Providing students the exposure to achieve a prosperous career ahead. Interview with Steve Schaefer, Senior Associate Director, International Admissions

Steve Chaefer is the Senior Associate Director; International Admission; Concordia College. In his interview, he shares a brief about his journey with the college and how they identify target markets for admissions. He elaborates on achieving and providing pivotal factors that create value in their curriculum. Also, the Ongoing emphasis to increase our international student population on campus. He explains his vision to serve students while serving the college and building a network of relationships. The college’s aim is to continuously expand the global reach through partnerships. He shifts his focus on the students and talks about the support systems the students have while being a part of the college. They understand the strengths and goals of our students and utilize that knowledge to help them achieve those goals. Talking about the pandemic, The college has implemented a plan for students to return to campus for the Fall 2020 semester. The college has proven its mettle via online classes, and they have successfully implemented remote learning for the spring semester and two summer terms. In the end he explains the policies they have curated for the admissions to the college.

 I have coordinated admission for both domestic and international students

I have worked at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota since 1988, both in the Office of Admissions and in the Office of Development. I have coordinated admission for both domestic and international students. I was also the lead fundraiser for our Concordia Language Villages program.

We identify target markets for our admission efforts based on historical inquiry and applicant data

In cooperation with Dr. Matt Beatty, Director of International Admission, we identify target markets for our admission efforts based on historical inquiry and applicant data as well as analysis of market trends for student mobility. As a small, private liberal arts college in the Midwest, we rely heavily on word of mouth. Thus, providing excellent service to our prospective students and their families from the moment of inquiry through enrolment and all the way to graduation is a critical component of our strategy.

We focus on achieving and providing pivotal factors that make us creates value in our education

It is true that the education system differs a lot in both countries. Thus we highly prioritize on these following factors:

• Personal attention from professors because of our small campus size
• Opportunities for integrated learning, combining theoretical understanding from the classroom with practical experience gained in internships, research, or through our unique PEAK program.
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary learning through our liberal arts curriculum AND the opportunity to double major. About 30% of our students earn a double major
• Ample opportunity for involvement in co-curricular activities that greatly enhance and extend the learning that happens in the classroom

The Ongoing emphasis is to increase our international student population on campus

Our Current work on Justice and Action is in response to current racial discord in the United States. Also, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission is active on campus. There is a provision of Scholarship Outreach Efforts for students from underrepresented populations. Also, the Ongoing emphasis is to increase our international student population on campus

We Identify students for whom Concordia is a good fit academically, socially and personally, and help students figure out what this idea of “college fit” means

We Identify students for whom Concordia is a good fit academically, socially and personally, and help students figure out what this idea of “college fit” means. We aim at developing partnerships with counselors and agencies around the world who understand the nature of Concordia College and who can help to encourage students who are a good fit for our kind of college to inquire and apply

Serving as a resource for students and their families to help them discover as much information as possible about the college so they can determine how well Concordia fits what they are looking for in an educational experience. Also, We guide every student through the admission process with as much (or as little) help as they need. We do this both by creating a well-designed admission process and website that provides all the key information for the students to easily access. For those who want to navigate that on their own, we empower them to do that. For those who want help with any step in the process, we will guide them based on their individual needs.

Our top priority for us is to determine the right approach to create awareness of the college i

We do not currently have a significant population of students from India, so the first priority is for us to determine the right approach to create awareness of the college in a very big and very competitive marketplace.

My vision has been to serve students while serving the college

My vision has been to serve students while serving the college. I’ve stayed here for 32 years because I have been able to do just that in a wide range of capacities.

The most recent way of demonstrating how that vision has been implanted is through the growth of our international student population. Prior to COVID-19, we had nearly 50 new, full-time, degree-seeking international students ready to enroll for the Fall 2020 semester. A record number for our college.

The network of relationships developed at the college plays a significant role

Along with all the elements listed above, the network of relationships developed at the college is significant. That includes faculty who become mentors, classmates who become lifelong friends, and other connections on campus who eventually become partners or collaborators professionally.

The city where we are located is a safe, vibrant community of approximately 300,000 people with good opportunities for internships, entertainment and interaction with members of the community.

We understand the strengths and goals of our students and utilize that knowledge to help them achieve those goals

We know our students as individuals, understanding their strengths and their goals, then utilizing that knowledge to help them achieve those goals. Academically, we offer nearly 60 majors, with particular strength in:

• Business
• Sciences, in particular, the health sciences
• Education, preparing teachers for elementary and secondary schools
• Communications
• Psychology
• Performing arts of music and theatre

We aim to continuously expand our global reach through partnerships

We aim to continuously expand our global reach through partnerships. Also, it is important to explore opportunities for travel and other forms of outreach to new markets. Along with that, Leveraging word of mouth from our already growing group of international students is a crucial aspect that comes into play.

Our international student advisor works closely with students to empower and support them in finding CPT and OPT placements

As mentioned, the size of the community where we are located in large enough to provide significant numbers of internship opportunities for all students.

Concordia has an Office of Undergraduate Research, coordinating research opportunities for students from all majors. This office sponsors an annual Celebration of Student Scholarship event, which allows any students who have conducted research on campus to showcase the results of their work. Our 4-year, intentionally integrated approach from the Career Center gives students all the tools they need to be well prepared for seeking employment opportunities as well as pursuing graduate school options Our international student advisor works closely with students to empower and support them in finding CPT and OPT placements.

The college has implemented a plan for students to return to campus for the Fall 2020 semester

We completed the spring semester with on-line courses. The college has implemented a plan for students to return to campus for the Fall 2020 semester with accommodations for

• Decreased population density on campus in classrooms, dining facilities and residence halls
• Hybrid course options to allow a combination of in-person and remote learning, with some synchronous and some asynchronous options
• Recommended use of masks for all students and staff
• Testing, isolation and tracing as needed
• The altered academic calendar for the Fall 2020 semester with students returning home at the Thanksgiving holiday and finishing the first semester with remote learning

We have curated guidelines for the international students to further help them while taking admissions in our university

We have curated guidelines for international students who are taking admissions and are willing to take admissions. The International students able to arrive at the campus in time to start classes as per plan, with the addition of a 14-day quarantine as per CDC guidelines, and International students unable to arrive for an on-time start (including quarantine), will be given the option to begin in January 2021

The college successfully implemented remote learning for the spring semester and two summer terms

We are on summer break, so no classes currently in session. The college successfully implemented remote learning for the spring semester and two summer terms. Currently, the faculty development sessions are taking place to allow professors to do additional preparation for any portion of Fall semester courses that will be offered on-line. If conditions with the virus necessitate it, the college will be prepared to switch back to fully on-line instruction until it is safe to return to in-person instruction.