On Wednesday, August 16, USF World held a welcome event for incoming international students in the newly established International Student Success Center. The center is in the FAO building on the Tampa campus and was presented to students as their home away from home.
As an international student, knowing there is a place like this on campus makes me joyful, and I know my fellow students appreciate our center as well!
The event was sponsored by Ogletree Deakins and gathered nearly three hundred graduate and undergraduate students. They enjoyed a lovely reception and got to learn about USF World and the broad range of services it offers them through the Office of International Services, International Admissions & Credentials, the Global Network Program, and introduced them to the newly minted International Student Success (ISS) team. Students also got to interact with representatives from USF Dining, USF Student Health and Wellness Center, and USF Athletics and also learned about phone and banking options with local companies.
“It was nice seeing how happy students got when they saw our center [ISSC]! As an international student, knowing there is a place like this on campus makes me joyful, and I know my fellow students appreciate our center as well!”, commented USF senior, Micaela Ibarcena Woll, one of the Center’s Student Experience Leaders (SELs). SELs assist students through their entire journey, from admission through graduation. Many SELs are international students who are passionate about orienting and helping their colleagues in countless ways.
The USF ISS team guides students through university requirements, including the course registration process, and very importantly forges connections between students and vital university services. International students can count on the ISS team to provide them comprehensive support and to advocate for their academical and social needs throughout their USF journey.
You can view the photos from the event on Flickr.