International Initiatives
USF aims to be internationally recognized as a premier Jesuit Catholic, urban university with a global perspective that educates leaders who will fashion a more humane and just world. Internationalization is a cornerstone of a USF education. Diversity of perspectives, experiences and traditions are essential components of a quality education in our global context. USF is committed to global learning, to attracting a kaleidoscope of scholarly perspectives and student backgrounds to our campus, to educating students about issues affecting the global community and our planet, and to prioritizing service and work with others particularly those in marginalized and vulnerable communities at home and around the world.
USF strives to achieve its vision of a global education through a robust commitment to outbound programs such as study abroad and faculty-led immersions; vigorous support for incoming international students and visiting scholars; expansion of campus-based curricular and co-curricular opportunities that allow students to engage with international; institutional commitments and collaboration with networks that leverage rigorous scholarship and faith that does justice; and creating an innovative home for global learning and, in so doing, enabling the University’s efforts to build a sustainable and more humane world.
International Initiatives (ISSS, CGE, Immersions and AVP’s office) collaborate with each other, and work directly with faculty, staff and students to advance the international dimensions of USF’s scholarly and teaching mission by enabling and promoting global learning, supporting international students and scholars, developing institutional partnerships and policies in support of internationalization, and nurturing the atmosphere that makes USF’s campus fertile territory for global outlooks to flourish.
Our Offices
- The Associate Vice Provost for International Initiatives, Anastasia Vrachnos, works closely with leadership, academic partners, and business units to advance internationalization at USF and enhance the scope of the university’s partnerships and global offerings. AVP also oversees the Center for Global Education, Immersion programs, and the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.
- International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) promotes a global perspective for the USF community through educational and programmatic outreach while fostering the holistic development of international students/scholars by providing support services and immigration advising. To fulfill our mission, ISSS offers Orientation Programs, Immigration Advising and Document Support, Informational Workshops, Educational Programs, and Advocacy/Training. ISSS assists various student groups and hosts educational programming to promote the global mission of the University. ISSS also advises the International Student Association student club.
- Center for Global Education is dedicated to the development of study abroad programs throughout the world and to the creation of an educational environment at home and abroad where students are challenged and inspired to enhance their social and intellectual awareness by exploring different cultures, lifestyles, values, and beliefs. Studying abroad through USF is an opportunity to earn academic credit abroad, learn a new language, gain work experience abroad, or be immersed in a new country.
- Global Immersions engage USF's community in the pursuit of justice through dynamic experiences, depth of thought, and spiritual reflection. At its center, all USF Global Immersions have the Jesuits Mission of Social Justice, focused on academic and mindful growth. In the words of Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, the Global Immersions strives to empower immersion participants "to let the reality of this world into their lives, so they can learn to feel it, think about it critically, respond to its suffering, and engage it constructively." Global Immersions offers academic immersions (for-credit) and Arrupe immersions (non-credit).