Building Bridges: September 2018 Newsletter by UTC Center for Global Education

BUILDING B R I DG E S

SEPT. 2018 NEWSLETTER

Welcome, New Global Mocs! pg. 1 Pre-Orientation Innovation pg. 3 Mocs Flock Forward pg. 4

W E LC O M E , N E W G LO B A L MOCS! A new class of Mocs flocked to campus last month as International Student Orientation marked the dawn of the Fall 2018 semester. Clad in blue and gold, more than sixty undergraduate, graduate, and ESL students from almost forty different countries gathered under the shadow of Chamberlain Pavilion to begin their international educations,

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Building Bridges • SEPT. Edition

intercultural explorations, and journeys of personal growth at UTC. These international Mocs received a proper welcome upon arriving on campus, as international orientation leaders immediately taught them how to form the Power C and the words to the UTC fight song. Now in possession of this new knowledge, the students were prepared to “ride the rails to victory,” as the words of the fight song go.

New international Mocs received a warm welcome

During the first day of orientation, University Chancellor Dr. Steven Angle and Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Student Success Dr. Yancy Freeman spoke to the students as they continued to familiarize themselves with the UTC community.

Informative sessions covering topics such as academic matters, technology, and graduate school information followed Dr. Angle’s and Dr. Freeman’s welcome speeches.

Although classes had not yet begun, students were given their first “exam” as international orientation leaders quizzed them on the history of UTC

and the city of Chattanooga, UTC trivia, and general U.S. culture topics. Later in the day, students toured UTC’s first-class facilities, including the Gary W. Rollins College of Business, the recent recipient of a $40 million gift to the university.

Throughout the course of the three-day orientation, plenty of play was mixed in with work. After the first day concluded, students had the opportunity to get to know each other and their international orientation leaders better with an evening of bowling. Friendships and cultural exchange began to blossom amid the sounds of cheers, laughter, and the crashing of bowling pins. The adventures continued after the eventful first day, as another day’s conclusion found the students saying “all aboard” as they splashed onto the Tennessee River with a Chattanooga Ducks boat tour.

Written by Matthew Bryant

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PREORIENTATION INNOVATION Some students chose to begin Orientation Week early by attending Pre-Orientation sessions. These sessions allowed for extra opportunities to get to know UTC and the greater Chattanooga community. At one event, international students and international orientation leaders gathered over board games and doughnuts as they exchanged stories, jokes, and checkmates.

Along with providing extra time to begin their social and cultural acclimation into Chattanooga, the Pre-Orientation 3

sessions gave the students time to take care of important tasks like getting their UTCID cards, a document that provides the students with a wide variety of resources. The Mocs Card is a “key� of sorts to UTC and the Chattanooga community, granting students complete access to resources such as the state-ofthe-art UTC Library Studio, a space that helps students produce projects such as videos, music, podcasts, animations, 3D printing items, and other artistic pursuits.

Written by Matthew Bryant

Building Bridges • SEPT. Edition

F LO C K F O R WA R D This celebration marks the beginning of a new and important chapter in the life of each student.

The culmination of the international students’ first week as Mocs took place among hundreds of other UTC students in the 10,000-seat McKenzie Arena. Many UTC students packed into the arena to welcome the international students and celebrate the beginning of the Fall 2018 semester. While this celebration marks the beginning of the academic semester, it also serves as the beginning of a new and important chapter in the life of each student as they begin their academic careers, cultural exchanges, and personal journeys at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Written by Matthew Bryant

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Building Bridges • SEPT. Edition

WAYS TO GET I NVOLVE D EVENTS:

International Tea Time

International Education Week

Thursday, Oct. 11th 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

Hunter Hall 309

Monday, November 12 through Friday, November 16, 2018

Monday, Oct. 22nd 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

EMCS 4th Floor Thursday, Nov. 15th 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

UC Multicultural Center Monday, Nov. 26th 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

Hunter Hall 306

Global Spotlight Armenia and Georgia Tuesday, Oct. 23rd 3 to 4 p.m.

UC Raccoon Room

Follow us on social media and stay up-to-date on all of our event info, annoucements, and reminders!

@UTCglobal 5

Every year, the Center for Global Education hosts a week of events to celebrate International Education Week.

Study Abroad Info Sessions All Study Abroad Sessions are in the University Center Heritage Room unless otherwise specified.

Study Abroad 101 Thursday, Sept. 27 Wednesday, Oct. 3 Monday, Oct. 8 Friday, Oct. 19 Thursday, Oct. 25 Monday, Oct. 29 Tuesday, Nov. 6 Wednesday, Nov. 14 Friday, Nov. 30 Study Abroad 102 Tuesday, Oct. 2 Thursday, Oct. 11 Monday, Oct. 22 Wednesday, Oct. 31 Friday, Nov. 9 (location: UC Riverbend Room) Monday, Nov. 19 Monday, Dec. 3

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Building Bridges • SEPT. Edition

PROGRAMS:

International Buddy Program

Go Global Living Community

• Pair up with a UTC domestic student who can guide you through your transition to American culture and academics.

• Attend events and activities with your buddy and other IBP participants.

• Live with U.S. students and other international students.

• Attend trips and events with the Go Global Community.

• Learn about new cultures.

• Develope your foreign language skills.

For a full description and more details about the program, visit utc.edu/international, click on “Get Involved” in the sidebar, and then click “International Buddy Program.”

International Orienation Leaders International Orientation Leaders help welcome new international students to the UTC campus as well as to the Chattanooga community.

IOLs help the Center for Global Education carry out all the events and sessions planned during the New International Student Orientation.

For a full description and more details about the program, visit utc.edu/ international, click on “Get Involved” in the sidebar, and then click “Go Global Living Community.”

Visit our website and stay up-to-date on all of our event and program information!

utc.edu/international

For more information and to apply, visit our website at utc.edu/ international.

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CONTACT US Center for Global Education The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 648 Oak Street, Hooper Hall 203 Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403 USA

utc.edu/global goglobal@utc.edu (423) 425-4735 UTCglobal

OUR TEAM:

Takeo Suzuki Executive Director of the Center for Global Education

Laura Livermore Study Abroad Director

Anna Savary ESL Director and Assistant Director of the Center for Global Education

Sarah Anne Perry Credential Evaluator and Immigration Specialist

Patricia Lin-Steadman Senior Coordinator of International Student and Scholar Services

Amy Devan Graphic Design and Marketing Coordinator

Eunice Davis International Undergraduate Student Advisor

Joyce Blevins Administrative Specialist

Lora Cook International Graduate Student Advisor

Matthew Bryant Contributing Author and Newsletter Editor

UTC is a comprehensive, community-engaged campus of the University of Tennessee System. UTC is an EEO/AA/Titles VI & IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution.