JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — The SUNY Jamestown Community College community recently welcomed international students to the Jamestown Campus with an outdoor reception at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute.
The event was hosted by the college’s Global Learning department and gave SUNY JCC faculty and staff an opportunity to network with students and share information about the college and community.
“This semester we have 66 students from 20 different countries, including Sweden, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe,” said Rudi Andalora, project manager for Global Learning at JCC. “Many come to participate in our sports programs, and then become enthusiastic and involved members of the JCC community.”
Andalora said most participate in the International Club on campus, and many have joined the Ski Club. Andalora is an advisor for both, and is planning off-campus adventures that will give the students a real taste of Chautauqua County.
“In previous years we’ve gone to Lake Erie, and Niagara Falls,” Andalora said. “We’ve realized there are many gems right in our backyard that our students are sure to find intriguing.”
Andalora and Kerri Brown, director of Global Learning, spent much of August helping students arrive and get settled into their residence halls at the college. This often involves picking them up at the airport, and driving directly to a store for supplies.
“The students bring very little to college, often just a suitcase,” Brown said. “While we do supply a list of things like towels and a shower curtain that they should bring, they may not be able to fit it in their luggage. We know this is a difficulty and are prepared to take them shopping right away.”
Students participating in soccer were among the first to arrive on campus, and were treated to a cookout as part of Global Learning’s welcoming activities.
“We do everything we can to make sure the students feel welcome and comfortable when they get to college,” Brown said. “After the reception at RTPI, we had happy students who commented on how friendly and kind the faculty and staff were that came to meet them. We do what we can to help our students get settled and feel at home, and are thankful our community supports our efforts.”
For more information about Global Learning at SUNY JCC, visit sunyjcc.edu/experience/global.