August 14, 2008

Orientation to welcome, inform Purdue's international students

Orientation for international undergraduate students will kick off Monday (Aug. 18).

"Because of Purdue's increased exposure abroad, we are expecting this class of international freshmen to be the largest ever," said Michael A. Brzezinski, director of International Students and Scholars. "We had a record number of applications. This program will help those students make that adjustment to Purdue and the United States."

For the past eight years, Purdue has ranked first or second among public U.S. colleges and universities in international student enrollment.

International students will be required to attend a daylong orientation session from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 21) in the Electrical Engineering Building, Room 129. The session will cover topics such as understanding health insurance, maintaining legal status in the United States, academic regulations, obtaining a driver's license and library tours.

Purdue Provost Randy Woodson will speak at the annual welcome reception for international students at 7 p.m. Friday (Aug. 22) in the Purdue Memorial Union North Ballroom. Purdue officials will meet the parents of international students at a Parents Reception on Wednesday (Aug. 20) at the home of Riall Nolan, associate provost and dean of international programs.

Along with the required orientation programs during the first weeks on campus, new international students will have a chance to attend a variety of recreational activities such as picnics, shopping trips, and a trip to Lake Michigan and Warren Dunes State Park.

There will be International Friendship orientations for community residents and Purdue faculty and staff interested in befriending an international student from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the West Lafayette Public Library on Wednesday (Aug. 20) and Aug. 26. The Wednesday meeting will be held in the Walnut Room and the Aug. 26 meeting will be conducted in the Elm Room.

Brzezinski said that there are no legal, housing or financial obligations with International Friendship.  The only requirement is that an individual be willing to be a friend to a student from abroad and to incorporate him/her into their already existing activities. Interested parties can attend the orientations or contact Marcus Hammack at 496-7528 or mail to hammack@purdue.edu.

Writer: Clyde Hughes, (765) 494-2073, jchughes@purdue.edu

Source:  Michael Brzezinski, (765) 494-5770, mbrzezinski@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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