PEPPERDINE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (All Schools) - International Student Ambassador Program

Description of the leadership program: The goal of the International Student Ambassador Program (ISAP) is to utilize dynamic international student ambassadors to proactively enhance the international student experience at Pepperdine University. ISAP ambassadors will each champion a specific goal of the Program and also represent different regions of the world, the broader international student body, the Office of International Student Services (OISS), and the International Student Advisory Council.

Ambassadors are offered an ISAP scholarship in exchange for transforming the University through dedicated service. Ambassador positions are for international students only (non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents). International students be enrolled full time as an international student on the Malibu or Drescher campus for both the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 terms to be eligible.

International Ambassadors have lived outside of the United States for a significant portion of their lives and have had the unique experience of having transitioned to the United States. It may include being raised in another country and having a high school exchange experience in addition to transitioning to the United States as a Pepperdine international student. *This program is not intended for students who solely lived abroad short term during a Pepperdine International Program.*

Both international and U.S. citizens/permanent residents may also be eligible for the TCK Ambassador position, which has a separate application. TCK Ambassadors have often lived in more than one country and/or their parents’ heritage represents a different culture from the country or countries they lived in. Therefore, TCK students transition between cultures regularly. Answering “where are you from” is often complicated for TCK students. If you have lived in more than one country and want to be considered for the TCK and International Student Ambassador positions, you MUST submit an application for both.

  • Improve and acquaint the incoming international community with resources that assist with acclimation to Pepperdine and foster a sense of home
  • Support international students’ success and collaborate with faculty to enhance the academic transition to American higher education to assist with retention and graduation at Pepperdine
  • Partner with the University to improve the health and wellness of international students
  • Expand Pepperdine University’s global reach by enrolling a more diverse international student body and engaging international alumni around the world
  • Create interfaith opportunities that nurture heart, soul, strength, and mind for students from all faith backgrounds, and promote an inclusive environment to explore life’s biggest questions
  • Equip international students with resources to help them prepare for and market their Pepperdine experience for internships, jobs, and graduate school
  • Find opportunities to acquaint and integrate the global community to foster cross cultural connections and create a strengthened sense of belonging and identity

Contact: Office of International Student Services: Brooke O’Donnell – ISAP@pepperdine.edu

