Opportunities to Get Involved

If you're interested in being involved in international and intercultural interaction, there's no need to wait for a chance to travel, study, intern, or work away from campus. Every community is global, including the Gustavus community, and there are many options for interacting with others from cultural backgrounds different from your own.

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Some of the major types of intercultural involvement include:

  • Clubs and social organizations
  • Community organizations
  • Faith-related organizations
  • Attending individual events or event series
  • Interning, working, or volunteering in an office or organization focused on intercultural interaction
  • Learning a new language or learning about a new culture
  • Building friendships with people from backgrounds other than your own
  • Electing to live with a roommate from a different cultural background

International Friendship Families

The International Friendship Families is a program that matches each Gustavus international student with a host family in St. Peter community. The friendship program offers the possibility of a mutually rewarding relationship between an American family and an international student, giving each the opportunity to learn from each other. Students do not live with their friendship families, but they usually have an opportunity to have some meals in the home of their friendship family, attend events, or go on area trips. It is up to each family and student to arrange get-togethers, and you are free to do as much or as little together as you and your friendship family are comfortable with. To apply to be a host family, or to be matched with a host family, contact Jeff Anderson.

Intercultural Partners

Intercultural partners (IPs) are a handful of experienced international students who volunteer with CICE to help welcome new international students in the Fall and Spring, and help promote intercultural learning and understanding on campus. The IPs main duty is to assist with new orientation programs for incoming international students. This can include showing students around, attending and participating in workshops, and enjoying meals with new students. If you'd like to be an IP in the future, please email Jeff Anderson. 

G'Local: Mentors for International Students

G'Local is a program that matches new international students with US students to form a co-mentorship program where each student learns from each other.

How it works:

  • Each first-year international student who signs up is matched with a U.S. student, usually a sophomore, junior or senior
  • U.S. students encourage new international mentees to get involved, both socially and academically 
  • International students learn about campus activities, events, and ideas they may not have found easily on their own
  • U.S. students learn from the international students' unique perspectives on life and culture here
  • Both students learn about each other’s cultures and backgrounds

Why participate in G'Local?

  • Make friends
  • Learn something new about another culture
  • Contribute to the intercultural community on campus
  • Prepare for the global workplace

Global Mentors Friends & Faculty

One of the hallmarks of the liberal arts college experience is the incredible opportunity for student-faculty interaction. In a college like Gustavus, you have the chance to develop real relationships with one or more faculty. These connections occur both within and outside of students' major departments.

At CICE, we want to facilitate this type of interaction and relationship-building. We also want to give you opportunities for targeted mentorship and advising from staff and faculty members who are very interested in helping international and multilingual students. For these reasons, we worked together with faculty and staff colleagues to create Global Mentors Friends & Faculty (GMFF).

GMFF is an alliance of Gustavus staff and faculty members who have indicated that they are willing to provide the particular kinds of support that international and multilingual students may need. The group's members are dedicated to helping you find your way to success at Gustavus and understand that it takes personal as well as academic support for any student to succeed in their collegiate aspirations.

GMFF Advising and Mentorship. If you are interested in an extra advisor/mentor, please feel free to contact one of these individuals: