S13 Learning and Teaching as an International: SU Faculty's Lived Experiences

Presenters

Derya Kulavuz-Onal, English
Asli Eksi, Economics and Finance
Eun-Jeong Han, Communication
Enyue Lu, Computer Science
Moushumi Chakraborty, Library

Abstract

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a decline in the number of international students enrolled at US universities (opendoorsdata.org), international students have become an integral part of higher education institutions in the US, steadily increasing over the years. However, the well-being of international students requires particular attention at small regional universities with low percentages of international students, such as Salisbury University. With that observed need, a group of faculty and staff with international experiences formed the Teaching with International Students (TwINS) Faculty Learning Community in 2018. As TwINS, one of our goals is to explore, share, and increase awareness for effective culturally-inclusive pedagogical practices for active engagement of international students on campus and beyond. Believing that one way to make this happen is to create spaces for open conversations about the international student experience on college campuses, for this panel we invited four SU international faculty, who have a shared experience of being an international student in the past, a unique journey fraught with challenges and rewards. Representing different schools and departments at SU, and different nationalities, our panelists will discuss their lived experiences to give insights to SU faculty about what works for the successful engagement of international students. During this session, the moderators will ask questions to the panelists as regards to a) past classroom-based pedagogical practices that worked for them as international students, b) resources provided on campus and in the community for their successful adjustment and engagement on campus and beyond during their times as international students, c) challenges and rewards of being an international student, and d) how their experiences as international students inform their teaching with domestic or international students now. During the last 10 minutes of the session, we will invite the audience to ask questions, make comments, or share their own experiences.

Session Recording