Renovations are underway as the Office of International Student Services fixes its office areas and lounge to create an open space for students and international students.
The office suite is housed in room 137 of the Interdisciplinary Resource Center, and the international student lounge is undergoing renovations to improve the space. These additions have been planned for over a year, with the recent renovations beginning a month and a half ago. Room 137 primarily serves as the temporary office space for staff and student workers.
Executive Director of International Education Tara Braun issued the renovations. She talked about how the space will provide more open space for students.
“So three areas are being redone, and that’s because it’s been quite a while since this area has been renovated, and there was wear and tear on the walls,” Braun said. “The lounge area for our students, for our international and study abroad students also needed to be updated. There were a lot of cabinets and counter space. It just was not a very productive use of space.”
Braun further discussed how the room would serve as a training room where the program could do presentations during orientation for international students and presentations for study abroad.
The renovations include a new reception area, new carpets and movable furniture for staff and student spaces. This will create a welcoming space for anyone interested in participating in international programs.
“We’ll have a great space in the lounge to do study abroad, webinars, orientation planning, other events that the office is planning that will highlight and showcase culture to the rest of campus we’re planning on and all of that can be done in this space that will be so versatile,” Braun said. “This is not only for international students. This is also for study abroad students or any students that we’re working with.”
The OISS works with international admissions, recruiting, immigration, study-abroad, international students and partner programs abroad. The Department of Extended and International Operations invested in renovating the spaces in partnership with the OISS to create a more productive, conducive workspace for students and staff.
Students eagerly await for the renovations to be completed, as it will serve as a comfortable environment for international, study abroad and regular students alike.
Software engineering senior Talha Muhammad is an international student from Pakistan who expressed his thoughts about the renovations.
“The remodel of the International Office is something we are all thrilled about. I believe it is going to become a home away from home for the international students on campus,” Muhammad said. “The international student lounge especially is really exciting for us and I can’t wait for it to be completed.”.
These renovations will benefit study-abroad students by opening up an area to explore the process of study-abroad programs and international cultures. The students can experience a more collaborative and accessible lounge and office area for any questions about international studies and cultures.
Psychology senior Jenna Wardwell shared her thoughts on the renovations.
“I saw the floor plan, and it looks like it’s going to be pretty spacious, a lot of new furniture, where the student workers are going to have their own little office, which is pretty nice. The lounge will have a coffee bar which I’m pretty excited about,” Wardwell said. “I feel like there’s a lot of places on campus that kind of need a renovation or some attention and love to it.”
As one of the student workers, Wardwell frequents the office and the lounge area. She, along with many other students and staff members, will get to enjoy the open space.
Renovations are expected to be done at the beginning of April. An open house for the re-opening of the rooms will be on April 29, featuring international student programming and other student activities.