-week course
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S15-11
International First-Year Experience Seminar
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) and the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) have established an International First-Year Seminar (IFYS) for incoming international undergraduate students to Iowa State University. This seminar is also targeted to transfer students who have attended a U.S. university for less than two semesters Rationale Undergraduate international students transitioning to university life in the United States need an incredible amount of information to make that transition successful. At Iowa State University, this information has typically been presented during 3-4 day orientations prior to the beginnings of semesters. However, this can create information overload for the students. Best practices at US universities with large international student populations is moving toward a three-tiered model for helping international students to successfully transition to university life in the United States. The three tiers include (1) delivering targeted pre-arrival information to incoming students, (2) implementing a well-developed on-campus orientation program, and (3) continuing to provide students with timely information throughout their first semester. The International First-Year Experience Seminar focuses on the third tier of this model. Overview The 1-credit 16-week course designated as University Studies 110X (U ST 110X) which was approved as an experimental course, starting in Fall 2015. The course format includes 2-3 large lecture sections of 100 - 150 students once a week for 50 minutes and an estimated 40 - 50 small recitation groups, consisting of 10 – 12 students meeting once a week. The course will continue in Spring 2016 with the goal of becoming a permanent course for new international students. An LAS faculty member will work in coordination with ISSO staff to direct the seminar, with ISSO staff and guest faculty and staff lecturers covering the cultural, academic, and campus resources topics, such as strategies for academic success, academic dishonesty, U.S. culture, campus resources, immigration regulations, and other topics as they arise. A graduate student will be selected and assigned to work with each lecture section and its attached recitation sections. Each recitation section will be led by a current American and a current international student. To ensure these student leaders are prepared to facilitate the recitation sections, they will complete a leadership training course the semester prior to leading the recitation section. Student leaders will be paid for this training and for leading the recitation sections. These student leaders would also have ongoing leadership training sessions with ISSO staff during the semester they are leading the recitation sections to allow the student leaders to debrief their recitation facilitation experience for that week. At this time, the seminar instructor would also go over the material the leaders would be presenting the following week.
Motion: Require all international undergraduate students to take University Studies 110X.
U ST 110X – (University Studies 110X) International First-Year Experience Seminar
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International First-Year Experience Seminar Spring 2016
SYLLABUS Section A Monday 4:10p.m.-5:00p.m. Location: Lebaron 1210
This seminar focuses on the transition to college in the U.S., Iowa State University resources, culture, and personal development through a large lecture and a peer mentor-led recitation section. Peer mentors will facilitate discussions, in-class activities, and learning experiences during your weekly recitation. The purpose of this course is to create an intentional space for new (freshman) international students, where: 1) students will be able to learn about and cope with transitional issues that they face upon arriving in the U.S.
2) students will be introduced to resources and information that will allow them to take full advantage of the available
benefits. This will increase the likelihood of success as undergraduate students in ISU.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, students will have had an opportunity to learn about issues of (1) adaptation to U.S. culture and classroom, (2) culture shock, (3) campus and community resources, (4) learning styles, (5) study skills, (6) basic immigration status and employment benefits, (7) health and wellness as a student, and (8) research and presentation skills. Seminar Expectations: Attendance. Attendance and participation in this course are required. You may have no more than one unexcused absence, in order to pass the course. Attendance will be recorded, and your being late may cause you to be marked absent. We realize that there are circumstances in which students will be unable to attend class including university sanctioned non-curricular reasons, university sanctioned curricular reasons, extra-curricular activities as a representative of the university, medical emergencies, or family emergencies. In these circumstances, students will be required to complete a make-up assignment in a timely fashion. This assignment will entail attending a pre-approved lecture or cultural event and writing a reflection paper of at least 250 words on the attended event. Course assignments. Students in this course will be expected to complete short in-class assignments such as reflection papers. They will also be expected to complete three out-of-class assignments: 1) MAPworks or Self-Assessment Paper
a. Option 1: Complete MAPworks via AccessPlus
b. Option 2: Complete a self-assessment (3-5 pages).
Successful completion of the MAPworks via AccessPlus or writing a self-assessment paper allows evaluating students learning potential and effectively addressing any arising academic issues. Students can complete MAPworks by logging in to Access Plus. They will have to use students’ ID and password to log in to the system, and then follow the guidelines to complete MAPworks. Students will receive detailed guidelines for the successful completion of the self-assessment paper. The guidelines will be provided at the beginning of the semester prior to the beginning of classes. Due date! MapWorks or Self-Reflection paper should be completed prior to the first week of March 2016(subject to change, students will be notified about the date change).
U ST 110X – (University Studies 110X) International First-Year Experience Seminar
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2) Weekly reflections
a. Students will have to write weekly reflections and post them under Discussions heading on Blackboard. Students are
encouraged to include personal experience related to the topic discussed in the lecture.
b. Students will write a one-page final reflection paper at the end of the semester. Final reflection papers should be 500-
700 words maximum and reflect on students’ academic and personal experience during Spring Semester 2016. Specific
requirements for the final reflection paper will be provided at the end of Spring Semester 2016 via Blackboard.
