The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees approved the renaming of SIUE’s Office of International Student and Scholar Services to the Office of International Affairs. The board acted at its regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday, Oct. 29, in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom on the Edwardsville campus.
The office of international affairs’ reporting structure also will change as it moves from the vice chancellor of student affairs to the office of the provost and academic affairs. The number of personnel staffing the office will remain the same.
“This shift will allow us to focus on the central mission of global engagement and learning,” said Parviz Ansari, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “The office of international affairs will work with both academic and non-academic units in SIUE’s pursuit of the globalization of its campuses.
“Moving the office under the provost’s direction will allow for greater emphasis on international recruitment, research and collaborations, work and study abroad opportunities, and comprehensive planning for global education as part of curricular requirements.”
The office of international affairs will support functions in five primary areas:
- International enrollment management
- Study abroad and exchange programs for students and faculty
- International student services and activities
- International research and collaborative degree programs
- Assisting faculty in globalizing the curriculum
“Today, international students comprise approximately three percent of the SIUE student population,” Ansari said. “The percentage of students who study abroad is even smaller. Our goal is to expand these numbers. We have been making consistent progress in increasing the number of international students on campus for the past five semesters and look forward to continued growth in this area.
“The new office of international affairs will also be responsible for facilitating the development of new partnerships with selected international universities and industries for the purposes of research and scholarship and student internship opportunities.”