News Story

Whitesitt Hall was full of excitement and many different languages and accents Monday as international students began registering for a week of orientation activities in advance of the beginning of the fall semester on Aug. 20.

Cathy Lee Arcuino, associate director of International Programs and Services, said she enjoys the energy and excitement of these first days.

“So far, we’ve communicated only by e-mail,” Arcuino said of the new international students. “This is the first time for us to see them face-to-face and start to get to know them.”

Arcuino and a crew of staff and student orientation leaders will spend the week helping the new international students get to know the university and the community before they settle into their classes.

“Anyone who has ever studied in another country will understand the mixture of excitement and anxiety these students are feeling,” Arcuino said. “Fortunately, this is a very welcoming campus and community.”

Arcuino said she expects about 120 new international students to go through orientation activities.