Sesssion Descriptions:

Concurrent Sessions:

10:00 - 11:15

GCS Newcomers School: Best Practices through Community Collaboration
Presenter(s): Angel Katona, Social Worker, Newcomers School
Description: North Carolina has one of the largest new immigrant and refugee populations in the country. Numersous outreach programs and organizations, such as the Newcomers School in Greensboro, have been developed to meet new immigrant needs. The Newcomers School serves recently arrived immigrant and refugee students in grades 3-12 who are novice English speakers. In this session, learn more about the experiences and needs of new immigrant and refugee students and their families, projects and collaborations the school has with organizations to outreach to its students, and, as international educators, ways you can outreach to new immigrants and refugees in your community.
Recommended for: ISSS - Community Programming

Throwing Spaghetti at a Wall: Creating ESL Services from Scratch
Presenter(s): Nigel Caplan, ESL Specialist, UNC-Chapel Hill & Gigi Taylor, ESL Specialist, UNC-Chapel Hill
Description: What do ESL professionals do when they join a major university with over 2,500 international students and scholars but no ESL services? They experiment! This session introduces the fledgling English Language & American Culture services at UNC-Chapel Hill, which includes workshops, writing groups, a week-long intensive ESL program, and an online grammar blog. The presenters will describe and evaluate these different models of ESL provision and consider the implications of housing an ESL program within the university’s Writing Center. Discussion and participation from attendees is encouraged to share experiences and ideas for developing ESL services at local institutions of higher education.
Recommended for: RAP - ESL

Longitudinal Study & Learning Outcomes Assessment of Exchange Programs
Presenter(s): Heidi Fischer, Asst. Dir. of Academic Advising/Coord. for Int'l Student Services, UNC-Greensboro
Description: Are you interested in assessing the impact of your institution’s study abroad programs on your students? This session will introduce two ways of doing so: (1) a satisfaction/program assessment survey and (2) a learning-outcomes-based approach. You will learn about the results of a longitudinal study of exchange programs for UNCG business majors (1993-2007). As a result of this study, a learning-outcomes-based approach to measure program impact has been implemented. You will be able to administer these surveys or adapted versions on your home campus and incorporate the qualitative results of this survey in your advising practice.
Recommended for: SECUSSA

The Economic Impact of International Students
Presenter(s): John Williams, Associate Director, OIA, ECU; Andre Gregory, ECU and Pitt Community College, Gulzhan Elkin, ECU & Jessica Jaimes-Echeverria, ECU
Description: This panel presents research comparing the impact of international students based on data from different states and from different schools within the UNC system. We explore possible causes of the variation in outcomes.
Recommended for: ISSS - Immigration

11:30 - 12:45

Exploring Intercultural Competence from Multiple Perspectives
Presenter(s): Dr. Darla Deardorff, Executive Director, AIEA, Duke University
Description: Intercultural competence is often cited as a learning outcome of our students. Yet, what does this word really mean – from a US perspective but also from other cultural perspectives? This session explores intercultural competence from a variety of cultural perspectives, including Arab, Indian, Chinese, and Latin American. Based on the forthcoming Handbook of Intercultural Competence (Sage, 2009), the book’s editor will share these key perspectives and then lead a discussion on how intercultural competence can be developed in our students. Come prepared for a lively and informative discussion with colleagues!
Recommended for: All

Office Hours, 24/7?
Presenter(s): Madge Hubbard, Director, UNC EP, UNC System
Description: A brief presentation of the problem followed by a round table discussion on ways to provide excellent student services while maintaining other administrative duties and avoiding staff burnout. Please bring suggestions, questions, best practices.
Recommended for: All

Adapting the Campus to Changing Demographics in North Carolina - The Alien Within
Presenter(s): Dr. Peter Appleton, Associate Professor, Mount Olive College and President, US Mexico Chamber of Commerce
Description: In a 2007 speech UNC President Erskine Bowles stated, "During the next decade, the number of annual high school graduates in North Carolina is expected to grow by 30,000 — and almost 22,000 of those are Latino students. That will change this university" This paper will address what changes will be imposed on the university and how the university can best prepare for these changes. Discussion will include, academics, faculty, funding and facilities. Discussion will also explain international opportunities that will be opened by responding positively to these demographic changes.
Recommended for: RAP - Preparation

Alcohol and Study Abroad: Is it really a problem?
Presenter(s): Sharon Radomski, Graduate Student, UNC-Wilmington & Dr. Sally MacKain, Professor, UNC-Wilmington
Description: Study abroad is a self-selecting activity that exposes individuals to cultural differences that may influence alcohol consumption. This session would include a presentation of research related to alcohol use by U.S. and International students enrolled in study abroad programs, followed by discussion of alcohol related issues faced in the study abroad environment. Participants will be encouraged to share experiences and suggestions for best practices addressing the issue.
Recommended for: ISSS - Community Programming & SECUSSA

