The Office of International Programs is beginning to plan for the “Around the World Party,” which will be held on Friday, September 28, from 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.  This is the biggest party we have during the school year, and we would like your help!  Last year we had over 500 people attend, and we would like to make it even bigger this year!  For those of you who do not know, the “Around the World Party” is an event that celebrates the different cultures, ethnicities, religion, and music represented by our students, scholars, & employees.  To do this we need your help!

We are looking for volunteers who would like to:

• Set up a cultural display table representing their country, ethnicity or religion.
• Host an interactive cultural activity, such as a board game, origami, calligraphy, a short language lesson, etc.
• Teach a cultural dance to interested students.
• Perform a dance demonstration.
• Perform a musical instrument demonstration.
• Perform a martial art demonstration.
• Help set up for the party.
• Help clean up after the party.

Volunteers will receive a free ticket to the party.  If you are interested in volunteering, we will have our first volunteer/planning meeting on Friday, September14, from 3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the Office of International Programs (Polsky 483).  If you are interested in participating, but can only come to part of the meeting, that is OK!

• Application for Around the World Party Participation form
• Application for Around the World Party Volunteer form

Hope to see you there!

Orientation Leaders play an important role in welcoming new international students to The University of Akron. They are given the opportunity to lead small groups of new students in orientation and are also involved in various presentations and special orientation activities. Orientation Leaders meet for several weeks prior to orientation to receive training and also work on group presentations and skits for the orientation program.

Application for Orientation Leaders for International Scholar/Student Orientation

All applications and references must be received in the Office of International Programs (OIP) by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12.  Orientation leaders will receive an OIP T-shirt with international flags on the front and back; as well as an OIP Orientation Leader Certificate. Breakfast & lunch will be provided on January 8^th and 10^th . Additionally, Orientation leaders will get to select sweatshirts, tshirts, etc of their choice worth up to $50 from The University of Akron bookstore, and a free ticket to the “Around the World Party” on Friday, September 27.  Successful candidates are expected to be available to attend all training sessions that will be scheduled December 17-19, 2012 & January 2-4 & 7, 2013. You will also be expected to attend all orientation activities on January 8 & 10^. You must be available on these dates.  If you will not be available to attend the training, please do not apply.  The first mandatory meeting will be on December 14, at 3:00 p.m. in the Office of International Programs (Polsky 483) for all orientation leaders in order to set the training schedule.

The Office of International Programs (OIP) is looking for volunteers to meet and greet our new international students as they arrive at Orientation.  You will be asked to welcome them to the United States and The University of Akron. After finding out if they are an undergraduate or graduate student, direct them to the proper line and hand them a number. Enjoy meeting new international students, share stories and cultures, and make new friends.

The Office of International Programs (OIP) is reaching out to the campus community for volunteers to welcome our new international students for the fall semester at our New International Student Orientation.  Volunteers will Meet and Greet our new international students in the lobby of the Paul E. Martin University Center, 105 Fir Hill, on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. as they arrive and wait the check-in procedure.  Coffee, tea, and breakfast items will be available to volunteers.

The OIP is also seeking four to six volunteers to hand out informational packets to new international students after check in at the packet table.  Volunteers are needed to work from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, in the Martin University Center. 

All volunteers need to attend a volunteer meeting on January 4, 2013 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm in The Polsky Building Room 486. 

If you are interested in this volunteer Meet & Greet opportunity or handing out packets, please fill out the application and return to the OIP located in the Polsky Building Room 483, +3101, or email your application to Patty Eaglewolf, eaglewo@uakron.edu by January 3. 2013, by 5:00 p.m  If you have any questions, please contact Patty at Ext. 6806.

Are you interested in welcoming the new international students to The University of Akron but you don’t have the time to be an orientation leader? This is definitely the job for you! Be there to hand out orientation packets and greet them with a friendly face.

More information to come.