International student perspectives are foundation of Ohio State workshops

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International student perspectives are foundation of Ohio State workshops

Series helps faculty and staff support students from around the world

Suci Nazier has studied all over the world. The third-year doctoral student received her bachelor's degree in Tanzania and her master's degree in the Netherlands, both of which are located a considerable distance from her home in Jakarta, Indonesia.

After being accepted into the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Nazier came to The Ohio State University to pursue her doctorate. She plans to graduate with a PhD in health and rehabilitation sciences in 2028.

For the last two years, Nazier has been an eager participant in the university's International Student Experience Workshop Series.

"I've participated so many times, I've lost count," she said. "We get emails about the panels, and I always check my schedule. I feel like maybe my experience as an international student can help incoming students."

The workshops began in 2015. According to Caroline Omolesky, program officer for sponsored programs and academic liaison in the Office of International Affairs (OIA), they were a response to questions about how best to assist international Buckeyes.

"I get a lot of emails from faculty and staff," she said. "'How do I handle this situation?' 'I want to be sure I don't impact a student's visa.' Or just, 'I want to be sure I'm supporting my students because I know they may need help with academic context or language barriers.'"

There are two sets of three workshops each semester covering, respectively, pre-arrival, check-in and orientation; cultural adjustment; and academics and career expectations.

In addition to student perspectives, the workshops feature staff presentations that offer in-depth looks at regulations and policies that impact international students. Combining the office's expertise with student stories creates a well-rounded series that is useful for faculty and staff, Omolesky said.

While attending all three isn't required, she always encourages people to do so if they can.

"The series provides context for the student experience," she said. "Audience members get the whole picture."

That whole picture includes things beyond academics, like housing and, occasionally, the weather.

"The weather comes up," Omolesky said. "We can't do much about that, but we can help students know where to get warm clothing for the winter."

After her time in the Netherlands, Nazier was prepared for Midwestern winters. Ohio summers, she said, took more of an adjustment.

"I expected the seasons here," she said. "I don't love the winter, but I'm not surprised by it. The summers here? They're even hotter than home. I come from a tropical country and I've never felt heat like this."

Nazier's story highlights just how varied the international student experience can be.

"International students make up 10% of the student body on the Columbus campus," Omolesky said. "And they each have unique issues that affect them. Often, the people working with them don't know what they don't know. When you come to the workshops, you learn something new."

Each session includes time for attendees to ask international students questions.

"We want people to hear directly from the international students about their own experiences," Omolesky said. "It was important to us to give international students a voice in these workshops."

"I find every question constructive," Nazier said. "A great question could help us provide better support for international students."

In addition to bettering the experience of her fellow international students, Nazier participates in the workshops because she finds Ohio State to be a welcoming and supportive environment.

Some institutions assume students have a baseline knowledge when a class begins, which can lead to falling behind, she said.

"There's mentorship here," she said. "Faculty acknowledge that every student has a different entry level. The lecturers answer my questions, even if they're basic. They go through everything, even if most of the students already know it. They make sure everyone can learn and experience what the syllabus has to offer us."

This supportive feeling is exactly what Omolesky hopes to achieve with the workshops, she said.

"We wanted to create a professional development opportunity for faculty and staff, but we also want to build empathy on behalf of the campus community," she said. "We want everyone to better understand what it's like to be an international student at Ohio State. Put yourself in their shoes and relate to their experience."

For information about upcoming workshops, visit the Office of International Affairs: https://oia.osu.edu/news/2025/09/09/autumn-2025-international-student-experience-workshop-series.

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