**6. Engage students in the university**

Remember that friends tell friends. A student is more than a student. A student extends into myriads of other possible prospects. The recruitment process reaches well beyond the traditional application and admission process. Successful student engagement is also a key component of student recruitment. Why would a student want to join your university unless they have something to do while they are there? On the flip side, with all the wonderful activities that are happening in your institution who would not want to be part of the excitement? Successful international student engagement includes the full utilization of student government, student clubs, student activities, learning resources, residence life, community engagement, career services, and leadership services. To obtain your desired results and achieve positive matriculation of students into campus life consider the following.

#### **6.1 Plan the new student's arrival on campus**

Even though you may know your way on and off campus, new international students often do not. Put yourself in their place. How do they arrive on campus? Once on campus, where do they go? Who will greet them? Make plans to facilitate their easy transition into campus life. Begin by providing appropriate pre-arrival instructions so that they can find their way onto your campus. Of course, this means that clear instructions must be readily available. Will they be coming from the airport on their own? If so, how will they get to your campus. Will you be providing transport from the airport? If so, how will the student hook up with your representative at the airport? The student cannot be engaged with campus life until the student gets to your campus. Your responsibility is to get the student to campus. Once you get the student on campus, the next objective will be to get the student involved in campus life.

#### **6.2 Facilitate an easy transition into university life**

You must be proactive in your efforts to matriculate newly arriving international students into campus life. These students require assistance with housing and residence life facilities. This is another occasion to become their beloved mentor and friend. While all institutions have a new student orientation, the needs of new international students differ from the needs of the general student population. New international students require additional information in relation to immigration, cultural norms, health insurance, and a number of other topics [6]. The institution should offer a comprehensive new international student orientation to prepare these students for campus life. They will also need to know about the area and region. Tours should be arranged within the first few weeks to let them know about where they are living and the characteristics of the region. Care should be taken to see that the tours are enjoyable. Nothing is worse than a boring tour. To avoid the latter, involve current international students in the planning as they will plan things that they enjoy. This will ensure that the new international students encounter a meaningful experience and arrive at a similar outcome. Keep in mind that your job is not to tell them what they must not do, your job is to share the good things that they can do while part of your institution's academic family. You are now challenged to be creative in handling the negatives from a positive perspective.

#### **6.3 Engage a support network**

The two factors of student-to-student interaction and student-to-faculty interaction are well documented as essential to student retention [7]. Likewise,

**47**

others.

**6.5 Activities by students for students**

**6.6 Practice active advocacy**

*Full Funnel International Enrollment Management DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84755*

these two fundamental factors are also key to international student recruitment. The recruitment model must interface with current students and program faculty. While interaction with faculty members will occur within the instructional model, interaction with other students must be nurtured and developed. There is nothing wrong with hosting academic events for faculty and students as an extension of the academic environment. In fact, such is encouraged. The involvement of current students in recruitment activities is certainly important; however, involvement does not begin or end here. Effort must be made to integrate the new international student into campus life and expand interaction with other students. In fact, this integration must be carefully orchestrated and must guide interaction with the RIGHT students. This can be accomplished via exposure to student government, student clubs, new student activities, and a host of additional planned activities. Matriculation programs can be utilized to provide student ambassadors to guide

New international students require programs to get them out of the residence halls and to engage them in campus life activities. Nothing is more disheartening than sitting in a dorm room with nothing to do. Inactivity often leads to homesickness. Homesick students are more prone to abandon their education and return home to their families. Positive action leads to increased involvement. Increase involvement lead to greater confidence [8]. Greater confidence increases self-worth and enhances the likelihood that the student will make new friends. Participation in campus life activities will also increases the likelihood that the student will make new friends. In short, if students have nothing to do, they will grow discouraged and leave your institution. They will share their experience with others. This will hinder the success of future recruitment activities. If they have something to do, they are more likely to enjoy your institution and to share their experiences with

Activities should be planned by students for students. Activities should be planned for every weekend though not every student may choose to participate. Activities should enhance the learning experience and provide opportunities to interface with other students. Activities should provide opportunities to interface with faculty and staff. Activities should introduce the student to the treasures of their new life. Activities should deliver on their decision to meet new ideas and encounter new experiences. Their ideas on making your program better should be solicited and followed. Those who listen will increase their enrollment numbers.

When international students encounter problems, advocacy is required. If the problem is not as they think, treat them with dignity and provide an explanation. If the problem is legitimate, do your best to involve them in a solution. Remember that the issue is important to them. They need an advocate. While solving problems is worrisome, your job exists to overcome problems. Become an advocate and help to

Keep in mind that students are required to succeed in their academic pursuits. Make certain that they are introduced to the full range of academic support services provided by your institution. Introduce them to people. Take them to offices.

make their experience a positive one. You will find your role rewarding.

these efforts. These programs may be funded or non-funded.

