The Office of International Student Services� purpose is to increase, in a steady and sustainable way, the number of international students enrolled at Butte College and to provide services and support to promote their academic success and personal growth.
In order to meet our goal of increasing the number of international students on our campus each year, it has been incumbent upon Butte College to actively recruit in foreign countries. In countries that we are unable to visit, Butte uses web marketing, virtual recruitment, and other marketing tools to reach out to prospective students. The other major activity of the department is to provide international students with special services such as help with housing, special admissions help, orientation designed for new international students and specialized academic and immigration advising.
The international student program supports the Vission for Success in the following ways:
1. Connection & Entry - the program requires students to complete a comprehensive Canvas course to all new international students as part of new student orientation. This course provides students with the basics of school/academic policies, procedures, vocabulary, and naviagation. Additionally students are required to attend an individual counseling appointment to discuss goals, programs and courses. Finally students are required to attend two connection activity days lead by student ambassadors to welcome them to the campus community and help them connect with eachother.
2. Progress & Completion - the program follows a cohort model and requires that students meet with their counselors at least once a semester. Students on probation or not meeting unit requirements are communicated with and encouraged to meet with the program coordinator and counselors. The number of students that complete their educational goal of an AA or AAT is close to 100%. The program student transfer rate significantly increases the college overall numbers. Students have a very high percentage of UC transfer.
3. Progress & Completion Outcome-CTE - The program has a very small population of students that participate in the campus CTE programs. However those that do complete with 100%. International students also have the option of applying for post graduation work experience (Optional Practical Training) and all those that apply are approved.
Due to program efforts our program retetion rate from Fall 2021 to Spring 2022 was 99%
The international program supports all 8 of the Strategic Direction and Priority Themes.
1. Implementing AB705 - new students meet with a counselor individually to best place them into the best course for English & math
2. All students utilize Hobsons Starfish with their counselors.
3. While international students are not directly listed on our Equity program, there is much overlap in the work that the Equity program does and the international program.
4. The international program continues to actively recruit and increase student enrollment.
5. Using a cohort model all international students are supported throughout their academic journey.
6. Student events and campus wide activities (International Education Week) and workshops help to educate the campus on the international program and its students.
7. The program tracks and monitors all of its data
8. Professional development opportunities are avaliable to program staff. Trainings are also offered to the campus via Flex workshops throughout the semester.
- Continue to pursue relationships with English language schools in Korea and China. This is still being pursued.
- Create a focus group of international and domestic students to determine ways to implement “friendship program” with same-age students. This is still being pursued.
Continue to grow the international student program in student numbers and diversity of countries. This includes increasing recruitment efforts and international partnerships. While, also maintaining and expanding services to those students on campus.
Strategy 1 - Increase and Diversify Recruitment
Diversifying international student enrollment requires diversifying marketing and recruitment models/modes. To enable the Butte College program to do this we must invest in new strategies (web based, expand to new countries, contract with lead generators) The increase in marketing and recruitment also allows the program to grow its number of educational oversea partners and alumni network so as to sustain program growth.
The International Program budget supports the salaries of its full time employees and percentages of supporting positions. Salaries and benefits account for 95% of the expenditures. The constant increase in benefits and salary step increases ultimately decreases our operating budget which limits the amount of recruitment and outreach that can take place each year. Without an increase in student enrollment the recruitment budget will continue to decrease.
1. Location on campus to host all International Student Services (i.e. Admissions, Counseling, Program Coordinator, Student Events/Workshops) - office space and common meeting areas
International Program Budget - $264K (50% of Paid Non-Resident Fees for F-1 visa students)
Original Priority | Program, Unit, Area | Resource Type | Account Number | Object Code | One Time Augment | Ongoing Augment |
Description | Supporting Rationale | Potential Alternative Funding Sources | Prioritization Criteria | |||
1 | International Programs | Personnel | 11.000.700.1.649004 | 52120 | $30,000.00 | $0.00 |
Part-time/Temporary Position - Special Program Clerk | The international program will not be able to increase student enrollment without additional staff support. The temporary position of Special Program Clerk will create capacity for the program coordinator to build more recruitment opportunities, partnerships and to increase current student engagement/retention. This will lead to increased student enrollment. At the current student program numbers a position can not be funded from the limited self funded programming budget. A temporary position could help enrollment return to a level where the international program could again self-sustain a full time Admissions & Recruitment position. Without this support position, the program will lack the resources and bandwidth to increase student enrollment. |
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2 | International Programs | Operating Expenses | 11.000.700.1.649004 | 55201 | $25,000.00 | $0.00 |
International Student Recruitment | Our program is currently feeling the effects from the political impacts of the past administration and the COVID pandemic. Our decline in enrollment has drastically effected our program�s ability to actively recruit and do student outreach in the 2021/2022 year as 95% of our budget will be used for staff salaries. Without sustained recruitment practices and creativity we will be unable to maintain and grow our program numbers. We must continue to explore new markets, and increase our virtual presence to attract international students to our campus. Examples of ways this funding will be used: � Video creation & social media marketing campaign - $7000 � Attend larger virtual recruitment events - $1200 - $3500 per event � Continue student ambassador (Unibuddy) outreach events & live chat for prospective students - $7000 � Attend professional networking events to connect with international high school reps & educational agents - $2000 Without this funding the program will continue to strategically fund recruitment & marketing on a smaller scale. |
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3 | International Programs | Personnel | 11.000.700.1.649004 | 52368 | $10,000.00 | $0.00 |
Student Assistant | This request would cover approximately 20 hours per week of student assistant time. Students are our greatest recruiters. To have current students supporting the program is invaluable. It provides them with work experience opportunities, and professional and leadership development. The students support the program by being mentors to current students to increase retention, they provide out reach to prospective students, create social medial and marketing materials, can organize student events, etc. Without this funding the program will not be able to support student assistants for program support and will have minimal funding for student orientation leaders. |
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