WE NEED YOUR HELP

All ETSU faculty and staff are invited to participate in the ETSU International Friendship Program (IFP), which involves limited and short-term assistance to new international students. Please consider helping with this rewarding and useful endeavor.

Every semester, ETSU enrolls new international students from all over the world, and the International Programs and Services Office strives to provide these students the support and guidance that makes for a smooth transition from home to host country. But the first few days after arrival are quite difficult for these students and we know YOU can play an important role in helping them during this critical time. Would YOU serve as an international friend? An ETSU friend offers support to an international student by picking him or her up at the airport; possibly providing housing for a couple of days; introducing him or her to the basics of American life, such as grocery shopping, banking, etc.; and helping her or him move into campus housing.

An international student who participated in the program in the past stated, 'Words cannot express how grateful I am to them . . . I don't know how I could have done it without them.  They really showed me the meaning of words such as love, care, and concern.' Those ETSU faculty and staff who volunteered last year also spoke of the benefit to them personally, such as the cross-cultural learning and the rewards of helping a stranger to our country.

There are no requirements for participation in this program, aside from a genuine desire to be helpful to an international student.  If you are interested, complete the application form and email or mail to Dr. Brent Morrow (morrowb@etsu.edu, Dept. of Human Development & Learning, Box 70548), who is the primary Coordinator of this program.  We will try to match students to your preferences (gender, country of origin, etc). Thank you for your consideration.

We ask that you attend an orientation prior to having an international student placed with you.  After you apply, you will be notified about the next scheduled orientation.

Warm regards,