How US colleges are trying to help Chinese students integrate with their American peers
At Big Ten public universities, which began a big recruiting push in China several years ago for students and their tuition dollars, the integration of Chinese students has become such a pressing issue in the past couple of years that they now hold regular summits to discuss strategies.
The University of Illinois, which enrolls nearly 5,000 Chinese students on a campus of some 44,000 students, began holding “Football 101” clinics a couple years ago and introduced Mandarin-language broadcasts this fall. Mike Waddell, a senior associate director of athletics, said he has seen the students at games listening to the broadcasts through their smartphones.
At Purdue, one of several schools that now hold pre-departure orientation sessions in Chinese cities, Michael Brzezinski, the dean of international programs, said officials begin stressing to incoming freshmen even before they arrive in Indiana the importance of engaging with other students.
Many schools are also working with domestic students and faculty to help make Chinese students more comfortable. Ohio State has developed programs to encourage domestic students to interact with international students, including joint tours of nearby cities.
Source: South China Morning Post
