Culturally Responsive Advising for International Students

Academic advisors are the first and only student affairs touchpoint for many international students on college campuses, especially those who do not engage in extracurricular activities. Advisors are frequently the first to know of a personal crisis a student is experiencing, comfort a student in need, and alert campus emergency response teams or wellness centers if a student needs more systemic support. Considering this first-to-know element of advising, this chapter describes how academic advisors can take a more culturally responsive approach to academic advising that considers students’ backgrounds, family structures, communication styles, and other “deep culture” aspects that might shape the advisor–advisee relationship.