International Student Orientation

The office of International Student Services organizes a special International Student Orientation, which takes place before Preview 5 and Fall Orientation for all new students. This year, the international orientation begins on Monday, August 18, 2008.

International Student Orientation is intended to provide international students with added time and exposure to life at Mount Union College during a calm time before the other fall session starts. Many international students have language insecurities and some have no experience outside of their home countries; this is a time for these students to begin adjusting not only to life at Mount Union College, but also to completely different food, weather, time zone, housing and interpersonal communication.

Other goals of orientation include helping international students become acclimated to the United States, to the campus, and to the academic expectations of Mount Union College. With the assistance of some second and third year students and college administrators, faculty and staff, the participants will receive help with:

opening a bank account

applying for a social security card

planning for telephone service

procuring necessary supplies

becoming familiar with computer and library facilities

learning about various offices and policies on campus, U.S. government regulations, academic advising system, and health and mail services

Participants will tour the Mount Union campus and will enjoy evening activities such as bowling and a campfire with upper-classmen who are advisors in the residence halls.

They will get to know other new international students and hear reports from returning international students on their methods of coping with adjustment to student life in the United States.