Approval of Previous Minutes —

Approve October 2, 2025, meeting minutes: Megan Green motions to approve. Chris Mason seconds. Minutes approved without objection. 

New Business —

Standing charges(abbreviated) - Julie reminds committee to keep these in mind: 

1. Maintain relationships throughout KU.
2. Conduct and report international student survey.
3. Review and make recommendations on the following policies, support, and resources for KU’s international community and ISS.  
4. Review the International Student Fee, health insurance, and other fees that affect international students.
5. Monitor national and global challenges and elevate concerns and recommendations to the Provost and Chancellor.

• Shayla will double-check on the student membership: Has the update been sent to Provost/Chancellor, and possibly with them? The Code currently says: The Committee on International Affairs shall be composed of four faculty members serving staggered three-year terms, two representatives from the staff serving staggered three-year terms, two student members serving one-year terms, and the following ex-officio, non-voting member the Associate Vice Provost for International Programs or designee. Either a faculty member or staff member may be appointed as chair.

• There was previous discussion of increasing the number of students on the committee but it’s a little unclear where this policy amendment is currently.

   

• Survey from Spring 2023: Julie goes through some of the survey questions from 2023 such as housing, athletics, and ISS issues. Some of the questions may need removal and updating.
• Once we have a draft that the committee is happy with, can share with Dan Oetting, Director of Strategic Communications in KUIA - can confirm that the questions conform with KBOR Policy.
• We can still use language related to "belonging" on campus. It may be helpful to take out the more pejorative sounding connotation with a few of the questions.
• What about “flipping the script” in a sense – how are international students being successful? What strategies are they using for success? Give opportunity to share accomplishments. This could be helpful to ISS as well. 

• Perhaps questions surrounding : “this is where I could use more institutional support….”

How about the length of survey? 

• It seems there may be fatigue towards the end - the answers became less detailed.
• Maybe shorten the number of quantitative responses and give more chances to "be free" and speak on their own?
• Maybe focus a bit more on controllables. The previous survey was still during prevalent COVID – so KU was grappling with a lot of things out of university control - but institutions have roles / capacities that should align with need / concerns, so that feedback would still be helpful.
• The committee would rather not keep the survey "so detailed" - rather be guiding students to be within the scope of what KU can offer. We can put things as examples - do you feel you have access to support from KU? If not, what would be helpful? 

We want to make the survey reasonable so that students don't feel they need to put "test, test, test"….or random letters to move forward - and give an ample textbox for students to fill out how they feel.

• Action Items to do for this survey:
• Do we want to create smaller sub-committees?
• When do we want to conduct the survey?
  • Late January may be the best time.
  • Put this to an editable document - share the link - all the committee members can add to this document.
• First Round of comments due by Nov 14th - Joe will look at this.
• Have comments completed by 3 days before the meeting - include track changes.
• Invite guests for future meetings?  

Meeting Adjourned.