**6.4 Involve international students in university events**

*Full Funnel International Enrollment Management DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84755*

*Education Systems Around the World*

**6. Engage students in the university**

**6.1 Plan the new student's arrival on campus**

**6.2 Facilitate an easy transition into university life**

Remember that friends tell friends. A student is more than a student. A student extends into myriads of other possible prospects. The recruitment process reaches well beyond the traditional application and admission process. Successful student engagement is also a key component of student recruitment. Why would a student want to join your university unless they have something to do while they are there? On the flip side, with all the wonderful activities that are happening in your institution who would not want to be part of the excitement? Successful international student engagement includes the full utilization of student government, student clubs, student activities, learning resources, residence life, community engagement, career services, and leadership services. To obtain your desired results and achieve

positive matriculation of students into campus life consider the following.

Even though you may know your way on and off campus, new international students often do not. Put yourself in their place. How do they arrive on campus? Once on campus, where do they go? Who will greet them? Make plans to facilitate their easy transition into campus life. Begin by providing appropriate pre-arrival instructions so that they can find their way onto your campus. Of course, this means that clear instructions must be readily available. Will they be coming from the airport on their own? If so, how will they get to your campus. Will you be providing transport from the airport? If so, how will the student hook up with your representative at the airport? The student cannot be engaged with campus life until the student gets to your campus. Your responsibility is to get the student to campus. Once you get the student on campus, the next objective will be to get the student involved in campus life.

You must be proactive in your efforts to matriculate newly arriving international

students into campus life. These students require assistance with housing and residence life facilities. This is another occasion to become their beloved mentor and friend. While all institutions have a new student orientation, the needs of new international students differ from the needs of the general student population. New international students require additional information in relation to immigration, cultural norms, health insurance, and a number of other topics [6]. The institution should offer a comprehensive new international student orientation to prepare these students for campus life. They will also need to know about the area and region. Tours should be arranged within the first few weeks to let them know about where they are living and the characteristics of the region. Care should be taken to see that the tours are enjoyable. Nothing is worse than a boring tour. To avoid the latter, involve current international students in the planning as they will plan things that they enjoy. This will ensure that the new international students encounter a meaningful experience and arrive at a similar outcome. Keep in mind that your job is not to tell them what they must not do, your job is to share the good things that they can do while part of your institution's academic family. You are now challenged

to be creative in handling the negatives from a positive perspective.

The two factors of student-to-student interaction and student-to-faculty interaction are well documented as essential to student retention [7]. Likewise,

**46**

**6.3 Engage a support network**

these two fundamental factors are also key to international student recruitment. The recruitment model must interface with current students and program faculty. While interaction with faculty members will occur within the instructional model, interaction with other students must be nurtured and developed. There is nothing wrong with hosting academic events for faculty and students as an extension of the academic environment. In fact, such is encouraged. The involvement of current students in recruitment activities is certainly important; however, involvement does not begin or end here. Effort must be made to integrate the new international student into campus life and expand interaction with other students. In fact, this integration must be carefully orchestrated and must guide interaction with the RIGHT students. This can be accomplished via exposure to student government, student clubs, new student activities, and a host of additional planned activities. Matriculation programs can be utilized to provide student ambassadors to guide these efforts. These programs may be funded or non-funded.

### **6.4 Involve international students in university events**

New international students require programs to get them out of the residence halls and to engage them in campus life activities. Nothing is more disheartening than sitting in a dorm room with nothing to do. Inactivity often leads to homesickness. Homesick students are more prone to abandon their education and return home to their families. Positive action leads to increased involvement. Increase involvement lead to greater confidence [8]. Greater confidence increases self-worth and enhances the likelihood that the student will make new friends. Participation in campus life activities will also increases the likelihood that the student will make new friends. In short, if students have nothing to do, they will grow discouraged and leave your institution. They will share their experience with others. This will hinder the success of future recruitment activities. If they have something to do, they are more likely to enjoy your institution and to share their experiences with others.

#### **6.5 Activities by students for students**

Activities should be planned by students for students. Activities should be planned for every weekend though not every student may choose to participate. Activities should enhance the learning experience and provide opportunities to interface with other students. Activities should provide opportunities to interface with faculty and staff. Activities should introduce the student to the treasures of their new life. Activities should deliver on their decision to meet new ideas and encounter new experiences. Their ideas on making your program better should be solicited and followed. Those who listen will increase their enrollment numbers.

#### **6.6 Practice active advocacy**

When international students encounter problems, advocacy is required. If the problem is not as they think, treat them with dignity and provide an explanation. If the problem is legitimate, do your best to involve them in a solution. Remember that the issue is important to them. They need an advocate. While solving problems is worrisome, your job exists to overcome problems. Become an advocate and help to make their experience a positive one. You will find your role rewarding.

Keep in mind that students are required to succeed in their academic pursuits. Make certain that they are introduced to the full range of academic support services provided by your institution. Introduce them to people. Take them to offices.

Let them talk to students who have met success while availing these services. These new students must know that pursuit of assistance does not constitute an expression of inadequacy. The library is there for them. Peer tutors will help them. Counseling is available as needed. Disability services are available if required. All are available to help. All they have to do is ask.

Pursuit of these services is a function of student maturity. Celebrate their success with them. Let them know that it is not only acceptable to seek help, it is important for them to take charge of their learning experience. This constitutes academic maturity. You should provide opportunity for mature international students to share their stories with the next generation. You are not the only one that can work as an advocate. Keep in mind that success builds success.
