Study shows university's advising model boosts international students

A new study by Ling LeBeau and Steve Schaffling has shown that a structured advising model for international students at Syracuse University has led to significant improvements in retention, mentoring satisfaction, and career readiness. This five-pillar model, developed over five years, includes prearrival academic coaching, peer mentoring, adviser training, academic intervention, and communication.

The study, published in the Journal of College Student Retention, used data from a 2022 global survey of international student advisers and five years of program assessment data collected at Syracuse from 2020 to 2024. The results indicate consistent gains across four cohorts of incoming first-year international students, with peer mentoring satisfaction rising from 38% to 87% and academic resource awareness increasing from 72% to 100%.

Career readiness metrics also improved, with more students creating LinkedIn profiles, updating resumes, and engaging in internship or employment searches. The study suggests that the need for professional development in advising international students is urgent, with only 19% of surveyed advisers believing their institution adequately prepares international students for life after graduation.

The authors argue that the current retention metrics may undervalue the program's contribution to student success, as most international students who left during the study period did so with high GPAs. The researchers emphasize that the success model should prepare international students for ongoing academic and career opportunities, moving beyond transactional services such as visa paperwork and social programming.