The April 2014 Terra Dotta Newsletter focused on some of the experiences of others at four year colleges and universities in the field about why they are collecting data and how they are doing it related to study abroad. Having individuals at higher education institutions around the U.S. involved in data gathering and research is an important step in the growth of the study abroad field. I look forward to your feedback and information about the successes and challenges of your data collection for study abroad.

U.S. colleges and universities have been increasing the numbers of international students on campus at much larger levels than the numbers they send on study abroad. Not only are the numbers larger, but also the amount of time is also longer as most international students study on a U.S. campus for a full undergraduate or graduate degree.

One of the continuing challenges at U.S. colleges and universities is the growth of interactions between international students and study abroad students on a U.S. college or university campus. This is part of the concept of “Internationalization at Home”. I raised this issue in the January 2014 Terra Dotta Newsletter Article: How Do International Students Support Campus Internationalization? What is Your Campus Doing?.

This is part of the collaborative research that the Center for Global Education at UCLA is doing with colleagues at Terra Dotta Software. Thank you in advance to those who responded to the issues we raised about special programs on your campus. I think that one important issue is the question of how well prepared international students are on a college or university campus. However, a prepared international student is only one part of the answer. One of the hurdles that staff discuss is the question of whether U.S. students are really interested in interactions with “the other”… the international student that may not have the same interests and expectations as they enter a U.S. college or university as an undergraduate student. Another of the critical areas for successful interactions between U.S. and international students is inside the classroom. However, are faculty trained to enhance and support those interactions or do they sometimes undermine those possibilities?

Like many issues in U.S. higher education, the answer is… it depends… Following are some of the important issues and some of the innovative practices that I’ve found at colleges and universities across the U.S. As I mentioned, we are in the data gathering stage, so I can use your help in providing other methods being used at your or other campuses to make a difference! I think that you will find these examples interesting:

Monica joined Terra Dotta in December 2013 as a Product Specialist. She previously contracted with Terra Dotta from November 2009 - October 2010 to conceptualize the ISSS platform in TD software. On a daily basis, Monica collaborates with the current Terra Dotta ISSS development team and connects with a nationwide ISSS community to ensure that Terra Dotta is developing the best, most innovative ISSS management software available.

Prior to joining Terra Dotta, Monica held a variety of positions in international education and immigration including Director, International Student Services, University of Oklahoma; Immigration Specialist, T-Mobile USA; Immigration Paralegal, FDBL; and Immigration Specialist, Associated Catholic Charities.

Monica received a BA from the University of Oklahoma in Letters and Spanish, graduating Summa cum laude as a member of the Phi Betta Kappa honor society. She went on to complete an MA in Spanish Literature, also at the University of Oklahoma.

When she’s not working on the next generation of Terra Dotta software for ISSS, Monica spends her time chasing after her 3 year-old son, baking, cycling in the country, and getting lost in a good book.

Monica noted that her favorite part of working for Terra Dotta is the company’s “fast, sleek, and smart environment,” adding that “I’m learning so much in my new role.”

Presenter: Susan Jordan, Terra Dotta
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