Empowering International Students for Positive Social Risk-Taking in U.S. Higher Education

During the acculturation process to their new life in the United States, international students can face challenges in building meaningful connections with their campus community due to difficulties in social integration. There has been limited research on finding effective ways to help international students overcome these challenges, despite numerous studies exploring the factors contributing to international students' disengagement, such as cultural and linguistic barriers and financial difficulties. To address this gap, this phenomenological qualitative study examines the experiences of eight international students at a US university. Among the themes that emerge from preliminary results are familiar challenges faced by students, such as communication conflicts and cultural awareness. In addition, the results reveal a clear connection between students' experiences and faculty roles. In addition, respondents expressed concerns about their careers, internships, and job prospects. In fostering involved leaders who are connected to their new communities, these results serve as stepping stones towards creating an engagement plan that empowers positive social risk-taking among the international student population.