Little is known about the psychotherapy utilization, presenting concerns, and outcome differences between Black international and African American university students. The aim of this research is to identify potential similarities and differences between the two groups, as well as potential differences between the aforementioned groups and white students. This study examined archival data collected over the course of a 17-year period that focused on experiences of African-American, Black international, and White students at a large university in the Rocky Mountain West, United States. More specifically, archival data were analyzed to identify differences between the aforementioned groups of students in regard to psychotherapy utilization, presenting concerns, distress levels endorsed at intake, and distress levels endorsed at termination. Results indicate significant differences between African-American, Black international, and White student groups in terms of the maximum number of psychotherapy sessions attended and length of treatment in days. We found significant differences between these groups of students on several items assessed in the Presenting Problem Checklist and the Family Concerns Survey. We found no significant difference between African-American, Black international, and White student groups in the severity of presenting distress as measured by the Outcome Questionaire-45. We found a significant difference between groups in treatment improvement as measured by change scores on the Outcome Questionaire-45, with White students experiencing the greatest change, followed by Black international students and African-Americans. Possible explanations and implications for practice will be discussed in the body of the paper.

This paper describes three initiatives to target our library's outreach efforts through better understanding the challenges faced by our international students. We first convened a research advisory focus group of international graduate students to hear first-hand the type of specific support students were seeking in their programs. The majority of our graduate students are African, a group severely underrepresented in library literature regarding instruction and services. Letting students speak in their own words and tell their own stories reveals not only their preconceptions about academic success in the United States but their experiential ability to identify the gaps which present so high a risk to retention and graduation. We then broadened the participant base to include undergraduate international students to solicit qualitative responses with the goal of understanding how the cultural background, educational expectations, and research process differ domestically and abroad; challenges that our international learners face using academic libraries in the United States; and the problems posed by working on complex material in English. Finally, all international students were invited to participate in a pilot workshop on academic writing. The paper concludes by describing how strategies for serving international students through instruction and outreach have resulted in internationalizing our services for all students.

Librarians at East Tennessee State University conducted a voluntary focus group of international students to better understand the academic needs of the growing population. Students participated in a full-day discussion concerning academic staples such as planning and studying, finding and reading, and writing and citing. After a long exchange on communication and cultural differences, the students endorsed a new workshop on academic writing proposed by the librarians. This workshop will become part of the existing sequence of nine graduate-level research support offerings given by the Library for graduate students and faculty.

The number of international graduate students continues to rise at American universities nationwide. While academic librarians wish to serve this student population effectively, few of us have received formal training or meaningful exposure to this sector of our student populace. This panel will provide first-person experiences from academic librarians who are actively engaging with and researching international students. Acknowledging and encouraging cultural diversity fosters the awareness of building inclusivity into graduate programming. Rather than viewing international students as a challenge to be resolved with a one-size-fits-all approach, cultivating cultural intelligence makes us more thoughtful and effective instructors and service providers for all students. This panel will discuss Tailoring services and support from the perspective of inclusivity for all students. Empirical best practices and lessons learned from focus groups with international students Tips for providing sessions tailored to multicultural audiences across the disciplines Partnerships with International offices, programs, and groups on campus The problem of academic writing Shared aspects of the graduate student experience Plagiarism and the academic honor code Thoughts about future engagement A current list of professional resources will be provided. We anticipate audience discussion will be generated by this topic and will encourage participation through informal polling and direct questions.

Thesis (M. A. (Psychology)) --University of Limpopo / This research investigated the psychological, social and cultural experiences of undergraduate international students at the University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus). The study was qualitative in nature with an exploratory research design. The research made use of purposive sampling. Data was collected through focus groups as it was an appropriate tool for collecting the in-depth experiences of international students registered at the University. There were four focus groups with six participants in each so the overall sample was twenty-four. The researcher sampled twelve females and twelve males to ensure gender representivity. Afrocentricity was used as theoretical framework underpinning the study. The data were analysed using Thematic content analysis (TCA). The following themes emerged out of an interpretation of data: Motivation; Discrimination; academic challenges; language barriers; sense of belonging; homesickness; avoidance, acculturation and shared African culture. International students experienced many challenges which resulted in loneliness and isolation. They also used negative defence mechanisms in order to cope in the new environment. Results indicated that there are divisions in terms of culture (both social and academic) in the University environment caused, in part, by the colonial partition of Africa. Conversely, elements of African culture that have survived the onslaught of colonialism (and in South Africa, apartheid) help bind international and peer host country students (and outside communities) together.

