Welcoming international students onto your campus can be an exciting and rewarding experience. If your school already welcomes international students or is considering the possibility, the impact of international students on the school's overall mission must be considered and evaluated. Three areas to consider are religious impact, academic impact, and staffing resources.

Prayer doesn’t just respond to crises; it sets the spiritual tone. It creates an atmosphere where students feel safe and cared for, where staff members feel united and encouraged, and where God’s presence is invited into the daily life of the school. When a campus is intentionally covered in prayer, peace becomes more than a concept—it becomes a culture.

Adventist schools create an intentional Christian culture on campus, designed to draw students to Christ. Students from outside the U.S. encounter not only American culture but our unique Adventist culture as well. Students need support as they work through the new social norms if we want them to become fully integrated and feel a part of the school community.

Building personal relationships through a peer mentoring program will be a vital support. Involve students who are outgoing and have a caring disposition to help these students adjust to their new surroundings.

Along with peer mentoring, attach a staff member to help with any school-related needs. Give time and money for the staff member to take the international student and their peer mentor off campus for lunch. Showing them Christ through our intentionality and caring will help them feel a part of our community.

English language learners can face challenges, especially in subjects that involve a lot of reading and writing. Many schools require an English proficiency test, such as the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or the Duolingo English Test, for admission.

In addition, some schools will offer an English as a Second Language (ESL) class to improve English skills. These classes require more resources, but can help the stress levels of the students and the teaching staff as a whole.

The academy staff must buy into the international student program for it to be successful. Staff will face many unique challenges. International students living on campus can often tire of American food and become homesick for their traditional cultural cuisine. Having the ability to take them to a restaurant serving food like what they usually eat will be helpful.

English language learners can face challenges, especially in subjects that involve a lot of reading and writing. Many schools require an English proficiency test, such as the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or the Duolingo English Test, for admission.

In addition, some schools will offer an English as a Second Language (ESL) class to improve English skills. These classes require more resources, but can help the stress levels of the students and the teaching staff as a whole.

The academy staff must buy into the international student program for it to be successful. Staff will face many unique challenges. International students living on campus can often tire of American food and become homesick for their traditional cultural cuisine. Having the ability to take them to a restaurant serving food like what they usually eat will be helpful.

With proper planning, an international student program can be very positive for the international student and the school community. It widens the reach of the school across the globe and can expand the mission to reach students for Christ all over the world.

​  rfetters@gcasda.org