MISSION STATEMENT:
The Office of International Affairs (IA) is a service organization, reporting to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. IA’s mission is to support students, faculty, and administrators in all academic units as these engage in international education. Through partnerships and collaborative projects, we assist faculty, administrators, students, and staff to position UNL as a leading global campus and to enhance its visibility around the world.
International Affairs prepares students for work, citizenship, and life in a complex and fast-changing world through experiences that integrate new ideas and cultural perspectives. The work of the office engages communities on campus and around the state and contributes directly to creating a culture at the University that values diversity of ideas and people. International Affairs provides services to all Nebraska schools, businesses, and communities. It represents the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in multi-institutional associations, national and international organizations and agencies, and bi-national and multi-national projects related to teaching, research, and public service.
International Affairs assists more than 600 students each year to engage in academic experiences abroad for a semester, academic year, or summer session. The Office sponsors the Fulbright Program for students and faculty and assists faculty in the preparation of grants and contracts that involve study abroad and international cooperation. Staff members provide advice to exchange students from partner institutions overseas; they advise and assist students who return from study abroad via orientations for re-entry and cultural programming, offering all students the opportunity to develop skills in intercultural communication when they return to UNL. They also coordinate short-term courses offered by UNL faculty in foreign countries during the Winterim (winter break), spring break, and through the UNL World Campus over the summer. For more information, see “Study Abroad and Exchange Programs” on page 32 of this bulletin.
International Affairs provides immigration, personal, and cross-cultural advising to more than 1700 international students and scholars and their dependents from more than 100 countries. Staff members counsel international students and scholars about their new educational and cultural environment, advise them about immigration regulations, and provide activities to enhance their academic experiences at the University and integrate them into the local community. They also serve as intercultural resources for UNL faculty and staff who interact with international students and scholars. For more information, see “International Student and Scholar Services on page TBA of this bulletin.
The Office coordinates international agreements that link UNL with other institutions of higher education around the world. International Affairs helps to negotiate and draft such agreements and memoranda of understanding and serves as the repository for the signed documents. IA serves all campus units re hiring of foreign faculty, researchers and professional staff and helps faculty members to network with others who may have academic interests or collaborations with the same institutions or in the same country. IA acts as an advocate for academic projects that promote international education, such as The Global Classroom, which links students, face to face in real time, with students from other countries. The Office also sponsors conferences with international themes, brings distinguished international speakers to campus, and serves as host for many international visitors.
The library and resource center at International Affairs offers faculty, students, and staff, information about working, traveling, or performing voluntary service in another country.