As the enrollment of Chinese international students (CIS) increased at a private institution in the Midwest, so did suspected cases of plagiarism. This study addressed the problem of how faculty members grappled with CIS' interpretation and application of Western-based views of plagiarism. The purpose of the study was to identify similarities and differences in the views of these 2 groups. Social cognitive theory, intercultural adaptation theory, and neutralization theory framed this qualitative case study. The research questions focused on how these particular CIS interpreted and applied the Western concept of plagiarism to assignments and exams, the impact of classroom practices and instructional processes on their view and experience, how the faculty members experienced CIS' interpretation and use of Western concepts of plagiarism, and respectively the differences in perceptions of U.S. faculty and of CIS. Eight full-time CIS and 8 faculty members who taught or currently teach CIS were purposefully selected. Data were collected using individual interviews, course syllabi, and plagiarism-related institutional policies. The interview data were analyzed using an ecological perspective to reveal themes; these data were triangulated with the data from course syllabi and institutional policies to ensure research credibility. The results of the study indicated a disconnect between student and faculty perceptions of Western-based contextualized plagiarism, the plagiarism ethos, and academic cultural differences between faculty and CIS that led to the creation of a faculty professional development plan using blended learning focused on cultural differences and teaching methods to deter plagiarism. The results may advance positive social change by improving faculty understanding of CIS and educational practices about plagiarism to better service these students.

In the 21st century, the mobility of world population has posed greater challenges to healthcare practitioners, since they are facing an increasingly diverse patient population from all over the world. At the same time, patients also find it difficult to access and utilize quality health care services in a culturally diverse context. This study examines the role of culture in Chinese international students’ health-seeking behaviours in Canada. The study explores any barriers/perceived barriers that Chinese international students may confront when accessing health care which can prevent them from obtaining quality health care services in Canada. To this end, an intercultural health communication model was employed as a theoretical framework, and semi-structured interviews were used as a data collection tool. While contributing to existing literature on health communication and culture, this study also hopes to contribute to providing Canadian universities and institutions important information regarding Chinese international students’ access to and utilization of health care services with the hope of enhancing the quality of ethnic health care and promoting better health outcomes.

This thesis explores the lived meaning of requiring, requesting and receiving information and communications technology (ICT) assistance for international students with limited or no background with ICT. The anecdotes and reflections shared by the participants delve into a range of feelings, from uncertainty, distress and condescension to fascination, determination and affirmation. They reach into places where the participants built their sense of competence and potential with and through ICT and felt indebted to their help providers in the process. The participants help seeking with ICT emerged as being a self-conscious search for discrete, non-judgmental, patient demonstration and guided practice, reliant upon the formation of reciprocal, helping relations with others. As a phenomenological study involving 10 participants, analysis sought for depth of meaning, contemplated in relation to philosophy, literature, art and personal experience. The theme of being lost in the logic of ICT and the maze of help seeking in a foreign environment emerge as a potent metaphor to guide tactful ICT help provision in diverse, post-secondary institutions marked by ubiquitous ICT integration.

In the 21st century, the mobility of world population has posed greater challenges to healthcare practitioners, since they are facing an increasingly diverse patient population from all over the world. At the same time, patients also find it difficult to access and utilize quality health care services in a culturally diverse context. This study examines the role of culture in Chinese international students’ health-seeking behaviours in Canada. The study explores any barriers/perceived barriers that Chinese international students may confront when accessing health care which can prevent them from obtaining quality health care services in Canada. To this end, an intercultural health communication model was employed as a theoretical framework, and semi-structured interviews were used as a data collection tool. While contributing to existing literature on health communication and culture, this study also hopes to contribute to providing Canadian universities and institutions important information regarding Chinese international students’ access to and utilization of health care services with the hope of enhancing the quality of ethnic health care and promoting better health outcomes.

This thesis explores the lived meaning of requiring, requesting and receiving information and communications technology (ICT) assistance for international students with limited or no background with ICT. The anecdotes and reflections shared by the participants delve into a range of feelings, from uncertainty, distress and condescension to fascination, determination and affirmation. They reach into places where the participants built their sense of competence and potential with and through ICT and felt indebted to their help providers in the process. The participants help seeking with ICT emerged as being a self-conscious search for discrete, non-judgmental, patient demonstration and guided practice, reliant upon the formation of reciprocal, helping relations with others. As a phenomenological study involving 10 participants, analysis sought for depth of meaning, contemplated in relation to philosophy, literature, art and personal experience. The theme of being lost in the logic of ICT and the maze of help seeking in a foreign environment emerge as a potent metaphor to guide tactful ICT help provision in diverse, post-secondary institutions marked by ubiquitous ICT integration.