[NOTE: This e-mail was sent to commission members on November 7, 2005.

To: ESL and International Student Advising Commission Members
From: Aura Rios Erickson, Commission Chair

Hello everyone!

It’s November already! Those of you that did not have the chance to attend the NACADA National Conference in Las Vegas missed an exciting professional development opportunity. Check NACADA’s website for your regional conferences and try to attend either this year or next.

Our ESL and International Student Advising Commission meeting was very well attended. It speaks to the need for us as professionals to learn from each other and be able to share resources to best serve students. Liz Bartholdi, our outgoing Commission Chair, led the discussion. Several topics of interest where raised: financial resources, cultural adjustments, dealing with husbands/parents/other relatives, FERPA, SEVIS, mental health, etc.

It is my plan as your new Chair to try to lead discussions using the commission listserve. It will only be through your participation that we will all be able to gain knowledge. I will update information on our web site as you share resources and concerns through our discussions. If you are not already subscribed to the commission listserve, I encourage you to do so and participate in the upcoming discussions. Subscription information for the listserve can be found at www.nacada.ksu.edu/Commissions/C26/listserve.htm on our commission web site.  Subscribe today!

First, I would like to ask for committee volunteers. If you agree to step forward to help, your name and e-mail will be listed as a committee member on our commisison web site. I would probably seek your input on any changes that I plan to make and that will be all the help I need.

I need your help!  Please contact me directly at aerickso@shoreline.edu.

For our November listserve discussion, I want to know how you assist students who are in financial need. Do you have any web sites or scholarship sources? How do you help international students? How do you help undocumented students? What are your thoughts about encouraging students to obtain assistance when you know they can’t work? How are students that do not qualify for Federal Financial Assistance paying for their education?

Okay! Here are the questions, let’s start the discussion! I invite all of you to share your thoughts on these issues via the commission listserve. Thank you.

Aura

Aura Rios Erickson
Immigrant Student Advisor
Shoreline Community College
Seattle, WA
aerickso@shoreline.edu