Dear new international students,

Welcome to Kalamazoo College and to Kalamazoo, Michigan! We are very glad you’ve chosen to study with us, and we look forward to helping you have a wonderful experience here.

This handbook is designed to help you learn more about our college, our city, and what you can expect when you attend K. Moving to a new place and starting classes at a new school is never easy, but we hope that we can provide you with
enough information to make the transition as smooth as possible. The Center for International Programs (CIP) office is here to assist you in any way we can, so please contact us if you have questions or concerns during your time in Kalamazoo.

Good luck in all your endeavors, and we wish you the best for your studies at K College!

Alayna Lewis & Asia Bennett
International Student Advisors, CIP

K College is located in the city of Kalamazoo, a city of about 75,000 people. The College is half a mile from the downtown business district, which offers shopping, banking, restaurants, and various churches. The city of Kalamazoo is in southwestern Michigan, about three hours east of Chicago, Illinois and three hours west of Detroit, Michigan.

As a liberal arts institution, students are encouraged to take a number of courses across the academic disciplines at K College in addition to a specialization in a major (and often a minor). At K College, it is common for students to take a course in Music, Literature, and Physics in the same term.

Students are sometimes surprised and/or dismayed when they are required to take courses that they feel are unrelated to their fields of specialization, as most educational systems around the world emphasize specialization rather than a liberal arts education. You and your academic advisor will work out a program of study that meets your educational goals and supports your passion. For further details on any topic, please consult the Academic Catalog.

Like any community, K College has regulations that govern our lives together. There are academic and social regulations. It is your responsibility to read, understand, and follow these regulations. You will also receive an introduction to these policies and regulations during orientation. If you do not understand them, you can ask a CIP staff member of the Dean of Students.

In support of the K College mission to “prepare its graduates to better understand, live successfully within, and provide enlightened leadership to a richly diverse and increasingly complex world,” the Center for International Programs provides experiential opportunities in international education through study abroad, university exchange programs, collaborative programs with international partners, and services for international students and scholars at the College.

Physical Location:
Dewing Hall, 1st Floor, Suite 112
Mailing Address:
Center for International Programs
1200 Academy Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49006
Phone: (269) 337.7133
Fax: (269) 337.7400
E-mail: isa@kzoo.edu
Website: CIP International Student Page
CIP Facebook Page: kzoocip

International Students Facebook Group: New students are invited to join this year’s international student Facebook group. (e.g. 2019-2020 Kalamazoo College International Students). Your Facebook account must be connected to your Kzoo email. This is a good place to ask questions and get to know other new international students.

Office Hours & Appointments: If you have questions or need advising on academic or immigration issues, you may come see the International Student Advisors during their office hours or make an appointment for other times.
Alayna Lewis’ Office Hours: Thursdays 2pm-4:30pm
Asia Bennett’s Office Hours: Tuesdays 2-4:30pm
To make an appointment, you may email the CIP, call 269.337.7133, or come into the CIP office and make one with the receptionist.

International Student Advisors Alayna Lewis and Asia Bennett are the International Student Advisors at K. They will be among the first people to greet you and will continue to be a primary resource for you throughout your time at K. Alayna is the primary resource for F-1 students, but can assist J-1s as well, and Asia is the primary resource for J-1 students.

Coordinator, Student Support & Event Planning Your Coordinator of Student Support & Event Planning, Lizbeth Mendoza Pineda, holds a BA in Mathematics with a minor in Spanish Language and Literature from K College. Her experiences in the Student Development office are what drew her to the field of student affairs and supporting students in higher education. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Lizbeth enjoys baking, puzzles, watching various TV shows and roller coasters. She is available in the CIP office to help you find your home away from home at K College. You can email Lizbeth.

International Student Peer Mentor Bei Wang, your International Student Peer Mentor, is a junior at K College from China. Bei will be a great resource to you and you will meet her at Orientation. You can email Bei.

Welcome Team The Welcome Team is comprised of current K sophomores, juniors, and seniors who will be on campus to welcome you when you arrive. The Welcome Team will also work with you throughout orientation and the fall quarter.

Host Family Program The CIP coordinates a Host Family Program to give international students a chance to connect with some local Kalamazoo residents and give them a glimpse of life outside of K’s campus. Unlike most Host Family Programs, K’s program does not involve a homestay and is not required for all students. Many of the host families are staff and faculty that work at Kalamazoo College. Information about how to apply to be part of the Host Family Program and what it entails will be emailed to you in August. If you have questions, you can email ISA.