2:00 - 3:00

Walk the Line: International Student Advisors and the Unauthorized Practice of Law
Presenter(s): Elizabeth James, Attorney, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash Smoak and Stewart, PC & Dr. Robert Locke, PhD, Director of International Student and Scholar Services at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Description: By the nature of their jobs, International Student and Scholar advisors are forced to walk the fine line between competent and thorough advising for their respective communities, versus venturing too far into that area known as Unauthorized Practice of Law. In this session we will explore the State Bar of North Carolina’s Definition of Unauthorized Practice of Law, and review the NAFSA Code of Ethics regarding this topic. The majority of our time will be spent discussing common advising scenarios that seek to illuminate this invisible, subjective, yet very real line.
Recommended for: ISSS - Immigration

The Path to a Successful Homestay Program
Presenter(s): Rodney Neese, Center Director, ELS Centers/Charlotte
Description: The presenter will provide models for two types of homestay programs where international students live with American hosts as paying guests. Rationale for offering a homestay program will be discussed as well as program implementation, organization and administration. Expectations on the part of the institution, participating students, and participating hosts will also be discussed.
Recommended for: RAP - ESL & ISSS - Community Programming

Ouch! Feeling the Pinch: Roundtable Discussion on Creative Ways to Address Economic Concerns in Study Abroad
Presenter(s): Emily Burnett, Regional Coordinator, NC State University; Deirdre O'Malley, Associate Director, NC State University; Brooke Ashley, Assistant Director, NC State University
Description: This multifaceted discussion will highlight the larger economic challenges that study abroad offices are facing and will present some of the specific strategies the Study Abroad Office at North Carolina State University has implemented. The roundtable will create a forum for open discussion amongst colleagues to brainstorm strategies that institutions across the state are utilizing. Topics will include advising, faculty-led programming, budgeting, scholarships, incoming exchange students, etc...
Recommended for: SECUSSA

Click CFNC.org: Connect Latino Students to College, Careers and Resources
Presenter(s): Donna Weaver, Spanish Services Coordinator, College Foundation of N.C.
Description: This session will focus on methods that educators and advocates may use to access free resources from CFNC.org, CFNC Spanish Services and other non-profit organizations to connect Latino students to careers and college. Session will also address barriers that Latinos may face in gaining access to higher education as well as strategies educators can use to help students overcome these obstacles.
Recommended for: RAP - ESL, RAP - Admissions, ISSS - Immigration & ISSS - Community Programming

3:15 - 4:15

Technology Tools for Streamlining Administrative Processes
Presenter(s): Amy Maybery, Coordinator of International Student Services, UNC-Wilmington
Description: This session will provide an overview of electronic tools available (for little or no cost) to help offices cope with repetitive administrative tasks. The topics will include using mail merge, online survey tools to create "Electronic Applications" and simple databases. Instructional handouts will be provided.
Recommended for: All

What is your comfort level...communicating across cultures? Responding to conflict?
Presenter(s): Lisa Giragosian, Sr. Assistant Director, Int'l House, Duke University & Seun Bello Olamosu, Assistant Directory of Training and Outreach, Int'l House, Duke University
Description: In addition to culture, the "c" words of communication and conflict are also very popular in our field. Come take the Kraybill Personal Conflict-Style Inventory and see how you respond to situations where your wishes differ from those of another person. As an added bonus, you will also do a cross-cultural communication assessment to help you understand your own comfort level when communicating across cultures. These are two self-reflective tools that can be useful, not only for yourself, but also for your students or your colleagues. Recommended for: ISSS - Community Programming

Greening International Programs: Incorporating Environmental and Sociocultural Sustainability into Study Abroad
Presenter(s): Brandi Dudley, Asst. Dir. for Study Abroad, ECU & Katherine Baucom, Dir. of East Coast Operations, Sustainabile Travel International, ECU
Description: This session will address the environmental and socio-cultural impacts of Study Abroad on host countries and communities. Measurements of environmental impact will be presented along with tools study abroad professionals can utilize to educate students and faculty about carbon footprint reduction.
Recommended for: SECUSSA

21st Century K - 12 Outreach Programs
Presenter(s): Tara Muller, Program Coordinator, UNC-Chapel Hill
Description: How can traditional speakers bureau programs retool for the modern age? Carolina Navigators, an international speakers program at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, provides an example of how one such program has adapted for the 21st Century in terms of information management, student learning strategies, diversity of resources offered and assessment. Find out how a service-learning course, culture kits, evaluation toolkit, scheduling database, presenter training tools, and virtual Web-based presentations are being used to revamp a classic program into an innovative model for success.
Recommended for: ISSS - Community Programming & SECUSSA