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(New!) Best Practices for Teaching International Students


Program: Intercultural Ally Certificate Program
Presenter: Kati Von Lehman, Assistant Director of Outreach and Assessment
Office of International Services
Workshop Type: Virtual
Date: 4/22/2026
Time: 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Who Should Attend: All faculty and staff

Faculty teach courses to all students, but international students may face challenges that other students may not. Examples could be interpreting common idioms instructors might use like "follow the breadcrumbs" or repeating a quote from a popular movie to make a point. These interpretations require knowledge many international students don't have. Faculty at American universities may also have expectations of students that differ from international institutions - acceptable use of AI, academic integrity policies, or writing style for example. In this workshop, we will review practices that faculty have found helpful in clarifying materials and expectations for international students.




Intercultural Competency Basics


Program: Intercultural Ally Certificate Program
Presenter: Kati Von Lehman, Assistant Director of Outreach and Assessment
Office of International Services
Workshop Type: Virtual
Date: 6/11/2026
Time: 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Who Should Attend: All faculty and staff

Working and providing services in a diverse environment requires a knowledge and understanding of cultural differences, values, and behaviors. This fun, yet informative, session will help participants gain understanding to enhance the quality of their interactions with international and diverse students, faculty, and staff at the University and elsewhere.




Life of an International Visitor


Program: Intercultural Ally Certificate Program
Presenter: Kati Von Lehman, Assistant Director of Outreach and Assessment
Office of International Services
Workshop Type: Virtual
Date: 5/14/2026
Time: 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Who Should Attend: All faculty and staff

This session will detail the unique process that both international students and scholars need to experience before, during, and after they come to Pitt. Presenters will share information about visa applications, cultural adjustment for our international visitors, and employment options.




(New!) Understanding Swahili Culture


Program: Intercultural Ally Certificate Program
Presenter: Anna-Maria Karnes, Assistant Director for Academic Affairs, Center for African Studies
University Center for International Studies
Workshop Type: Virtual
Date: 5/27/2026
Time: 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Who Should Attend: All faculty and staff

Learn about the history, politics and language of the Swahili culture. Discover how this community’s engagement at Pitt and in Pittsburgh has shaped our commitment to embracing the world. Experts from the University Center for International Studies (UCIS) will share best practices for supporting students, scholars, community members and visitors from this part of the world.




(New!) Working Across Cultures


Program: Intercultural Ally Certificate Program
Presenter: Ian McLaughlin, Associate Director, Global Partnerships and Services
University Center for International Studies
Workshop Type: Virtual
Date: 4/7/2026
Time: 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Who Should Attend: All faculty and staff

This session is designed to give participants a framework to plan, engage, and mitigate working across cultures (internationally), and to connect with the resources at the University to assist in this effort. This workshop is meant to provide a general guide on considerations to better facilitate successful international engagement.