Global Partners - UM Student

SHOW OUR NEW FOREIGN STUDENTS THAT UM HAS A BIG HEART!

The UM Global Partners Program, organized by Foreign Student and Scholar Services, is a service program to provide a personal "buddy" to help out new foreign students during their first semester on campus.  The University of Montana-Missoula enrolls about 450 foreign students and scholars from an average of 75 different countries every year.  For many, it is their first time to the United States and most arrive just a few days before classes start.  During their first semester here, foreign students often feel loneliness, culture shock, and stress.  As an experienced UM student, you can volunteer to ease the cultural adjustment by being a Global Partner to one newly arrived foreign student.

WHAT DO GLOBAL PARTNERS DO?

• Meet regularly with a foreign student during the first semester
• Spend time getting to know the foreign student over coffee, lunch or dinner
• Help answer questions about UM, Missoula, or US culture
• Introduce the foreign student to services on campus and in the community such as library, driver's license facilities, bus routes and shopping centers
• Invite the foreign student to social, cultural, and athletic events on campus and in Missoula area
• Introduce the foreign student to other friends and just be a friend yourself.

CAN I DO IT?

To be a Global Partner does NOT require expert knowledge of all facets of campus life, life in Missoula, experiences with foreign students, nor foreign languages.  You DO need to:

• Have spent at least a semester at UM
• Be a registered UM student during the semester you become a Global Partner
• Have an interest in foreign cultures and be open-minded to different cultures
• Have an ability to communicate with non-native speakers of English in an effective and friendly manner
• Make a commitment to spend some time helping your student get acculturated

  WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM OFFER?

Participation in a Cross-Cultural Training Workshop

Although each foreign student will be unique and have different individual needs, a general training for new Global Partner will give you more detailed guidelines and suggestions about the kinds of needs your student might have or the kinds of activities you might want to plan.  You will also be provided with specific information about your student's culture.  In addition, Foreign Student and Scholar Services is always available to answer ad hoc questions and concerns.

Awareness of All the Fun Foreign Student Activities on Campus

Many US students have expressed a desire to get to know the foreign students better, but don't know how to get started.  Becoming a Global Partner is an excellent way to meet foreign students and become involved with all the exciting international activities on campus.

Opportunities to Explore a Foreign Culture in Depth

You might have had the experience of traveling overseas, studying abroad, hosting a foreign exchange student in your house, or studying a foreign language in the past.  Being a Global Partner will give you an opportunity to reconnect with the particular culture or language.  If you have a country or a region you are interested in, IUM Global Partners  Program will try to match you with a foreign student with that background, if possible.

To apply to become a Global Partner , please click here.

For all inquiries, please email to mary.nellis@umontana.edu