Award
Begin Date 3/22/24
Scopes
Office of International Student Service
Deadline
03/31/2024
Supplemental Questions
  1. Please provide your preferred first name.
  2. Have you been enrolled at Pepperdine for at least two semesters?
  3. What is your expected month and year of graduation?
  4. Next academic year, I will be considered a...
  5. Are you a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or dual citizen (U.S. and another nation)
    Please note: U.S. citizens, U.S. duals, and permanent residents are only eligible for the TCK ambassador position. The International Student Ambassador program is intended to represent the unique needs of and opportunities for the international student body.
  6. Before you begin, please confirm your understanding that to be eligible, all Ambassadors must:
    - Attend weekly in-person meetings on Wednesdays from 10-11 am
    - Ambassadors to schedule flights to arrive in advance of required orientations
    - Participation in other weekly meetings, events, and event planning sessions
    - Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student on the Malibu campus
    - Not going abroad on IP in either Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 or taking a term off
  7. Your Heritage
    • a. What are all the places you have lived in and for how long? (Please state the dates and the countries)
    • b. In which country did you finish high school?
    • c. ISAP seeks to represent the entire international student body. Which of the following subregions have you lived in prior to Pepperdine? (Please check all that apply)
    • d. Please state your personal connection with each region selected?
      For each region chosen please state: I lived there/I was born there or completed high school there/My passport is from there.
    • e. Which of the above would you most consider "home"?
    • f. What languages do you speak?
  8. Why do you want to serve as an International Student Ambassador and what are your strengths that make you a competitive candidate??
  9. If you had the chance to serve as an International Ambassador, what primary change would you make and how would you go about making that happen?
  10. The program requires Ambassadors to be involved in all seven goals of ISAP but lead one. Select the goal you would prefer to lead:
  11. Please highlight your skills/experience/interest in at least three of the following areas: (use NA if not applicable)
    • 1. Social Media/ Marketing/ Communications
    • 2. Diversity/ Equity/ Inclusivity Initiatives
    • 3. Career Services/ Alumni Relations
    • 4. External Relations/ Admissions
    • 5. Health/ Wellness
    • 6. Academic Success
    • 7. International Student Acclimation/ Engagement
  12. Given there are inherent transitions to the U.S. classroom for some students, what would you implement that could improve academic success for an increasingly diverse student body?
  13. Are you currently involved in or plan to be involved with any other organization or employment that could conflict with your dedication to ISAP?
  14. Please list any positions within and organizations, community projects or volunteer work you have been involved with while at Pepperdine:
  15. Teamwork Scenario: It's midterm season and GlobalFest is happening the day before your midterm. You realize you have to finish preparing for the event, but you do not have time because you have been studying for your midterms. On top of that, your fellow Ambassadors are going through a similar situation and they have also asked for you to help them with their share of the project. How would you go about handling the situation?
  16. Code of Ethics (Note that this will be verified):
  17. Students must agree to attend required weekly meetings and events to ensure maximum impact on behalf of international and TCK students. Given that Pepperdine students' first priority is academics, we do not allow students to hold conflicting employment or commitments that may prevent the from academic success and also fulfilling ISAP requirements, especially because Ambassadors will receive a $20,000 tuition-waiver scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year.
    • As a leadership program run by the OISS and not a democratically elected student club, I may not understand or agree with the selection process or the Ambassador selected, and yet I agree to treat other applicants and my university with respect if I am not selected. I understand that I can seek other leadership opportunities with clubs and organizations to achieve the ideas presented in this application.
    • I acknowledge that I am required to serve during the Seaver fall and spring international new student orientations and am therefore required to schedule my flights to arrive in advance of the following dates: Fall- August 12, 2024 and Spring- January 9, 2025
    • I acknowledge that, if I do not fulfill my time commitment and responsibilities in this role, just like other Pepperdine scholarships, eligibility must be met, and I may be removed from the program at any time and will not be given credit as having served as an International Student Ambassador.
    • I agree that academics at Pepperdine are my top priority and that, given the amount of cultural service hours needed to ensure my academic success, I will not overextend myself or jeopardize that ISAP objectives with additional employment or leadership opportunities that could compromise my commitment to ISAP.
    • I agree that I must be enrolled full-time, meet Satisfactory Academic Progress, maintain a Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or greater, and must remain in good standing in all areas of the University to remain eligible.
    • I agree that my total institutional grant/scholarship may not exceed tuition and that half of this award will be applied each term in the 2020-2021 academic year.
    • I agree to attend and assist with planning various OISS/ISAP programs throughout the year as part of my cultural service hours.
    • I agree to attend four mandatory orientations, training's, and retreats in addition to 2-3 hours of weekly meetings with our adviser from 10 am - 12 pm on Wednesday mornings with an additional ambassador meeting.
    • I agree to respond to all correspondence related to the program within 48 hours of receiving and provide quality responses to students and colleagues.
    • I consent to be contacted regarding any information or ideas provided in this application.
    • I consent to have my name, general profile, and photo published on Pepperdine websites and materials. Students may contact me and ask questions about my experience at Pepperdine, my country, my culture, and the International Student Ambassador Program.
    • I understand that the associated scholarship award is contingent on these objectives and that if my grade point average goes below a 2.75 or I fail to uphold my commitment to the Ambassador team as deemed by the OISS director, my scholarship and role as Ambassador may be rescinded at any time.
    • I understand that the Pepperdine student body and fellow Ambassadors are depending on me, and I am prepared to put in extra hours outside of scheduled meeting times to fulfill my responsibilities as an ISAP Ambassador.
  18. Please confirm that after reading the entirety of the application, you meet eligibility for this program.
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