Get Involved on Campus

Whether you are looking for a way to keep your international experience alive when you return home, get a taste of what it would be like to go overseas, or just hoping to extend a hand in friendship to international students newly arriving in Fayetteville, there are plenty of great opportunities to get involved on campus!

Become A Pal for a New Exchange Student. Help befriend new international exchange students during their semester or year at UA and take them from the airport, through their first few weeks and check in periodically during the semester or year. For more information contact the Office of Study Abroad at 479-575-7582 or studyabroad@uark.edu.
Join the Study Abroad Student Association (SASA) SASA has two goals: to provide a network of support and shared interest for study abroad students and to assist the Office of Study Abroad. SASA members also help with the study abroad fair and various other projects. There are various events throughout the semester as well as a monthly meeting. Check out the news & events for upcoming SASA events. Join SASA and provide internationally minded leadership on our campus!
Be a Conversation Partner. Spring International Language Center (SILC) is a school for teaching English as a second language. The students often request conversation partners to work on “everyday” English. To volunteer contact SILC at silc@uark.edu or check them out on the web at http://www.uark.edu/depts/silc/ark/.
Become A Cross Cultural Mentor for International Student Orientation at the UA. Guide new international students through orientation and the maze of UA policies and procedures and help them become familiar with campus. For more information contact International Student Services at 479-575-5003 or iss@uark.edu.
Join a Foreign Language Conversation Group. Looking for a way to maintain your new found fluency gained overseas or get a jump start in preparation for going abroad ? Check with the Foreign Language department at (479)575-2951 or with one of your foreign language professors for information on informal foreign language conversation groups.
Become a Member of the International Culture Team (ICT). ICT has two goals: to provide a network of support and shared interest for study abroad students and to assist the Office of International Students and Scholars. ICT members also help with the study abroad fair and various other projects. The International Culture Team (ICT) is a very special team of international student educators. Typically comprised of around 50 graduate and undergraduate students representing over 30 countries, this team offers global education to schools at all grade levels, as well as businesses and community organizations throughout Northwest Arkansas. For more information contact International Student Services at 479-575-5003 or ict@uark.edu.
Join a Student Cultural Association. Interested in connecting with a culture you discovered while overseas or finding out more about a particular culture? Here’s your opportunity! The University of Arkansas has an extensive list of different student groups and you can find a list at http://iss.uark.edu/348.php.
Live in Holcombe Hall: The International Living and Learning Community! Holcombe Hall is a unique place and with 140 co-ed students from as near as Fayetteville and as far as Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America, it is truly a home away from home. The mission of the ILLC is to "create an environment that fosters cultural awareness, develop a broader world outlook, and build strong, lasting bonds among citizens of the world." This is accomplished by living and learning with people of different cultures, perspectives and values, as well as by participating in exciting social events, language tables, cooking competitions, and much more. To find out more, go to http://housing.uark.edu/thehalls/holc/index.php.
Enroll in the FYE Global Perspectives Course! This First Year Experience program is a team of first-year students each who are enrolled in the Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences, live in Holcombe Hall and who are interested in international relations, political science, cross-cultural communication, history, sociology, or foreign languages. The in-class learning will be supplemented with 1-2 structured academic or social co-curricular activities per month. For more information, check it out on the web at http://housing.uark.edu/ResEd/GlobalPerspectives.php.
Join the Friendship Family Program. This program provides opportunities for American families to be paired up with international students, visit in their homes, and learn about their communities. This is a great way for your whole family to get involved and learn about other cultures and viewpoints. For more information contact International Student Services at frndfam@uark.edu or check them out on the web at http://iss.uark.edu/354.php.
Be a Short-Term Host Family to an English Language Student. This program provides opportunities for American families to be host for students improving their English at the Spring International Language Center for as short as a weekend up to a full nine week term. This is another great way to get your entire family in on the fun and learn about other cultures and viewpoints. For more information contact Spring International Language Center at silc@uark.edu or check them out on the web at http://www.uark.edu/depts/silc/ark/.
Keep An Eye Out for Events Happening On Campus! Don’t forget that there are always tons of exciting lecturers, films, gatherings, performances and other events happening on campus that have international flair! Make sure to check the UA Calendar for all of the great things going on throughout the year at http://calendars.uark.edu/.