Services

Office of Study Abroad and International Students
At Colorado College, we provide a wide range of support services to ensure the success and well being of all our students, both in and out of the classroom. Of special importance to international students is the office of study abroad and international students. This office advises international students on immigration matters, provides guidance on issues of cultural adjustment, and organizes programs on different aspects of U.S. and other cultures. The office holds a special orientation for international students prior to the start of the school year and organizes a host family program to provide international students with a "home away from home" during their time at CC. Colorado College also provides some English as a foreign language assistance through tutoring and faculty advising, although students applying to CC should have a solid mastery of the English language.

Here are a few of the services the Office of Study Abroad and International Students provides during the year:

International Student Orientation
The Office understands that coming to college in the United States can be an overwhelming experience for many students.  For this reason, the College holds a special orientation for international students prior to the start of the school year.  The International Student Orientation gives students the information they need to make a successful transition to academic life and campus culture.  The five-day orientation covers everything from academics and campus policies to making friends and finding a social life.  During the orientation, students take an overnight trip to the CC cabin in the mountains for some well-deserved rest and relaxation before classes begin!

International Student Host Family Program
The International Student Host Family Program provides students with a "home away from home" during their time at CC. Host families give students an introduction to American culture and family life by involving them in family outings, inviting them to dinner, or just by being available in times of need.  Often, the friendships that develop between students and their host families continue well after students return home.  When you're missing your own family back home -- having an American host family is the next best thing!

Airport Pick-Up
In an effort to relieve some of the stress of international travel, the Office offers an airport pick-up service for students attending the international student orientation.  Your host family or a college representative from the International Programs Office will meet you at the Colorado Springs airport when you first arrive in the United States and bring you to campus.

Community Service Project for International Students
The Office works with the Center for Community Service to provide special opportunities for international students to learn more about social issues in the United States through on-campus presentations and off-campus participation in a community service project.  In the past, international students have learned about issues of domestic violence and have participated in a four-day community service project at the Shiprock Home for Women and Children in New Mexico.  In addition, the Center for Community Service maintains information about on-going volunteer opportunities for students that take place in the local Colorado Springs community.

International Week
Each November, the international student organization (MOSAIC) works with the Office to sponsor International Week.  Singers, dancers, and student performances are typical highlights of International Week.  The week includes a culinary extravaganza, "A Taste of the World", where students prepare traditional meals from their home country to share with other students.

International Student Newsletter
The Office publishes an electronic newsletter for international students.  The newsletter serves as a means to communicate immigration information and matters of interest to the international student community.