1. The First Year International Students at the University of Windsor: Perspectives, Expectations, and Experiences G. Zhou, Z. Zhang, G. Liu, & E. Chacon University of Windsor, Canada

2. This project was funded by CTL/UW Centred on Learning Innovation Fund (CLIF)

3. The purposes of the study To understand perspectives, expectations, and experiences of the first year international students studying at the university. Particularly on the challenges these students faced in the process of adjustment and strategies they employed to deal with the challenges. 3

4. Tinto’s Model of Retention Academic integration –GPA –Academic goals Social integration –Contact with staff –Sense of community

5. Data Collection Survey (online and hardcopy) Focus groups 5

6. Sample Surveys –64 valid surveys returned –Approximately 18% return rate (out of 350 students) Focus groups –5 focus groups (4 students)

7. International Students by Origin 2008/09

8. Demographics: Gender

9. Demographics: Age range

10. Demographics: High school

11. International High School or not

12. Whether have English-speaking friends

13. Housing

14. Roommates

15. Home Communication

16. Study place

17. Weekend

18. Event Attendance

19. Personal Contact with Instructors

20. Contact with Staff

21. First Resource for Help

22. Plan after Graduation

23. Levels of satisfaction with study experience at U Windsor

24. 2008 National Survey of Student Engagement – Summary of NSSE 2008 Results

25. Feeling about study experience at U Windsor

26. Confidence for successfully completing program

27. Recommend UW?

28. UW as First Choice?

29. 2008 National Survey of Student Engagement – Summary of NSSE 2008 Results

30. Reasons for coming to Windsor U Windsor has relationship with their schools Close to USA Parents’ choice Having friends studying at U Windsor Interesting programs

31. Initial difficulties at arrival Finding directions Paper work Food Transportation

32. Residence issues Noisiness Compulsory meal plan Roommates and neighbors

33. Perspectives of life in Windsor Boring spare time Reasonable living costs Inconvenient transportation system

34. Challenges Language –Oral communication –Paper writing Culture –Friend making –Spare time Relationship with other ethnic groups –In group work –With professors and TAs

35. Learning differences Group work Course demands –More labs in science and engineering –More essay writing in social sciences High school preparation –Not enough training in essay writing –Not enough experiences in group work

36. International high schools vs. public high schools More comfortable in terms of social life Fewer challenges with adjustment

37. Suggestions University level –Security –Residence ISC –More practical orientations –Event scheduling

38. Researchers Contact info Guoqiang (George) Zhougzhou@uwindsor.ca Zuochen Zhangzuochen@uwindsor.ca Guoying (Grace) Liu gliu@uwindsor.ca Enrique Chaconechacon@uwindsor.ca www.uwindsor.ca/isc