International and multilingual students’ visa status, housing, health and wellness, employment options, and communication development can affect their academic achievements. The following categories of UW resources can be helpful to refer to your international and multilingual students:
Visa and immigration
International Student Services (ISS) – Staff members in ISS (in Schmitz Hall 459) help students understand the benefits and restrictions of F-1 and J-1 visa status, as well as changing these statuses. Particular ISS pages that may be of interest to you and your students:
- Information for new students
- Information for returning students
- Changing and updating your forms
- Dropping or withdrawing from a course, and taking on-leave status
Housing
- Housing and Food Services (HFS) – The UW housing office, HFS, offers guides and resources specifically for international students on housing (both on campus and off-campus), and student employment through HFS.
- The Foundation for International Understanding through Students (FIUTS) coordinates short-term homestays for new international students, and offers an overview of housing options for international students.
Healthcare
- International Student Health Insurance Plan (ISHIP) – International students are required by federal and state laws to have health insurance while studying in the US. ISHIP has more information.
- Hall Health has information on how international students can use the health services provided by UW.
Counseling
The Counseling Center is staffed by psychologists and mental health counselors who provide counseling, assessment, and crisis intervention services to currently-enrolled UW students. Some staff members are fluent in different languages. Particular Counseling Center pages that may be of interest to you and your students:
- International students and culture shock
- Counseling groups, including a Culture, Diversity, and Belonging group for international students
Jobs
- The Career Center offers resources, workshops, events, and career counseling specifically for international students.
- International Student Services (ISS) has information for international students seeking on-campus employment.
Cross-cultural communication
- Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS) connects students to local and global communities through programs that build international awareness, cross-cultural communication, and informed leadership. These programs include new student orientation, housing information, conversation clubs, sightseeing trips, and many more.
- The Center for Learning & Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE) Conversation Groups – In addition to free tutoring for all undergraduate students, CLUE offers conversation groups for international and multilingual students aimed at helping students:
- Get comfortable discussing life and culture at the UW
- Become confident improving communication skills and speaking English
- Think through the connections between their home culture and the U.S. and other countries
- Build up resources that support daily English practice (such as pronunciation support)
- HAVE FUN!
If you are you looking for a particular resource, or have a resource to recommend, please contact CTL at: teaching@uw.edu.