Increasing international and intercultural experiences can and should be infused across the entirety of a university to strategically advance institutional goals. A foundational part of Fort Hays State University’s mission is to “develop engaged global citizen leaders”, and one of our explicit values is global engagement. Global Affairs was established as a new academic unit in 2022 in order to advance internationalization across learning, research, and service in strategic ways, including on-campus, abroad, and through strategic partnerships. In 2023, Global Affairs added the International Student Services office to its unit in order to further enhance internationalization efforts.

The Global Affairs & International Student Services team is guided by the American Council on Education (ACE) Model for Comprehensive Internationalization, which identifies six target areas of focus:

1. Institutional Commitment & Policy

2. Leadership & Structure

3. Curriculum and Co-curriculum

4. Faculty & Staff Support

5. Mobility

6. Partnerships

Global Affairs & International Student Services manages and supports globalized curriculum, course internationalization, faculty and staff development related to internationalization, visiting scholars, faculty-led study abroad, and array of partnerships with universities abroad that offer single and dual degree programs, faculty and staff mobility opportunities, non-degree seeking coursework to support degree completion, and research collaboratives. Currently, Fort Hays State University serves over 4,000 students through our partnership programs in Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cambodia and Senegal.

Additionally, we serve all international students studying online and on-campus through a variety of services including admissions and enrollment management, immigration support, health insurance, tax services, academic support services, Curricular Practical Training, Optical Practical Training, an intercultural integration and engagement.

Global Affairs & International Student Services also manages the Global Ambassador program, the Global Citizen Leader program, International Welcome Week, International Education Week, the Unibuddy program, and holds special events related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.