Shoreline Community College welcomed twenty EducationUSA advisors from countries all over the world (including Zimbabwe, Peru, Pakistan, and Germany, to name a few) to partake in a training session titled “Study Options and Pathways at a Two-Year College,” a college fair, and an ice cream social with Shoreline faculty, staff and students on Tuesday, June 28.

EducationUSA is a part of the U.S. Department of State. It has a network of over 400 international student advising centers in more than 170 countries. These advising centers promote U.S. higher education and advise students interested in studying abroad. Shoreline often visits these offices to participate in seminars and fairs organized by EducationUSA.

The training sessions held on campus were part of a larger training institute that takes place annually in different cities across the U.S. to help advisors deepen their knowledge of key topics in relation to advising students. Shoreline was one of only two community colleges that were selected as hosts for such sessions.

The training session, led by Shoreline Faculty Academic Advisors Tiffany Meier and Cynthia Okawara, shared the benefits of studying at a community college and the many opportunities available after completing an associate’s degree. EducationUSA advisors remarked after the session of that visiting Shoreline opened their eyes to how community colleges could be a gateway to a top university that can help students save money.

The ice cream social allowed faculty, students, and staff to engage with the EducationUSA advisors to talk about experiences and hopefully potential opportunities for cross cultural exchange with students. It was a wonderful afternoon of learning for everyone involved and a great opportunity to showcase the amazing work Shoreline is doing in global engagement.