International Student Services sponsors many activities, ranging from informative workshops to social get-togethers. Visit the Student Services event calendar to learn about upcoming events hosted by International Student Services and other offices, including Student Development and Activities, Health Education, Intercultural Support, and Career Development.
Every year, International Student Services offers workshops on tax preparation, employment regulations (PDF), and optional practical training (PDF) for international scholars, and on the Fulbright program for U.S. citizens. Email ISS@newschool.edu for dates and times of upcoming workshops.
Fun Fridays with ISS
At the start of each semester, ISS hosts fun tours for new students to explore New York City. Limited discount tickets are available for students to purchase at the ISS office. Past trips have included baseball games, tours of the United Nations, tours of the Statue of Liberty, Broadway shows, museums, and other fun activities in the city. Email ISS@newschool.edu for dates and times of upcoming New York City tours.
International Essay Contest
Two years ago, after the success of the International Education Week Photo Contest, ISS launched a new contest: the International Essay Contest.
The theme of the contest is "Global Exchanges: Stories of Your Journey from Here to There." Students are encouraged to compose original essays describing their international exchange program experiences and sharing their ideas about supporting exchanges programs at The New School.
Coffee and Tea
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to join ISS for coffee and tea every Thursday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Stop by the lobby of 6 East 16th Street to relax, have some fun, and get updates on ISS and International Club events.
International Student Mentor Program
The International Student Mentor Program assists new international students in adjusting academically, culturally, and socially to the United States and The New School. Mentors are fellow students who make themselves available to advise and assist new international students upon arrival and during their first semester at The New School. For mentors, this is an opportunity to learn about other countries and make new friends from around the world.
Mentors are friendly and open-minded students who have been at The New School for at least one semester and are sincerely committed to helping new international students adjust to life away from home.
Mentees are undergraduate and graduate international students who have traveled thousands of miles to study, gain insight into a different culture, and share their cultures with others, and who may need a little orientation in an unfamiliar place.
Submit your application to be a mentor or to obtain a mentor: email to issevents@newschool.edu, fax to 212.229.8992, or bring it to the International Student Services office at 79 Fifth Avenue, 5th floor.
The Conversation Partners Program
Conversation Partners is a way for New School students, faculty, and staff to improve their foreign language and communication skills in a relaxed, non-academic setting. It's a great opporunity for language learners and those who want to learn more about other cultures.
Conversation Partners is open to everyone in the New School community, including both matriculated and non-degree students and full- and part-time faculty and staff. Participants are expected to have basic conversation skills in the language they wish practice. They should also be sociable, approachable, reliable, and respectful towards others. Interest in learning and sharing new cultural experiences is essential.
Submit your application by email to issevents@newschool.edu, fax it to 212.229.8992, or bring it to our office at 79 Fifth Avenue, 5th floor.
International Club
The International Club (IC) was created in 2005 as a group initiative involving International Student Services and international students from all the divisions of The New School. The club currently has almost 200 members. It is governed by a board of volunteer students who are devoted to creating a thriving international community at the university. IC's main goal is to establish a welcoming environment for international students, creating a home away from home for them. IC is also a bridge organization, enabling students to create networks that extend beyond the classroom and academic life. Exposing students to culturally diverse activities and events strengthens the international community at The New School and creates awareness about cultural differences and global issues.
Membership is open to anyone interested in sharing experiences with an open mind, and both international and U.S. students are encouraged to join. To join the International Club, email internationalclub@newschool.edu.
Volunteer and Civic Engagement Fair
Volunteering is a great gateway into jobs and internships for international students who are interested in staying in the United States after their education is completed. ISS co-sponsors the annual Volunteer and Civic Engagement Fair to help connect students with volunteer groups and nonprofit organization active at The New School and in New York City.
View the 2011 Volunteer and Civic Engagment Fair Program
International Book Club
Informal but informative, the International Book Club is an activity for anyone interested in world literature and diversity. Created in the summer of 2007, the International Book Club meets once a month for readings and discussions of books such as The Shadow of the Pomegranate Tree by Tariq Ali and Blindness by Nobel prize winner Jose Saramago. Meetings are held in coffee houses and other informal places on and off campus. Members include students, faculty, and staff from all divisions and offices at The New School. For more information, email issevents@newschool.edu.
Get involved. Stay involved. Subscribe to ISS News or stop by the office to pick up our monthly calendar of events.
