New International Student Orientation

International students and Team QUEST staff

During the week of August 15, the International Programs Center welcomed 103 new international exchange students and 110 new degree-seeking students to UNCG.  The International Programs Center (in conjunction with many UNCG departments and student services on campus) welcome and orient our new international students each semester.  Orientation is supported by a cast of individuals whose participation is critical.  Among those are our PAL’s, International Fellows, and volunteers.   Denise Bellamy, Director of Study Abroad and Exchanges and Michael Elliott, Director of International Student and Scholar Services would like to thank:  Housing and Residence Life, Register’s Office, Cashier’s Office, Student Affairs, Student Employment, UNCG Rec Center, Jackson Library, OLSL, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Lloyd International Honors College, Spartan Card Center, University Police and Student Health.   A special thanks to Dr. Kathleen Macfie, Associate Professor of Russian Studies, Joe Erba of Business Administration, Wachovia Bank on Friendly Ave, and the staff at Team QUEST.

International students meet their PALs

IPC introduced two new aspects to our orientation this semester. A Facebook page allowed the students to communicate prior to arrival and Team QUEST facilitated group bonding and encouraged cultural awareness for incoming students. The students and Team QUEST leaders provided positive feedback on their experience, with comments from the students that ranged from “It was great! We had lots of fun and really profound moments!”-Nadine Strauss, University of Mannheim, Germany. “I loved it, it was a really good way to get to know each other.” – Mie Jensen, Roskilde University, Denmark. In essence, students appreciated the opportunity to be in an inviting and inclusive setting where they could meet and learn more about their peers. Denise Bellamy stated, “Both Facebook and Team QUEST provided opportunities for students from twenty-six countries to come together, through experiential learning, to further their group development.”