Working with International Students > Background

Working With International Students

THE CHALLENGE
UNLV’s international student population has been growing steadily over the past few years, and it promises to continue growing. The international student population is made up of approximately 30% graduate and 70% undergraduate students. International students at UNLV come from many countries and very diverse cultures; many come from educational systems quite different from the U.S. model.

General acculturation issues faced by international students are quite familiar, and many of them are being addressed in a variety of ways and by different campus organizations. Academic challenges, however, are less obvious and less anticipated and therefore, tend not to be addressed in a systematic manner. Most often, the expectation is that the students themselves will somehow figure out ways to adjust and thrive. The lack of a coherent and consistent approach breeds frustration for the students as well as for the faculty who work with them, whether in face-to-face classes, distance education courses, labs, or thesis/dissertation preparation.