OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES (OII)
The Office of International Initiatives helps Bluefield State University to realize its Mission of preparing “students for diverse professions…informed citizenship, community involvement, and public service in an ever-changing global society” and its Vision by “embracing the diversity that shapes our world.”
The Office of International Initiatives is responsible for International Student Recruitment, Integration, and Retention and Internationalizing the university’s Curriculum
International Student Recruitment, Integration, and Retention: Working collaboratively with the Office of Provost and VP for Academic and Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, Registrar, Athletics, Admissions, Financial Aid, Title III, Human Resources, Business Office, Payroll, the Office of International Initiatives
Recruits international students through WV HEPC’s StudyWV portal, BSU’s English for International Students program, and EducationUSA offices worldwide
Provides logistical support for international students’ participation in campus and off-campus events and experiences – welcome reception, United Day celebration, cultural immersion trips within West Virginia and surrounding states, community involvement, and public service activities
Updates the online International Students Handbook annually
Provides academic advising and guidance to international students relating to academic matters
Updates international alumni testimonials on the web page
Recruits and arranges homestays for German participants in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program and assists with internship placement and vying for the (US) Congressional Internship Program in Washington, D.C.
Internationalizing the university’s Curriculum: In collaboration with the Provost and VP for Academic and Student Affairs and the faculty, the Office of International Initiatives
Internationalizes the courses offered by the Schools of Business; Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; and Nursing and Allied Health through its Windows on the World activity which features Fulbright Scholars at BSU and other visiting international scholars and students from its partner institutions
Recruits Fulbright Language Teaching Assistants to teach critical languages and their nations’ cultures
Provides free passports to BSU students annually
Assists students enrolled in the B.A. in International Studies to find funds for study/internship costs from local foundations
Assists BSU students who apply for US Department of State study abroad scholarships (e.g., Fulbright, Boren, Critical Language, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program)
Engages BSU students in Cross-Cultural Activities, such as Agora, with students of international partner institutions
Strengthens the university’s study abroad capabilities by supporting faculty participation in study abroad capacity building workshops sponsored by the US Department of State
Assists with the development of faculty-led study abroad programs
Initiates Memoranda of Understanding with higher education institutions to support student and faculty exchanges, collaborative faculty research, and information exchange
Oversees the university’s J-1 Exchange Scholars program
Periodically submits applications to the US Department of State to host Fulbright Scholars in Residence
Assists BSU students applying for international internships and Career Opportunities
Coordinates the annual Former Members of Congress to Campus
Bluefield State University’s Office of International Initiatives attains the university’s
Academic Objective 7: International Cultures
Opportunities Required. The university shall require each student receiving a bachelor’s degree to have received an introduction to one or more international cultures through an appropriate curricular, co-curricular or extracurricular opportunity.
Accountability. The university shall maintain a portfolio for each student that will demonstrate upon graduation that such student has received an introduction to one or more international cultures through an appropriate curricular, co-curricular or extracurricular opportunity.
Bluefield State University’s Office of International Initiatives fulfills the following Higher Learning Commission’s Criteria:
1.B. The institution’s mission demonstrates commitment to the public good.
1.C. The institution provides opportunities for civic engagement in a diverse, multicultural society and globally-connected world, as appropriate within its mission and for the constituencies it serves.
2.B.2. The institution ensures evidence is available to support any claims it makes regarding its contributions to the educational experiences through research, community engagement, experiential learning, religious or spiritual purpose and economic development.
3.B.3: The education offered by the institution recognizes the human and cultural diversity and provides students with growth opportunities and lifelong skills to live and work in a multicultural world.
- AAC&U Global Learning Value Rubric
- AAC&U Intercultural Knowledge Value Rubric
- AAC&U Ethical Reasoning Value Rubric
- AAC&U Civic Engagement Value Rubric
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Director: Sudhakar R. Jamkhandi, Ph.D., International Initiatives at Bluefield State University Facebook |
West Virginia’s Commitment to International Education
Report of the 2003 WV Commission on International Education
EducationUSA centers are the U.S. State Department‘s network of over 400 advising centers in 170 countries designed to assist local students to find the appropriate college or university in the United States. We encourage you to visit your local center for information on selecting the U.S. college or university that meets your needs, understanding and preparing for the required admissions tests, assistance in the admission process, advice on finding financial aid for your studies, preparation for the student visa process, and pre-departure orientations. Click on the link below to find your center!”
