Global Understanding and Intercultural Development & Engagement (GUIDE) Sessions
GUIDE Sessions provide professional learning opportunities for faculty, staff, and scholars who want to strengthen their ability to work effectively across cultures and support international students and colleagues.
GUIDE Sessions are open to all campus professionals and do not require prior experience with intercultural training. These interactive sessions offer practical tools grounded in intercultural research, helping participants refine their communication skills, deepen cultural understanding, and create more inclusive academic and workplace environments. Participants are encouraged to attend multiple sessions to build a well-rounded foundation in intercultural competence.
What Participants Gain
- Enhanced understanding of cultural values, communication styles, and worldviews
- Strategies for supporting international student success
- Best practices for advising, mentoring, supervisory, and teaching in multicultural settings
- Improved communication and collaboration with international students and colleagues
- Greater cultural awareness and effectiveness in diverse professional environments
Who Should Attend
- Faculty members
- Academic advisors
- Student affairs and administrative staff
- Postdocs and scholars
- Anyone working with culturally diverse student or employee populations
Upcoming Trainings
Feb 3: Stumbling Blocks to Intercultural Communication
This training examines six common causes of intercultural communication breakdown and offers strategies to recognize, prevent, and navigate them effectively.
Feb 17: Exploring Intercultural Communication Styles
An interactive session focused on understanding key communication styles, including direct vs. indirect, linear vs. nonlinear, and affective vs. neutral. Participants learn how adapting communication can improve interactions across cultures.
Mar 3: Intercultural Conflict Series – Part 1: Understanding Intercultural Conflict
An introduction to the nature of conflict, factors that influence how conflict arises, and cultural dimensions that shape conflict expectations. Participants learn about differing approaches to conflict across cultural contexts.
Mar 17: Intercultural Conflict Series – Part 2: Navigating Intercultural Conflict
Strengthen emotional resilience and cognitive flexibility in intercultural situations.
Mar 31: Supporting International Students – Best Practices for Advisors, Staff, and Instructors
Understand common challenges international students face, including immigration, academics, language, and cultural adjustment, and learn practical strategies and campus resources to support their success.
Apr 14: Understanding Intercultural Development
Participants are introduced to the developmental stages of intercultural competence and explore how individuals and groups move from recognizing cultural difference to engaging across it effectively.
Apr 28: Plain Language for Intercultural and Inclusive Communication
Learn how to use plain language principles to enhance clarity, accessibility, and inclusivity in communication with culturally and linguistically diverse audiences. This session provides practical techniques for simplifying complex information, reducing ambiguity, and supporting understanding across cultural and language differences.