New York University is a large institution that attracts hundreds of international students for its undergraduate and graduate programs each year. However, since most of these students do not have prior experience of living in the United States, they might feel alienated, confused, and homesick due to cultural differences. To ensure that both American and international students of NYU have a positive college experience, Residential Life and Housing Services have developed various programs and activities to assist them. These activities and programs are held in NYU residence halls. Some of these programs are mainly for international students, whereas others can benefit American students, too.
First of all, International Student Orientation is the key program designed for students first arriving in the United States or the New York State. The presence of this program is mandated by law, as it is designed to ensure that international students are aware of local laws and regulations (“New International Student Orientation”). This program is beneficial for international students as it allows them to learn differences between the laws of their home country and the United States.
Another residential program that benefits International students is the Writing Affiliates Program. This program provides an opportunity for international students to improve their writing skills, thus making it easier for them to fulfill academic goals (“Upcoming Programs and Events”). A similar program offered on campus is the Language Exchange Program, which assigns students from different countries into a pair and allows them to hold language learning sessions.
The pairs usually consist of an American student, teaching English, and an international student, teaching their first language. As the program facilitates communication and bonding between American and non-American students, it benefits both groups by enabling cultural exchange.
The Residential International Student Engagement program is also one that benefits both international and American students. As part of the program, the R.I.S.E. team host entertaining culture-specific events for all on-campus students to attend, such as Chinese New Year celebrations, the Holi festival, Sakura Festival, and many others (“RISE Photos”; “Upcoming Programs and Events”). On the one hand, these events can help American students to learn more about other cultures.
On the other hand, they also help international students to become a part of the community while retaining their culture. The program also includes events that aim to familiarize international students with American culture and the New York City, such as the Brooklyn Bridge walk, Guggenheim Museum tour, and 50 states food tasting (“RISE Photos”). These activities are essential to international students since they improve their knowledge of the city and assist in cultural integration.
Project Pay Attention is also among the programs offered on NYU campuses, and it is particularly relevant for American students who want to become more culturally sensitive. The project provides education on contemporary issues affecting minority populations and encourages students to pay attention to how their word choices influence others (“The Movement”). Project Pay Attention is useful as it reduces the alienation of international students and fosters a friendly environment for them.
Overall, residential halls in NYU host a great variety of programs and services promoting the integration of new international students. While some of them target international students specifically, others seek to create a friendly and diverse community through cultural exchange events. A combination of these programs helps to address the issues faced by new international students, including alienation and confusion, and help to build stronger student communities.
Works Cited
“The Movement.” Project Pay Attention, n.d. Web.
“New International Student Orientation.” New York University, n.d. Web.
“RISE Photos.” NYU R.I.S.E., n.d. Web.
“Upcoming Programs and Events.” NYU R.I.S.E., n.d. Web.