Programs

The International Student Friendship Family Program is a program that links new international students with individuals or families in the Luther College or Decorah community. The goal of the program is to promote international understanding and friendship, develop an appreciation of how others live and view the world, and assist new students in the process of adjustment to Luther College and the United States. Students and their Friendship Families gather in informal settings and learn about life in the U.S., specifically Iowa, and about the home culture of the international student. The friendship that grows between a student and his or her Friendship Family can promote diversity and cultural awareness that will last a lifetime.

Friendship Families are matched from among a pool of new students who have requested a Friendship Family. The matches will be made as early as possible so that you can meet your student shortly after he or she arrives.

Later in the summer, you will receive basic contact information for your student(s) and an invitation to a first potluck for everyone to meet and get acquainted.

If your family is interested in participating in this program, please fill out our Friendship Family Interest Form.

Thank you for making Luther’s international students feel welcome!

Request CIES funding to attend a conference.

CIES provides some assistance to students wishing to attend conferences relating to diversity and inclusion, identity, and other related topics. Availability of funds is subject to change, so no funding request is guaranteed. Successful proposals will be awarded between $100 and $250, to be determined by the CIES Director. In order to apply for funding, students must submit a proposal within a minimum of two weeks before the conference date. All applications must include the following information:

• Brief description of the conference including date and location
• Full cost, including registration, transportation (air and/or ground), and accommodation
• Student’s contribution
• Requested amount
• Other contributors (Department or Office name, and amount contributed)
• Benefit to the Luther community
• Name of faculty/staff who will be accompanying the group and the department that is covering this cost.

The Center for Intercultural Engagement and Student Success sponsors two funding opportunities. They are the CIES Book Fund (Diversity Center Book Fund) and the Sonya Lund International Student Emergency Fund.

The Center for Intercultural Engagement and Student Success (CIES) maintains a book fund to assist any student whose need is verified by the Financial Aid Office. The maximum grant per student is $300.00 and is available as long as the funds last.

The book fund began via two sources: a four-year partnership with Alliant Energy in response to Adell Patton’s challenge at the First Black History Conference at Luther in 2004 to get Black books into Iowa school libraries, and a $4,000 alumnus grant to establish a book fund, which at the 2004 Black Alumni Reunion, was allocated specifically to help African American students with purchasing books. In 2017, in recognition of the 15th anniversary of the then Diversity Center, the book fund was relaunched with the emphasis on helping any student in need.

The Sonya Lund International Student Emergency Fund was established to honor Sonya Lund who served as the Director of International Student Services for sixteen years until she retired in 2002 from that position. This fund, as the name suggests, is intended to assist students with emergencies that could not have been anticipated and who, for various reasons, are unable to tap family resources.

What does this have to do with you? As you read this, if you feel called to assist with these efforts, know that your gifts and pledges will be greatly appreciated.