International advisors and professionals to meet Aug. 18 at UO

The UO will host more than 200 professionals from 25 universities, law firms and federal agencies during the 2017 International Advising Summit on Aug. 18.

The event will bring together immigration advisors, program coordinators, lawyers and government representatives to discuss the top issues and challenges facing international student and scholar advising.

The theme of the summit, “Advising the Whole Student,” is a call to action and opportunity to explore ways of supporting international students. Campus administrators, faculty members, counselors in all departments and domestic students can do that through a high-quality educational experience that also addresses the demands of living and learning in a new cultural and academic environment.

“This summit tasks all of us to think about the ways our work facilitates international student learning and integration in our efforts to maintain the success of the international education field in Oregon,” said Paolo Daniele, UO international student advisor and chair of the summit. “We all strongly believe that it is important to come together to discuss the challenges and mixed messages that recent government policies have posed for our students and scholars.”

The summit — hosted for the first time by the UO from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Erb Memorial Union — will have 30 panels and roundtable discussions, as well as an open house at the Mills International Center, tours of the American English Institute’s Agate Hall and a poster presentation session. Participants will have access to sessions confronting the effects of presidential executive orders, new immigration regulations, student support, admissions issues and current best practices in academic advising.

“There are very real efforts to recruit international students and to maintain their numbers at institutions in Oregon,” said Abe Schafermeyer, UO director of International Student and Scholar Services. “However, these goals need to match with sound groundwork at each campus community for engaging with this diverse population. Not unlike domestic students, the motives of international students for pursuing studies here include both academic and career goals, and are facilitated through building strong relationships with members of the host institution.”

The International Advising Summit was first established in 2012 by Oregon State University and has since grown into a collaborative effort between OSU, Portland State University and the University of Oregon. Lane Community College and Northwest Christian University also will participate in this year’s meeting.