ISSS offers a variety of workshops on work-related regulations, research on the international student experience, and other special topics upon request.
Work-Related Regulations
There are a variety of regulations (work authorizations, OPT, CPT, Permanent Residency, and more) that govern how international students can work in the United States before and after graduation. These regulations can be complex and vary based on an individual's visa type.
ISSS staff are available to present to UMN staff, faculty, and students about these regulations. These presentations can be tailored to the audience, and they can cover a range of issues including how to understand the regulations, what role ISSS plays in the application process, what reporting must be done, and more.
ISSS staff can also present on the cultural differences and barriers that can affect the job search process for international students.
Contact Dr. Betsy Madden at [email protected] for more information.
Culture Corps
The Culture Corps Program provides scholarship opportunities to international students who are here at the University of Minnesota and are willing to share their culture and their international student experience. Their intersectional identities provide the campus with a plethora of cultural knowledge and lived experiences that are crucial in the internationalizing efforts of your classroom, curriculum, programs, and departments.
Colleges and departments may recognize a need in serving their client population. Those needs can include areas such as:
- Cultural differences dealing with the area of service your unit/department handles
- Low engagement or outreach opportunities for international students in your area
- Data based outcomes utilizing knowledge and lived experiences of international students
- International Student Advisory boards
- Specific cultural need such as reviewing marketing communication materials intended for international students and providing feedback for your programs
- Assisting in your classroom needs, such as participating in live discussions with your classroom, providing presentations based on their culture and their professional experience, or sharing their perspectives through panels
Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Research on the International Student Experience
ISSS has worked with other departments on campus to conduct research and data collection efforts to deepen the understanding of the international student experience and engagement. For most of these studies, data breakdowns can be customized to your specific needs (such as by colleges, respondent’s country of origin, year of standing, etc.). ISSS staff can present or email this information upon request.
Contact Xi Yu at [email protected] for more information.
