Integration of

International
Community at
UNM
One Lobo, One Family
A proposal to Associated Students of the University
of New Mexico from the Global Education Office

2120 Mesa Vista Hall

MSC06 3850, 1,
University of New
Mexico
Albuquerque, NM

Phone: (505) 277-4032

Fax: (505) 277-1867

Email.: geo@unm.edu
Geo.unm.edu

Introduction
The University of New Mexico (UNM) has been serving the community of Albuquerque
and New Mexico for 127 years. With a continuous growth now it hosts 34,656 students, of which
1,500 are international students. The Global Education Office (GEO) it is a department at UNM,
that facilitate international linkages, cultural exchange, and the development of international
expertise across all sectors of the university. Our department recruits students around the world
to come and seek their degrees at UNM. We also facilitate the opportunity to study
internationally through the Study Abroad and Exchange programs. It also offers an intensive
English learning through the Center for English Language & American Culture (CELAC).
The statistics based on GEO surveys from Fall 2010 to 2014 have shown that there has
been an increase of 30.46% in the number of undergraduate students, 33.72% in graduate
students (79.88% increase in Master programs and 11.61% in PhD programs), 37.18% in
exchange program, and 109.52% in the Intensive English Learning population. There are 97
countries represented at UNM within the international students. The majority of students come
from these top 5: China, India, Brazil, Iran, and South Korea. 36.52% of the students receive
support from the University and 63.48% receive support from other sources, contributing a big
amount of financial income to the University.

* (All these number based on the inform presented by the Global Education Office in fall 2014)

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Int'l Students at UNM

Associated; 1%
Bachelors; 16%
Sholars; 21%
Intensive English; 10%

Masters; 23%
Doctorate; 29%

The financial income is not the only contribution that International Students bring to the
University, but bring their culture, language diversity, and other an universal perspective are the
biggest benefits that UNM receives. However, local students and international students do not
have many chances to interact or create relationship. This is why GEO proposes the partnership
with Associated Students of UNM (ASUNM) for the organization of a social event during the
International Education Week, where the spirit of the Lobo family and student community can
be shared within both communities.

Current Situation

Acknowledging the support that the International Students bring to UNM, the University
needs to take care of this population. When International students first come to UNM they are
first introduced to the International community. Their first socialization is with other
internationals, they create this social group, belonging mainly to this subculture within UNM.
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The most popular spaces shared by both communities are the class rooms, and the
residence halls, where neither of both are specific social platforms. UNM has this international
side that has not be notice as it should been. Both student groups have been placed in same
scenarios but not reach the benefits that could have been reached.

A college experience is what many students around the US and the globe are looking
for to have. If the university is not positioned as a great option within the other countries, the
university will lose this students that bring financial, social and cultural benefits to the university.
So far, they have a good experience, but that good cold be transformed in greater.

Solution
UMN has an international side that is not clear yet. International students bring many
benefits to the university, but the most important is that I make us a better university. An
international celebration of this is International Education Week, celebrated around the globe and
in many universities around the country. This is why this is the best opportunity to link this two
communities.

During the IEW many departments around campus will offer diverse events engaging the
cultural diversity. Most of the students will have a contact with some intercultural education,
reminding them the diverse world where they live or introducing them for the first time. And
within all this educational events, the International party will be presented, as the social space
where they can interact from their peers, classmates, roommates, etc. and interact for the first
time or learn from their culture and realize the international side of the university.

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Step 1
Organization of the Event committee, chose representatives of every area or unit
involved: social, marketing, accounting, administration, etc. Arrange day and time for a weekly
meeting, and divide specific duties.

Step 2
Create the brand for the Event (name, key words, slogan, logo, etc). It is important that
the identity of the event, the brand it is clear set for the development of it.

Select the appropriate time and day for the event, like the last Friday of the International
Education Week, analysis of budget, and the best services that can be used for the event.

Step 3
Analysis of possible venues and menu for the event.

The creation of a first draft of the agenda of the event. Invitation and confirmation of the
diverse cultural and ethnic student association, groups, and students in campus to perform
traditional and cultural presentation.

Step 4
Confirmation of all the events details: venue, food, and agenda. Start marketing event
through the selected mediums. Because of the audience, the best medium is social media,
ASUNM- Student Activities page and GEO- UNM Global page in Facebook. UNM Facebook
page and Instagram account. Posters around Main Campus, Residence Hall buildings, Student
Union Building, and different departments.

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Qualification
The Social Activities team of the Global Education Office has been working with social
events for the international students for many years. GEO, as the manager of the immigration
status of the students, is the first face that international students see even before coming to the
US.

Geo presents a calendar to the new students every semester, including all the social
events. The department present two social events per month and at least three trips in the
semester around New Mexico and the country, organized in partnership with the office of
Recreational Services. For the promotion of these events and other needs GEO has different, and
very effective ways of reaching the International community.

This are the reasons why GEO is the most qualify for creating this partnership with
ASUNM. And how together they can create a better student community, what makes UNM a
better university.

Cost and benefits

GEO is a unit that does not create financial incomes. And has a support of some entities
like SFRB committee, but with the partnership of ASUNM the solution of an actual problem can
be made.

DESCRIPTION

COST

Venue (SUB ballroom)

800

Food (UNM Catering)

600

Music (DJ)

300

Marketing

50

Total Expenses

1,750
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With the creation of this event as an annual thing will bring many benefits to the
university. First, the better experience that the university offers to the student community, and
specifically the International community, the better positioning will gain. The better that the
university is positioned that the university is, more students will be interested in come to it, and
this will cause the increase of the general income. With a better income more students can be
benefited and the budget for the different areas, like ASUNM, will also increase. With a bigger
budget more events can be organized, for the presentation of the best college experience for all
UNM students, and growth of the Lobo spirit.

UNM also counts with diverse international related majors and languages, that will also
benefited by the relation with international students. As native speakers, can help the foreign
languages students to practice in an appropriate way. The local students interested in the
international studies or relations, can have a first practice of this process, learning from their
peers or friends.

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