A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book
Rising to the Challenge: Case Study of International Student Acculturation
Authors: Tigert, Johanna M.; Fotouhi, Golnar; No, Lugyi; Marcucci, Susannah
Editors: Herridge, Andrew S.; James, Lisa J.
- Publisher: Igi Global
Publication year: 2026
Book title : Rethinking Mobility, Access, and Belonging in International Higher Education
First page : 149
Last page: 180
ISBN: 979-8-3373-4427-0
eISBN: 979-8-3373-4429-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-4427-0.ch006
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: No Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : No Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://www.igi-global.com/gateway/chapter/406803
This qualitative study, part of a larger investigation of the international student (IS) experience at one U.S. university, focused on uncovering the cultural, social, academic, and linguistic acculturation practices of twenty ISs through focus groups and interviews. The findings show that ISs experience a myriad of complex challenges, from language barriers to new cultural norms, and that most of the practices they used to navigate their acculturation process were self-initiated rather than university-supported. The study highlights the agency of ISs in navigating their acculturation process and constitutes a call to action to higher education to strive to better meet the needs of this resourceful but neglected group of students.