3) Meet with a United States student – give a short presentation about that experience to your recitation section
a. Must meet with an American student 4 times during the semester.
b. Must create a 2-3 minute presentation on your experience.
c. Students are encouraged to join Cultural Ambassador program or English Together program to meet an American
student. To find out about additional opportunities, students are encouraged to check ISSO website,
www.isso.iastate.edu – Programs and Events, and talk to their IFYE Seminar coordinator.
4) Group project – students group, recitation section, will create something and will present it at the large lecture (Poster,
Power Point Presentation, Art Exhibit, video). Students will receive the description of specific parameters they need to
consider while developing their final project one month before the final project submission.
5) Attend cultural events. Students will receive a list of events organized by Friendship International, English Together,
Cultural Ambassador programs and other organizations at ISU. A detailed list of organizations will be provided during
the first two weeks of classes. Students can attend events of their choice and make a 5-7 minute presentation about
their experience at the end of the semester.
Grading. This course is evaluated on a Satisfactory/Fail basis, based on attendance and completion of the required
assignments.
COURSE CALENDAR *Subject to change with advanced notice, location is to be determined with advance notice.
Week Date(s) Topic Activity Reading/ Homework
1 01/11
Welcome to ISU!
Campus resources
Ames resources
Course overview Common questions, needs, concerns
Recitation 1 Team-building activity “Getting to Know each other and learn about ISU resources”.
2 01/18 MLK Day
Getting Around in Ames:
Transportation
Entertainment
Shopping
Notice! Lecture will be cancelled; students will have to complete an independent assignment.
Refer to the blackboard for assignment
Recitation 2 Team building activity “Library Scavenger Hunt”. IFYE coordinators meet their recitation session students at the Parks Library and hand in the assignment. Students have to complete the assignment in 30 minutes and return it to the IFYE coordinator. Group activity “Explore Ames”. Assignment I class discussion.
U ST 110X – (University Studies 110X) International First-Year Experience Seminar
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17 05/06
Presentation, Meet with an American Student presentation
Students presentations - discussions
Note: This is a Word version of the survey. The actual survey is an online Qualtrics
version.
International First Year Experience Survey
Q1
Informed Consent Agreement
Please read this consent agreement carefully before you decide to participate in the study. Purpose of the research study: The purpose of the study “New International Undergraduate Student Adjustment at Iowa State University” is to analyze how new undergraduate international students at Iowa State adjust over the course of their first semester. What you will do in the study: You have been asked to complete a survey inquiring about how you are adjusting to life at Iowa State.
If you are enrolled in the U ST 110X International First-Year Experience course, you will be asked to provide a unique identifier so that your results can be linked with your previous results if you completed this survey earlier this semester. Data from this survey will be linked to previous responses from an initial survey administered in the third week of class for students in the U ST 110X course. By clicking the "I agree" button below, you are agreeing to allow the researcher to link this survey to an initial survey administered in the U ST 110X course.
If you are not enrolled in the U ST 110X course, you will not be asked to provide any identifying information unique identifier.
You can skip any question that makes you uncomfortable and can stop taking the survey at any time. If you agree to take the survey, simply start by clicking the "I agree" button at the end of this agreement. If you do not wish to take the survey, click the "I do not agree" button.
Time required: The survey will require about 15 – 20 minutes of your time. Risks: This study does not involve any foreseeable risks to you. The survey information you provide will be kept confidential. The researcher will not know your name. No identifying or other information will be provided to your instructors. Benefits: There are no direct benefits to you for participating in this research study. However, information drawn from this study can be used by current and future international students, as well as faculty and administrators both at Iowa State and beyond to help them make improvements in academic courses as well as programs and services to help with international student adjustment to American universities. Confidentiality: The information that you give in the study will be handled confidentially. Your data will be anonymous which means that your name will not be collected or linked to the data. The data gathered from this survey will only be seen by the researcher and potentially his doctoral committee. The data will be kept on a secured computer behind a variety of university information technology fire walls.
Payment: You will receive no payment for participating in the study. However, two of the emails from participants in this survey will be selected in a random drawing by the researcher to receive $25 ITunes cards. The approximate odds of being selected are 1 in 150. You may or may not be offered class participation credit in the U ST 110X course for participating in this study. Questions: If you have any questions about this study please the researcher, James Dorsett, at the e-mail address [email protected] or 517-353-1741. You may also contact the supervising faculty member, Dr. Linda Hagedorn, at [email protected] or 515-294-5746. You may also consult with the Iowa State Office for Responsible Research at [email protected] or 515-294-1516.
I agree
I do not agree
Q2 Welcome to the International Student Adjustment Survey!
Q3 U ST 110X (International First-Year Experience Course) Enrollment Are you enrolled in the U ST 110X Course for the Fall 2015 Semester?
Yes
No
Q4 Unique Survey Identifier If you are enrolled in the U ST 110X course, please type in your unique survey identifier in the box below. This will be your birthdate in numbers plus the first four digits of your ISU ID number. The purpose of the unique identifier is so that if you agree to take the survey at the end of the semester, your data from this survey can be compared to your data from the second survey. For example, if your birthdate is 29 August, 1995 and your ISU ID is 123456789, please type 2908951234.
