Welcome From The Executive Director of OISS
The International Student Advisory Council (ISAC) is a team of individuals throughout
all campuses and offices committed to enhancing the international student experience
and helping with students' transition to the United States. Our students are strengthened
for lives of purpose, service, and leadership, and we hope you will share your unique
background, thoughts, and experiences by joining an ISAC Subcommittee.
If you are interested serving as a volunteer on any of the subcommittees, please email
the Chair of the Council and Director of the Office of International Student Services
at brooke.odonnell@pepperdine.edu.
ISAC Subcommittees
Points of Contact (POC) Liaisons to Dean/OISS
International Student Involvement and Engagement Subcommittee (SIES)
The committee will work to identify best practices in engaging international students
in the campus community & student life. Committee members will make programmatic recommendations
to assist in fostering student involvement and design event(s) that meet this objective.
International Student Support and Orientation (ISS&O) Subcommittee
The Student Support and Orientation Subcommittee (SS&O) will identify and suggest
collaborative resources and best practices for international student onboarding and
orientation across the Pepperdine schools. An ongoing committee project is the annual
updating of the OISS International Student Arrival Guide, which provides international
students with a comprehensive guide to acclimating to Pepperdine.
International Student Recruitment and Admissions Subcommittee (IRAS)
The committee will review existing recruitment and admissions practices and make recommendations
towards the improvement of admissions efforts. The committee will focus on the following
areas: prospect and contact sharing, standardization of data collection to address
compliance issues, new case management software implementation, and enrollment reporting.
Faculty Support and Professional Development (FSPD)
The committee will work to identify partners in providing culturally inclusive pedagogical
practices. Committee members will work to design engaging opportunities for faculty
to receive on-going professional development that aims to better support and aid international
students.
International Student Academic Success (ISAS) Subcommittee
The committee will reconcile the international student's academic preparation to his/her
acclimation to U.S. higher education. In particular, faculty will discuss the rigor
of Pepperdine's general education requirements and varied levels of familiarity with
Western civilization, U.S. history, political science, and religion. Other topics
such as academic integrity, English language support, and equipping at-risk students
will also be addressed.
International Education Week
In honor of Pepperdine’s commitment to fostering global awareness and preparing students
for leadership in an interconnected world, the University celebrates International
Education Week—a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department
of Education.
A collaborative initiative between the Seaver College International Studies and Languages
Division, the Office of International Student Services, International Programs, and
the Office for Community Belonging, International Education Week at Pepperdine highlights
the personal and communal benefits of international education and cultural exchange.
Through a series of engaging events and discussions, Pepperdine's International Education
Week shines a light on the value of cross-cultural understanding and global awareness
to enrich our community, enhance academic excellence, and prepare our students to
thrive in a global environment. These opportunities highlight international perspectives
and broaden our community's understanding of global citizenship. For more information
on IEW: https://www.pepperdine.edu/events/international-education-week/
ISAC Volunteers
Pepperdine is known for our community, which comes from our Christian heritage and
commitment to the highest standards of academic excellence.
ISAC Volunteers attend Subcommittee meetings are arranged by each chair on a monthly
basis during the academic year. Twice a year, all of the members are gathered at the
ISAC Bi-Annual Council meeting, where initiatives are shared across subcommittees,
offices, and campuses.
Archives
Please find below some of the products of the collaboration of ISAC: