On September 1, 2016, thirteen new international students were welcomed at a reception in the Trustees Room. The students, who hail from all over the globe, including Ghana, Indonesia, Austria, and Armenia, were welcomed by current students, and by staff, faculty, and President Robert R. Lindgren. Mayumi Nakamura, assistant director of the Office of International Education, says that RMC’s unique campus gives all students, including international students, the opportunity to thrive.

Photos: International Students Reception

Close-knit Community
Randolph-Macon College has a vibrant international-student community. International students enrich the campus community in many ways, and the Office of International Education (OIE) supports international students as they adjust to life at RMC and in the United States. From International Student Orientation, to one-on-one meetings with the Study Abroad advisor, OIE staff help students integrate into the vibrant RMC community.

“One of RMC’s strengths is its close-knit community: It’s a big factor in many of our students’ decisions to come here, including our international students,” says Nakamura.

New Ways of Seeing the World
Lindgren welcomed the newest international students and encouraged them to take advantage of all the opportunities RMC offers to get involved, meet other students, and participate in clubs, organizations, sports and campus activities.

“We have been looking forward to your arrival with great excitement,” he told them. “International students like you bring an energy and vitality to campus life, and you enrich our student body and make our campus more interesting for all of us because you are here. You bring fresh ideas, new ways of seeing the world, different traditions and cultures, and a great desire to learn. On a small campus like Randolph-Macon, the uniqueness of each student is embraced and celebrated, and I know that the contributions each of you bring with you will be appreciated and honored.”

Home Away from Home
In addition to the reception, the OIE, in collaboration with other departments, held a two-day orientation for international students. “We have a remarkable group of seven International Assistants (IAs) and two Mentor IAs, who will assist the new group with the acculturation process throughout the year,” says Nakamura. “Our IAs strive to make RMC a home away from home for our international students.”

The Office of International Education
The OIE offers numerous opportunities to students: January Term (J-term) study/travel courses; semester abroad and year abroad programs; and engaging activities such as International Education Week (IEW). The 2015 IEW featured films, lectures, and fun, informative activities. IEW’s kick-off event, the International Showcase, was full of energy, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and Ashland residents through fashion, dance, music and food.

Cross-cultural Learning
The International House is a hub for international life on campus, fostering intercultural friendships and initiating cross-cultural learning experiences. The International House, which provides accommodations for 11, includes a kitchen and community spaces, and every year serves as home for a unique mix of cultures, with students both from abroad and from the U.S. sharing the residence.

Aouicha Hilliard, director of the Office of International Education, says, “The very presence of international students—including the questions they ask, the ideas they bring with them, even their accents—forces our community to become aware that there is a different world beyond our borders. They bring with them other ways of thinking about daily life, and, if we are thoughtful, we might start questioning some of our assumptions about the ‘other.'”