International Students and Scholars Office
Nov. 10, 2020
The ISSO plays a role as educator and advocate for international students on campus, and we have a number of initiatives, both staff and student facing, that will help further our commitment to combat systemic racism at Brandeis.
Brandeis international students represent 20% of our undergraduate population and close to 50% of our graduate students. Since many of them have never lived in a place where their language, culture, and/or race have not been dominant, the ISSO and our campus partners must offer learning opportunities that help our students understand race in the U.S.
Ongoing, Student-facing Programming
- Each Fall, International pre-orientation includes faculty lectures that discuss US race relations
- Each Fall, International pre-orientation team-teaches the history of racism in the US with DEI and English Language Programs
- Each year, I Am Global Week provides multiple opportunities for Brandeis community members to tell their stories and gain visibility in the wider Brandeis community.
New, Student-facing Programming
- We will include faculty lectures that discuss race relations for both Fall and Spring orientation cohorts.
- Wien program attended Suitcase Stories from the International Institute of New England in spring 2020.
Ongoing, Staff-facing Programming
- Monitor anti-racism training and workshops offered by professional organizations such as NAFSA and NASPA.
- Advertise widely for open positions in the ISSO, with close attention to opportunities to hire individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ages.
- Retain current employees with diverse cultural backgrounds, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ages.
- The ISSO team is currently made up of more than 30% people of color.
New, Staff-facing Programming
- Use NAFSA resource: 5 Black Voices: Importance of Discussing Racism with International Students