Get Involved
There are lots of ways you can get involved in international activities right here in Iowa City! International Programs offers a variety of volunteer, cultural, and networking opportunities. Whether you're looking to learn something new, share your skills, gain valuable experience, or make new friends and contacts, this is a great place to start your search. For a complete list of available opportunities, visit the International Programs webpage.
Global Health Club
Whether pursuing a formal academic program in global health or not, undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are encouraged to join the Global Health Club. The Clut meets monthly and sponsors a series of programs and speakers focused on issues and opportunities in global health.
For more information contact: globalhealthclub@gmail.com.
UI Center for Human Rights
The UI Center for Human Rights has a variety of opportunities for student and community involvement.
News and Events: http://international.uiowa.edu/centers/human-rights/news/default.asp
Student Internships: http://international.uiowa.edu/centers/human-rights/internships/default.asp
Join the UICHR mailing list: http://international.uiowa.edu/centers/human-rights/news/mail-list.asp
Culture Kits
Culture Kits are boxes containing items from various countries that can be checked out, free of charge, and used for educational purposes in K-12 classrooms. Culture Kits are organized by the department of Outreach and Community Engagement. They are always looking for the worldly expertise of international students, international community members, and U.S. students who have studied or traveled abroad to help them organized their culture kits.
If you'd like to volunteer your time to help them better categorize and catalogue their culture kits so that your "country of expertise" can be more effectively represented, please contact Nicholas O'Brien at (319) 335-3512 or via email at nicholas-obrien@uiowa.edu .
International Classroom Journey
The International Classroom Journey (ICJ) program matches elementary and secondary classes with either UI international students and community members or U.S. students who have spent time abroad.
These volunteers are well trained to give interactive presentations to K-12 classrooms about the cultures that they come from or have lived in. In some cases, both an international student and a U.S. student can present as a team, offering two unique perspectives of living in another country.
Global Buddies
Global Buddies matches new international students with returned study abroad students. Contact the Office for Study Abroad at 335-0353.
International Crossroads Community
The International Crossroads Community (ICC), located in Mayflower Residence Hall, is a unique living/learning community for both international and U.S. students interested in foreign cultures, languages, and international issues. Residents have the opportunity to participate in cultural festivals, language dinners, and programs where they learn about the intricacies of living in a diverse world.
Nationality Student Organizations
Nationality Student Organizations exist for over 15 nationality groups and interest areas, including African Student Association, Asian American Coalition, Chinese Student and Scholar Association, General Union of Palestinian Students, Hong Kong Student Association, India Student Alliance, Indonesian Student Alliance, Japanese Cultural Association, Korean Student Association, Malaysian Student Society, Multi-Ethnic Engineering and Science Association, Slavic Cultural Association, Taiwanese Student Association, Thai Student Association, Turkish Student Association, Venezuelan Student Association, Vietnamese Association, and WAVES (Asian Film Festival).
Office of International Students and Scholars
The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) is looking for volunteers to help with various programming throughout the year! Volunteer opportunities include, but aren't limited to: International Student Orientation, The International Classroom Journey, Life in Iowa, Tax Assistance Workshops, and Cultural Workshops. There's something for everyone with OISS! Application forms and more information about volunteer opportunities are available at the OISS front desk - 1111 University Capitol Centre.
Office for Study Abroad
Office for Study Abroad volunteers talk with students who are going to the same country, participate in panel discussions and information sessions about their programs, staff information tables at the annual Study Abroad Fair, help with pre-departure orientation, talk with students interested in studying abroad, and share the photographs they took for use on the Study Abroad web site. You can view current volunteer opportunities here.
UI Ambassadors
The UI Ambassadors have as their mission to serve the University of Iowa's International student community through social events between University of Iowa students from the US and international students studying at the University of Iowa. They aim to create a welcoming environment for students and to enhance the Iowa City community as a whole.