International Center creates home on campus

The Leo R. Dowling International Center will formally welcome students and scholars back to IU on Friday.

An annual program, the International Student Welcome Reception invites faculty members, Office of International Services staff members and friends of already involved students to participate.

“Everyone is invited,” said Sandy Britton, the center’s director. “It’s a nice way to say ‘Welcome back. We are here to greet you and work with you.’”

Britton said each year’s reception is well attended, and she expects more guests to show up this year.

“We had the occasions that 300 or more people came to the reception,” Britton said, “People were coming and going because they have different schedules. That’s why the number of people in the house varies during the reception.”

At the reception faculty and staff members that work with the center will join the students and will have the chance to mingle.

Britton said she did not have the list of faculty invited this year, but most of those from the culture centers and various offices associated with international affairs and admission will be on the list.

Patrick O’Meara, vice president for International Affairs, and Christopher Viers, associate vice president for International Services, will attend the event.

Britton said the center had invited notable speakers such as Provost Karen Hanson to speak to students in the past.

“We try to have individuals who represent IU as a whole so that students can see they are welcomed by the IU administration,” she said.

The center started working on its welcoming events early. The ice cream social on Aug. 18 let early-arrival international students have the chance to get to know each other.

Britton said the welcome reception is one of her favorite activities of the year.

“I see it as a way to really connect a lot of students and let them know they are important to IU,” Britton said. “It is an opportunity to let them know we really care.”

Although the reception takes place at the International Center, Britton said American students are also more than welcome to join.

“It’s important to bring the two populations together and let them know each other well,” she said.