High school senior Vasudah Manikandan toured George Mason University on March 23 to get a feel for the campus she might want to call home. She ended up in the Johnson Center at the Mason Korea kiosk inquiring about studying abroad.
“I had questions about Mason Korea because I learned Korean in high school, so it’s something I really want to pursue,” Manikandan said. “I had questions about how my credits would pass over, if my GPA would change, financial aid and stuff like that.”
It was just the kind of conversation Mary Wells, an assistant director in the Office of International Programs and Services, wanted students to have at Global Kiosk Day, when representatives of eight Mason offices offering global curriculums manned kiosks during peak lunchtime.
“We think global learning is important for every student,” Wells said. “We want to make sure students know about all the majors and minors and language courses, cultural workshops and study-abroad options that are available to them.”
The event also was a precursor to Mason’s 35th International Week, April 8-17, when the university’s international students showcase their countries and cultures.
Participating in Global Kiosk Day were Mason Korea, Mason Study Abroad, China 1+2+1, Global Affairs, the Confucius Institute, Modern and Classical Languages, the School of Policy, Government and International Affairs, and Social Action and Integrative Learning (SAIL).
“One of the benefits is we can work together and show a united front to all students and show them what we have to offer and what we can do for them,” said Sage Janulis, China 1+2+1 project coordinator.
For Roger Dalton, a junior electrical engineering major, that meant getting information from SAIL about international trips for Alternative Spring Break.
“It’s great, “ he said. “You see something and figure out if it’s something you want to do.”
“There’s only so much information online,” Manikandan said. “It was nice to come here and talk to students who have actually been to Korea.”