International Faculty Spring Lunch Meet - April 8th (NHS 204) - CAE Discussion, Q&A & Fiesta Buffet!

Dear Colleagues,

Please mark your calendars for the International Faculty Affinity Group's spring meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, April 8th, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM in NHS 204.

This meeting will focus on addressing the pedagogical and professional challenges faced by our international faculty, and will feature:

• CAE-Facilitated Discussion: Following up on concerns raised during our last spring meeting, we have invited the CAE team to facilitate a discussion addressing unique teaching challenges that our international colleagues face. Topics will include: biases or discrimination based on nationality or accent, often reflected in IDEA evaluation comments; adapting to a new cultural environment with differences in social norms, communication styles, and academic expectations; and underrepresentation in administrative and leadership positions at Fairfield.

• Share and Listen: We are in contact with HR regarding the current situation in the country that directly affects international faculty, and we have shared our concerns. We will keep you updated on what we learn and hope to open a discussion where we can share and listen to each other, fostering a supportive environment for all of us.

• Lunch: Hot Fiesta Buffet: We'll be serving a build-your-own style Mexican buffet, with all ingredients in separate bowls to accommodate various dietary needs and preferences. 

Please confirm your participation by April 1st by filling out the following form. If you have specific questions for the CAE or the HR/legal team, please include them in your RSVP so we can ask them beforehand: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIAMM7RVVB4BTOzy2B-Iz9FZ1E4VMPcMVo_bmBrCuY3ORtcg/viewform?usp=header 

If you have any other questions, please reply to this email, or contact either Zhanar or Vishnu.

We are looking forward to a productive and supportive Spring gathering.

Sincerely,

International Affinity Chairs

Zhanar & Vishnu