First-Year Experience Programs

First-Year Student Experience Programming

These programs aim to promote positive student experience both inside and outside of the classroom through strategic programming that emphasizes cultural integration including academic and social adjustment, personal connections, and personalized support. We invite you to connect with us, learn about available resources, and inform the ISSC how we can enhance your first-year student experience at ASU.

During the semester, we do a lot of engagement activities and opportunities to volunteer with us. Please review the programs below and let us know if you have any questions or if you would like to volunteer with us. We welcome new ideas and recommendations for how we can support first-year students better. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any ideas or recommendations.

First-Year Student Connect

The First Year Student Connect is a program designed for first year undergraduate students to connect with each other and learn tips on adjusting to new life and navigating resources at ASU. This event is hosted bi-weekly during the school sessions. Please see the ISSC’s events calendar or weekly emails for more information.

Through this program, you will be able to

Connect
- With first year students, student leaders and the ISSC/ASU staff.
Learn
- Tips on adjusting to a new culture including academic and classroom culture
- American culture and important celebrations in the U.S.
- Resources on and off campus
- Opportunities such as getting involved on campus, volunteering, and on campus job search.
Inform
- The ISSC team if there is anything else that we could do to enhance your first-year student experience.
Most importantly, you are not alone during your first-year at ASU!

Global Connect

Global Connect is one of the ISSC Connect Series to provide an opportunity for everyone to come together as a global citizen, share knowledge, share opportunities, learn about global cultures, connect with one another, and build a lifelong friendship. Our goal is to enhance student experience through global connections.

At these events, first-year students can connect with sophomore, junior, senior students, ISSC staff, and even community members in a more relaxed and fun environment. Typically, a short presentation or discussion is conducted at the beginning of each event. Then, followed by a question-and-answer session. Half of the time, we will eat food and connect with one another. Topics discussed in these events are related to adjusting to American culture, and tips and tricks on how to enhance success at ASU. Topics include:

Celebrations
Sports
Holidays
Places to visit
Resources on and off campus
And more!

ISSC’s Cafe

The first-year student experience team will be hosting several of the ISSC’s Cafe throughout the semester. ISSC’s Cafe is just a space for people to come together to meet and hangout or just to stop by in between classes, say hello, and try some of the ISSC’s international beverages and snacks. We will host some special events occasionally, so make sure to check out the ISSC’s events calendar weekly and be updated with current events.

ISSC Buddy Program

The ISSC Buddy Program is a peer-support initiative designed to help first-year international students transition smoothly into university life at Arizona State University. Participants will be paired with a “buddy”—an experienced student who has been at the university for at least one semester. This buddy will act as your guide and a friend, helping you navigate academic, social, and cultural aspects of Arizona State University and the U.S. in general. Buddies are recruited each semester and usually at the beginning of the semester.

More information will be shared during the launch of this program in the fall 2024. If you are interested in participating in this program, please contact our FYS Experience Team.