Proposals

Abstract

CIRCLE is the UW’s primary portal for international student engagement, support, and advocacy. Since its inception in 2019, CIRCLE has been steadily increasing its program portfolio to center the needs of UW’s undergraduate and graduate international students. Recently, the UW decided to take a more active and direct role on the onboarding and transition of entering international students. As a result, CIRCLE is now charged with leading all welcome and cultural transition programs for 2000+ new international students that arrive in Seattle beginning Summer 2022. This new charge will significantly expand CIRCLE’s program portfolio and will positively influence the experience of UW international students. CIRCLE's vision for the new onboarding and transition will leverage virtual engagement to scaffold information and in-person welcome events to emphasize community building and cultural transition once students arrive on campus. To achieve this vision, CIRCLE will need to hire more student staff who will require access to upgraded technology to execute both in person and virtual programs to properly serve new international students as they prepare to arrive and once they arrive on campus.