Remaining EngagedCenter for International and Cultural Education

Welcome back! We love to hear from Gustie alumni about your ongoing adventures since you left the Hill and also to see you continuing to engage with the College over the course of your lifetime.

There are also a number of ways to remain engaged in all things global after you have graduated. Here are some ideas of opportunities that may interest you:

1. Share your stories
Our stories are one of the main things that connect us to other people and help us understand one another – even across cultural, linguistic, and other differences. We want to hear your stories (and experience your images, videos, etc.), both of your time at Gustavus and your experiences after graduation. If you would like to share your story, please contact CICE Stories for more information.

2. Attend alumni events
Over the course of each year, there are a number of events that are designed for alumni (or to mix alumni and current students). There are obvious ones, like Reunion Weekend and Homecoming, but there are also less regular opportunities that pop up as well. Watch the Alumni Association page for more details. And stay tuned for the periodic Global GusTea event during Alumni Weekend.

3. Help us recruit new Gusties
One of the most effective ways for future Gusties to learn about the College is from alumni like yourself. If you're an international alum or an alum who lives abroad, you might help the College reach students who otherwise would not hear about Gustavus. If you're living in the US, your assistance is just as helpful. If you have prospective Gusties to nominate, let Admission know or direct those future Gusties to the Admission website.

4. Become a mentor
Now that you're established in your professional life and have some postgraduate life experience, maybe you're interested in 'giving back' in another way – by mentoring a current Gustavus student as they work through their own academic and vocational discernment. Your help could be invaluable. This sort of support is organized through the Gustavus Mentoring Program, and you may use their portal to register your interest. Even folks living far from Gustavus can serve as mentors in this age of global connectivity!

5. Live in the St. Peter/Mankato area? Consider becoming an International Friendship Family.
CICE matches international students and US students who are immigrants or from multilingual homes with friendship families that serve as a family-away-from-home. There is no particular commitment level: each family-student relationship is different, and engagement ranges from occasional to robust. Some families might invite their friendship students to their homes for holiday meals, on day trips, or even along on a vacation, but others might have coffee or dinner once or twice a semester, and perhaps provide the occasional ride to Mankato for shopping, haircuts, etc. The program is open to families of all types, from single folks living alone to large, intergenerational families living under one roof. There are no expectations other than your interest to interact with Gustavus students who are not from our part of the world and/or not from the dominant culture of the Upper Midwest. Contact IFF@gustavus for more information.

6. Give to Gustavus. You can target global learning programs.
If you are in a position to give to Gustavus, you have the option of targeting your gift to one or more areas of global learning: study away, international student programming, multilingual student programming, global events, and global learning on campus. You can make an open-ended gift, or provide a specific objective for your contribution. You can also contribute to existing project funds, such as existing scholarship funds for international students or for study away. Learn more on the Giving to Gustavus page. If you want to target your gift, be sure to tell the Advancement officer right away! The CICE director is also happy to assist you.