Voices of Mainland Chinese Undergraduates: What They Need to Transition to U.S. Colleges

• In Event: 70.037 - International Issues in Higher Education

Abstract

Given increasing international enrollment in U.S. colleges, conversations are now shifting from recruitment strategies to best practices in supporting and retaining students. Yet, we hear very little directly from international students—particularly mainland Chinese, the largest proportion of international students—regarding what they want. Through a questionnaire, three interviews, and four journals with each of 18 mainland Chinese undergraduates, this study found that participants wanted social acceptance through more warmth, encouragement, and interest from their U.S. peers and teachers, in addition to academic support via empathy, flexibility, and accommodation from their teachers. Findings highlight the need to understand and disaggregate international students’ various needs as well as the importance of enhancing inter-group/intercultural understanding across all college constituents.

Author

• Tang T. Heng, Nanyang Technological University - National Institute of Education