International at SIUE

Global Zone Training

Global Zone is a two-hour international student ally training offered each semester for SIUE faculty and staff. It assists participants in understanding the challenges faced by international students and strategies for providing targeted support for them. 

Attendees learn to foster a welcoming and inclusive campus environment for international students by becoming more familiar with 

• Differences between U.S. student and international student university experiences
• Culture shock and cultural adjustment challenges and support solutions
• Academic cross-cultural differences and issues 

Participants leave more empathetic of the international student experience, better equipped to assist international students by directing them to appropriate resources, and more able to adjust current practices and procedures to better fit the needs of SIUE’s international student population.

Registration

Training is held once every fall and spring semester. There is no training offered during the summer. 

Next training: 10am - 12:30pm on November 13, 2023

Faculty and staff added to the priority registration list have the opportunity to register for the next training ahead of the rest of the campus community. To be added to the priority registration list, please complete the quick form below; you’ll be emailed details for the next training and a link to register approximately one month before the training. 

Participant Feedback

“Loved the structure and getting us to engage with each other which made me think of things in a different way. Also loved the reminder to treat everyone with empathy and compassion.”

“Providing specific strategies was helpful.  The use of case studies and small group interaction helped solidify the information, as well as get to know others across campus.”

“The order we went through the program was very helpful - showing us the perspective of an international student, then some of the experiences they may go through and how it may affect them, and then what we can do to support them. The information perfectly built on itself over the course of the program.’

"This was truly wonderful. I believe this training has equipped me to better understand my international students so I can better engage them and help them to have a positive experience in the US.”

“I think this was the most effective, straightforward training I've attended here. Everyone did a great job of educating us on ways to be a better ally to the international student community on campus. “