A Case Study Exploring International Student Engagement at Three Small, Private Colleges

Higher education institutions continue to face increased scrutiny to better

monitor student persistence rates and develop better strategies to retain

more students through the attainment of a degree. Retention studies on

international students are limited and often focused on large public

universities. The researcher interviewed students and the international

student officers at three small, private four-year colleges in the Southeast

United States. The international students were found to be formally and

informally engaged in academic and social activities on campus, and

engagement was promoted by formal campus sponsored activities,

international staff members’ personal involvement, and through faculty and

staff interaction. The students became aware of campus resources through

college programming, faculty and staff interaction, and peer interaction

with other students.