5 Unique Features of the International Student Success Program at Syracuse University

Syracuse University (SU) has historically been committed to a diverse, equitable, and accessible learning environment for students from all over the world. Since its founding, SU has welcomed international students and scholars and benefited enormously from their intellectual diversity. SU prioritizes having international students on campus, making comprehensive and ongoing support services for international students essential. In 2019, SU's College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs (MAX) took a lead in the world to establish an innovative international student success program that focuses on student's academic and career achievement. Positive results from the program drew the attention of the Chronicle of Higher Education, top media service in American higher education.

On March 16, 2023, an extensive article, "Where Cultural Understanding Is Key to Student Success," was published by Karin Fischer, featuring SU's proactive approach to international student success. In February 2024, SU's international student success program was awarded a prestigious 2024 Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award for Campus Internationalization by NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Named after the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois, the annual NAFSA Simon awards celebrate outstanding commitment and accomplishment in campus internationalization.

International Student Success Program: Conceptual Framework

SU's International Student Success Model presents a vision for student success by changing the narrative of international student support services and, most importantly, bridging the gap between academic advising and international education. It starts with answering the question of "why":

Why: The model collaboratively guides and empowers students within an inclusive environment to realize their potential and discover their purpose as they successfully transition into university life.

How: It adopts a proactive and holistic approach to bridge the gap between academic advising and international education. This effort connects the two professional fields and serves international students collaboratively and comprehensively.

What: Guided by the answers to why and how, five areas of initiatives address “what,” as articulated below.

5 Unique Features

1. Pre-arrival Academic Coaching. To help new international students make a smooth academic transition, a non-credit asynchronous course is offered on Blackboard starting in May with three learning outcomes: 1) understanding academic expectations for college students at SU; 2) identifying essential SU personnel and resources for academic success; and 3) finding the paths to graduation and career. This course comprises learning modules and five assignments. In addition to the asynchronous course, onboarding academic training is provided once a week with various academic and career topics for 14 weeks, led by professors, academic and career advisors, and student leaders.
2. Peer Mentoring. The peer mentoring program aims to assist new international students in making successful academic adjustments and increasing their engagement and academic achievement. Each new international student is assigned a peer mentor in early May. The peer mentors are trained with materials and toolkits including program syllabi, facilitator guides, and other items before working with students. The peer mentor program is distinct in its extension of the advising as teaching philosophy. The program features a syllabus outlining weekly learning goals for mentors and mentees.
3. Advisor Training. To achieve international student academic success, mutual understanding and respect between advisors and students is essential. A series of training workshops and guidance materials are available to advisors. Topics include the correlation between English proficiency level and class selection, simplifying academic integrity, and international student employment regulations (CPT/OPT).
4. Academic Intervention. One of the most acute challenges for international students is navigating requirements from all directions. We have an Academic Success Compass, a guideline that helps international students develop learning strategies and refine mindsets and personal management skills during their four years of undergraduate study. Academic and career advisors can also utilize the Compass to ensure students stay on the right track during their academic and personal journeys. We host a weekly International Student Wednesday Forum to provide a safe and welcoming space for international students to meet, learn, and share. Forum topics are selected based on students' feedback and reflections from academic advisers' interactions. Specific academic guidance is offered to high achieving students, such as research seminars and career connections. For students in academic probation, one-on-one meetings are arranged between student and academic coach.
5. Communication. Productive, meaningful, and caring communication strengthens students' feelings regarding belonging on campus. We offer a weekly international student newsletter highlighting academic actions, scholarship opportunities, internships, and campus jobs. In addition, our social media groups on WeChat, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook help create an international student community to exchange ideas and ask questions. A similar communication approach applies to international student parents, who are great partners in the school's work with their children.