If you are not enrolled in the U ST 110X course, you do not need to provide a unique identifier.
Comfortable contacting American students for helpComfortable interacting with people of different races/ethnicitiesComfortable interacting with people of different sexual orientationsComfortable interacting with people of different religionsComfortable interacting with my roomate(s) or housemate(s)
Section Mean
Section Mean
Cultural Adjustment: Communicating With AmericansComfortable communicating with Americans in classComfortable communicating with Americans outside class
With difficult material, only study easy material or give up
Section Mean
Section Mean
3.43 3.96 0.0001*** 3.77 3.96 0.090 0.19
3.70 4.08 3.88 4.02
3.86 4.26 0.001** 3.86 4.15 0.003** 0.29
3.81 4.16 0.006** 3.65 4.07 0.0002*** 0.42
3.65 4.10 0.0001*** 3.71 4.14 0.000*** 0.43
3.59 3.99 0.001** 3.64 3.98 0.002** 0.34
Able to deal with the climate in the US 3.63 4.00 0.003** 4.17 4.06 0.248 -0.11
Comfortable dealing with bureaucracy in US 3.49 3.94 0.0004*** 3.86 3.99 0.213 0.13
4.08 4.19 0.349 4.07 4.19 0.192 0.12
3.73 4.09 3.85 4.08
Cultural English Proficiency
Writing Skills in English 3.49 3.82 0.021* 3.78 3.78 1.000 0
Reading Skills in English 3.41 3.99 0.0004*** 3.81 3.83 0.699 0.02
Listening Skills in English NA (1) 3.78 3.74 3.72 0.891 -0.02
Speaking Skills in English NA (1) 3.68 3.80 3.86 0.772 0.06
3.45 3.82 3.78 3.80
Involvement With American Peers
Meals with Americans on campus 2.87 3.57 0.0004*** 3.67 3.68 0.920 0.01
Spent time with Americans outside of class 3.11 3.82 0.0001*** 3.73 3.95 0.095 0.22
2.80 3.51 0.0006** 3.87 3.69 0.220 -0.18
2.93 3.63 3.76 3.77
Interactions with Diversity
3.39 4.09 0.000*** 3.55 4.03 0.0008** 0.48
NA (1) 4.06 3.47 3.75 0.074 0.28
Spoke with students from another religion 2.85 4.02 0.000*** 3.13 3.84 0*** 0.71
2.70 3.60 0.000*** 2.91 3.59 0.0001*** 0.68
3.09 3.72 0.0003*** 3.19 3.68 0.0023** 0.49
2.89 3.72 0.000*** 3.03 3.45 0.009** 0.42
3.03 3.51 0.009** 2.59 3.50 0.000*** 0.91
2.99 3.82 3.12 3.69
Social Involvement
Attended academic lectures outside of class 2.56 3.18 0.0002*** 3.17 3.36 0.255 0.19
Attended social events on campus 3.09 3.57 0.0059** 2.91 3.32 0.0139* 0.41
Spoke with students from another sexual orientationSpoke with students from another political opinionSpoke with students in class about US diversity issuesAttended educational events about US diversity issues
Section Mean
Section Mean
Visited American students in their rooms or homes
Section Mean
Spoke with students of another race or ethnicitySpoke with students from another country (not US)
Comfortable eating American food or finding food I likeBelieve I understand American culture reasonably wellComfortable seeing things from an American perspective
Comfortable following American laws/university rules/regulations
Section Mean
Can handle rude people or poor treatment
Section Mean
Cultural Adjustment: Interacting with American CultureComfortable finding my way around campus/community
Attended social events off campus 2.81 3.32 0.0055** 2.40 3.49 0*** 1.09
Attended religious events on campus 2.28 2.62 0.078 2.30 3.03 0*** 0.73
Attended religious events off campus 2.35 2.97 0.0012** 2.52 3.21 0.0002*** 0.69
Helped organize an event 2.35 2.95 0.0021** 2.63 3.20 0.0025** 0.57
Joined campus club or organization NA (1) 3.43 3.68 3.60 0.564 -0.08
2.56 3.12 2.91 3.32
Satisfaction
Satisfied with my instructors 3.78 4.10 0.0066** 3.87 4.10 0.0262* 0.23
3.90 4.19 0.0117* 4.00 4.10 0.311 0.1
Satisfied with my life at this university 3.73 4.17 0.0003*** 3.98 4.13 0.209 0.15
3.89 4.20 0.0094** 3.89 4.20 0.494 0.31
3.87 4.04 0.175 3.78 4.04 0.0203* 0.26
3.85 4.09 0.071 4.03 4.05 0.983 0.02
3.84 4.13 3.93 4.10
3.37 3.81 3.52 3.80
Note. *= p < .05, **= p < .01, ***= p < .001. N=79 N=79 N=92 N=115
Note: (1) Four questions were added to the December survey that were not present on the September survey.
Section Mean
Total Survey Mean
Section Mean
Satisfied with the quality of education at this university
Satisfied with my decision to come to this universitySatisfied with how this university is supporting meI would recommend this university to my friends