INTERLINK
Announcement:
Sign up to be an INTERLINK Mentor!
If you are a student, faculty, or staff member who is interested in serving as a mentor for an international student for Fall 2009, click here for the mentor application.
Thank you for the overwhelming response from international student mentees! The MENTEE applications are now closed. Please check back in December if you are interested in applying for INTERLINK SPRING 2010!
Mentors and mentees will be matched at the beginning of September, and notified by email if they have been matched. Applicants will also be notified by email if they have been placed on a waitlist if we have an imbalance of mentors and mentees.
Check out our November-December INTERLINK newsletter!
What are other INTERLINK mentors and mentees up to? Check out the November-December newsletter to learn a little more about Thanksgiving and find out about events around town.
What is INTERLINK?
INTERLINK is an international student mentoring program, where international students have the opportunity to be paired with a University of Illinois student, faculty, or staff member who can provide support in adjusting to American culture.
INTERLINK welcomes participants from all backgrounds. The program values diversity in all its forms including (but not limited to) race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, disability, and sexual orientation. The program is built upon respecting and understanding differences in a way that promotes personal growth and a broader worldview for all participants.
Back Issues of Interlink Newsletters.
For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Dinner at EVO, March 2009
click here to see more pictures from INTERLINK event
Are you an International Student?
Imagine this scenario:
You were overjoyed when you received an acceptance letter from the University of Illinois. You packed your belongings and said good-bye to your loved ones. You left all the familiar places and people. However, right when you arrive at the university of your dreams, you have some difficulties. People don’t understand what you are trying to say. You don’t know anyone who can help you. Where do you get books, how do you register for classes, where do you shop for food? You might feel alone and frustrated, and cannot tell your friends or parents at home what you are going through because you do not want them to worry.
If this sounds familiar, consider INTERLINK at the University of Illinois – we are here to help!
What can INTERLINK offer you?
- A solid base of social and emotional support
- Space where your thoughts are shared and valued
- Space to improve your English conversation skills
Click here for the mentee application.
Are You Interested in Being a Mentor?
Imagine This Scenario:
You were excited to be a newly arrived student/staff/faculty at the University of Illinois. You were impressed by the huge campus and looking forward to becoming familiar with your surroundings so that you no longer felt the awkwardness of being “new.” For some of you, there were additional challenges because English was your second language and you may have been thousands of miles from your home. So you turned to new friends and colleagues, and eventually adjusted to life at University of Illinois and Champaign-Urbana.
Similarly, many international students struggle with their transition process and could use support from a person like you! If you are interested in mentoring an international student, consider INTERLINK at the U of I.
Make an Impact
- As a mentor you will not only broaden your horizons by learning about other cultures, you will also impact someone’s life for the better.
- International students face different sets of challenges. For some it can be communicating effectively while others may need someone who can introduce them to US culture. Often, what an international student may need is a person who they can go to for help and advice.
- INTERLINK offers a unique opportunity to do volunteer work.
Click here for the mentor application.
