Creating an International Student

Friendly Web Site

1

By: Ashraf ZawaidehDirector of International

Recruitment &Government Sponsored

Programs

One web site for all international students (UGs & Grads) or separate sites ? Look at your own dept

Prioritize what information is important to YOUR international applicants

One language or multiple foreign languages Keep it Sweet and Simple. Don’t Overwhelm

them with irrelevant info Use bullets, Checklists and Key Facts. No

paragraphs Involve your IT Dept in the design, layout and

maintenance

First Things First

2

Prospective International Students Section Be aware of the top 10 things international prospects

want to know when they get to your web site Accepted International Students Section

Deposit Info I-20, SEVIS, & Visa info Health Requirements Info Pre-Departure & Orientation Info Housing info Employment and Career Services FAQs

Current International Students Section School Policies and Immigration Regulations

Divide It Up Into 3 Sections

3

Location & Weather Accreditation & Ranking Academic majors, STEM majors & popular majors Admission requirements, English language requirements &

Standardized Tests How to apply: Application Forms, Application Fee ,

Application Deadlines & Conditional Admissions Availability Cost: Be Transparent. Yearly (I-20 and visa) costs vs. out-

of-pocket cost per term & methods of payment. Scholarships & Assistantships & how to apply for them I-20, SEVIS &Visa requirements Housing options Employment & Career Services

Top 10 Things They Need to Know

When They Get to your Site

4

If there is no direct link to “int’l students” on your home page, students will click the link for “prospective students.”

List requirements & documents that apply to international students preferably by country

Translate pages for your target audience Proportion of international students at the

university and class profiles Quotes and profiles of accepted and current

international students

Keep In Mind

5

SEVIS Fee : https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/ Visas: travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html Student Visas:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html

Exchange Visitors Visas: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1267.html

Forms: travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html

Embassy Locations Worldwide: http://www.usembassy.gov/

SEVIS Fee and Visas

6

DO provide:

Web link for international students. On your international admissions home page include the link www.educationusa.state.gov and refer applicants to the EducationUSA center in their country.

Regional accrediting association details. Accreditation is a key element in the selection process.

Suggested Do’s and Don’ts from

EducationUSA

7

Tuition and cost information. List the total amount that will appear on I-20 or DS-2019 forms as well as individual programs costs.

Months & specific dates. List important dates for completion of required testing, application deadlines, notification, orientation and enrollment.

Deadlines. Prominently list deadlines with clear mailing instructions.

Do Provide-Cont…1

8

Contact information. List names and numbers for all offices dealing with international students.

FAQs. List commonly asked questions and answers about your institution/foreign student admissions and services.

Checklist. List required documents and tests.

Local information. Include campus size in hectares, average local temperatures in Celsius, distances in kilometers, etc.

Do Provide-Cont…2

9

Downloadable application. Provide in a variety of formats. Application fee waivers or allow students without credit cards to mail application fee after completing on-line applications.

Information on program eligibility List which programs are open to international candidates and which are not, if relevant.

Number of credit hours. Specify how many credits are needed to be enrolled full-time.

Do Provide-Cont…3

10

Require Social Security Numbers. Require GPAs. Many countries do not

recognize the concept of GPAs Require zip codes or a U.S. addresses. Use terms “fall” and “spring”. These are

confusing to students from the southern hemisphere or areas with no seasons.

Give 800 numbers. They’re not toll free outside the U.S.

Use “college” to refer to university-level programs.

DO NOT

11

Require original copies of academic certificates.

Many international students cannot obtain multiple originals of their academic certificates.

Define what you mean by certified, and provide a PDF example.

Provide instructions for submitting a signed copy provided by the home university.

Refer students to an EducationUSA center for assistance: educationusa.state.gov

DO NOT-Cont…2

12

Provide institutional/departmental codes for score reporting

Provide guidelines on letters of recommendation or use TEMPLATES

Give CLEAR guidelines and OPTIONS on payment of application fee and tuition

Provide CLEAR Mailing and Contact Instructions

Provide Sample Applications & Application Workshop Webinars

Mock Visa Interviews (Webinars)

What Else

13

State University of New York at Plattsburgh & Buffalo

http://www.plattsburgh.edu/admissions/internationalhttp://www.ee.buffalo.edu/admissions/graduate.php Northern Arizona Universityhttp://international.nau.edu/international_admissions/

index.html Georgia Institute of Technologywww.ece.gatech.edu/academics/graduate/apply.html University of New Havenhttp://www.newhaven.edu/admissions/

internationaladmissions/

Good Examples

14