Navigating the First Year: Transition and Adjustment Experiences of International Students of Color at a Predominantly White Institution

Authors

Christina W. Yao, University of South CarolinaFollow
Jennifer N. Rutt, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Kaleb Briscoe, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Alexandra Kirshenbaum, University of ChicagoFollow
Matthew W. Knight, Purdue University
Kathleen J. Buell, Eastern Washington University

Date of this Version

2019

Document Type

Article

Citation

Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention 26:2 (2019).

doi: 10.24926/jcotr.v26i2.2374

Comments

Copyright © 2019 Christina W. Yao, Jennifer N. Rutt, Kaleb Briscoe, Alexandra Kirshenbaum, Matthew W. Knight, and Kathleen J. Buell.

CC-BY-NC. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Abstract

International student mobility has been a highly discussed topic in higher education in the United States (U.S.). Yet current geopolitical issues necessitate a reexamination of how international students, especially those who would be considered students of Color, are transitioning to U.S. higher education institutions. Findings from three interviews that spanned participants’ first year on campus include the importance of social interactions, challenges with academic adjustments, and navigating the effects of politics. Suggestions for student affairs practice are addressed, including pre-sojourn connections and peer engagement.