Category: International Services

International Center’s Scope Broader than Most Think

Most people think that the scope of the International Center is limited to providing services to international students (students studying at the College on an F-1 student visa). While the Center does provide a full range of comprehensive services, it also serves the college in a broader way.

For example, the Center recently collaborated with the Department of Nursing to help streamline their admissions criteria regarding English proficiency requirements. The goal of the Nursing Department was to assist students who may be exempt from taking a costly and time-consuming standardized placement test such as TOEFL; however, establishing consistent and equitable criteria determining who may be exempt proved difficult.  When the International Center was asked to help determine English proficiency requirements, both departments agreed that the best remedy was to adapt and apply the State of Nevada Board of Nursing Licensure Criteria for International Graduates to the School of Nursing admissions process.

The Center also works closely with Human Resources and other academic departments who need assistance navigating the regulatory process surrounding the hiring of foreign nationals. The two departments are collaborating to develop such policies and procedures.

The department changed its name from International Student Services to the International Center in 2004 to reflect its service to a variety of stakeholders internally and externally.