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International Office

Mission and Goals

In keeping with the Illinois Wesleyan mission, the International Office, through its services and programs, seeks to develop students' ability to understand and analyze contemporary societies outside the U.S.; enable students to understand their own identity and culture and be sensitive to commonalities and differences among and within cultures; help students deepen and broaden their disciplinary knowledge through study abroad; and prepare students for responsible citizenship in a global community.


The office seeks to achieve these goals using a wide-ranging approach to international education that includes
  • enrolling and supporting both degree-seeking and visiting international students from around the world
  • supporting international faculty and exchange visitors at Illinois Wesleyan
  • assisting and advising Illinois Wesleyan faculty/staff who wish to bring exchange visitors to campus
  • assisting international students, faculty, and exchange visitors in their cultural and educational transition to the United States and Illinois Wesleyan
  • maintaining complete and accurate records to ensure legal compliance in response to the Students and Exchange Visitors System (SEVIS)
  • assisting in the development of new international partnerships
  • developing and maintaining a portfolio of study abroad programs that meet the interests and needs of students and that provide a rigorous academic experience that complements and extends the IWU curriculum
  • providing administrative oversight for Illinois Wesleyan’s two semester programs, unilateral and bilateral exchange agreements, and approved third-party program providers
  • advising students of their study abroad opportunities and assisting them in planning and arranging for the experience
  • providing international professional development resources to faculty and staff
  • seeking new ways to further international education at Illinois Wesleyan through independent programming and cooperation with individual schools, departments, and programs; the Dean of Students Office; administrative units; and other campus committees
  • encouraging a campus environment that is globally aware and supportive of diversity

 

Sarah Van Alebeek - Director of the International Office

Department - International Office

(309) 556-1096