A Resource Guide for International Faculty

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC)  

FSU’s Office of General Counsel can be especially helpful for international faculty to find support in obtaining correct visas, such as the H-1B Visa category. Reach out to Associate General Counsel Leslie Crosdale at lcrosdale@fsu.edu for assistance in applying for a petition to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or for help with your case.  

The Center for Intensive English Studies (CIES)  

CIES provides VIP English Services for faculty and Post Docs to develop their skills and proficiency in English. Designed for all levels of speakers, CIES can help faculty strengthen their English skills for a variety of settings, from office hours, to conferences, to delivering exciting presentations and social gatherings.    

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Faculty

Looking for counseling services for personal concerns or need a confidential, safe space to work through personal matters? EAP is here for you. The Employee Assistance Program is committed to improving the wellbeing of faculty and staff at FSU through several different services which are free or based upon the individual’s ability to pay. Their services also extend to immediate family members of an FSU employee, such as spouses, dependents and children, or other family members within the same household. EAP offers:

• Brief-Intervention & Short-Term Individual Counseling – Sometimes, all you really need is to be able to confide in someone. EAP offers counseling services, referrals and follow-ups for issues pertaining to relationships, communication, job stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, grief, and loss.
• Supervisor Consults – Enhance your work environment and improve job performance through consultations with supervisors to manage and assist employees.
• Organizational Development/Trainings – Sign up for developmental trainings coverings topics including team building, conflict communication skills, and mindfulness.
• Mediation Services – This free and confidential program assists in conflict resolution.
• Debt Management – Struggling with debt? Trying to increase your credit score? Improve your financial expertise by creating debt management plans and online financial literacy courses offered by Debt Management Credit Counseling Corporation (DMCC) at https://education.dmcccorp.org/.
• Emergency Loan Fund (ELF) – Going through an unexpected financial emergency? EAP may be able to help through the Emergency Loan Fund. Find out if you are eligible to receive an interest-free loan of up to $1,500, later repaid through payroll deduction, by contacting EAP.

EAP is inclusive and welcoming for everyone. There is no shame in seeking assistance through any of their services. No one will be told you are using the program. Contact the Employee Assistance Program at 850-644-2288.

Faculty/Staff Ombuds Program

Faced an encounter where there was cross-cultural miscommunication? Unsure of certain university policies or how they have been applied to you? Need advice about an awkward situation at the workplace? The Ombuds Program can help you with all these matters and more. While not legal counsel, the program is a secure, informal place to discuss matters or concerns relating to employment at Florida State. Under Human Resources, the Ombuds Program promotes early intervention, offering guidance and free information from a neutral source to strive towards fair and equitable resolutions under university policy.

Ombuds can assist you by facilitating meetings, coaching you through conflicts, making referrals to individuals who can address your complaint, recommend action or changes to policies and procedures, and more. Reach out to Michelle Douglas, Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) office and Chief Diversity Officer, at 850-644-7950 or e-mail mbdouglas@fsu.edu.

The Center for Global Engagement (CGE) 

Located in the Global and Multicultural Engagement Building (The Globe), CGE offers a variety of intercultural programs that are open to all faculty, staff, and students. Their programs include:                        

• Engage Your World (EYW) speaker series – EYW fosters open and respectful dialogue between faculty, staff, and students about global challenges we all face today. Different opinions are encouraged to bring perspective to issues. Previous EYW series topics include education and gender equity, global health and social justice, and more.  EYW also collaborates with colleges and organizations across FSU’s campus. If you would like to suggest a topic or get involved, contact cge-programs@fsu.edu.
• International Coffee Hour – Come meet other faculty from various backgrounds and bond over some delicious coffee and snacks. Every Friday from 5:00-6:30 PM, the CGE hosts a coffee hour with refreshments featuring a unique cultural theme each week in the Globe Dining Hall. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome.
• Global Cafés – Come support your students and the campus community while appreciating cultural diversity at FSU. This student-centered program is open to anyone who is looking for an enriching and authentic meal! Past Global Cafés have featured cuisine from countries including Bangladesh, Morocco, and China. Global Cafés are held Fridays from 11:30 AM until food runs out in the Globe Dining Hall. $10.00/plate, cash or check only.
• International Bazaar – Held every year, this free event brings together many members of the FSU and greater Tallahassee community. Cultural groups and RSO’s showcase their history and cultural heritage, while providing free samples! If you are interested in getting involved or hosting your own table, contact the CGE. 

• Global Partner Certificate – Want to learn how to interact more successfully with people from other cultures? Become certified as a Global Partner at Florida State by attending Global Partner Certificate workshop trainings held by the CGE, and by participating in fun and immersive intercultural events, programs, and activities. The Global Partner Certificate is a series of four workshop trainings over the course of a year for faculty to become more interculturally competent. This professional development certificate is designed for faculty who are interested and committed in learning, communicating, and engaging with people from other cultures. The GPC can help faculty assist international students and scholars at FSU. To register for upcoming Spring workshops, go to: https://cge.fsu.edu/certificates-training/global-partner-certificate.
• Meditation Room – Located on the third floor of the CGE, the Meditation Room is the perfect place to drop-in to pray, meditate, or reflect in a quiet place, no reservation needed! It is open to all FSU community members Monday through Friday from 8am – 5pm. This might be a sweet space for international faculty wanting to break away for a peaceful, tentative moment during a bustling day. 

FSU Campus Recreation

Find what moves you! For anyone who loves to get up and get moving, especially outdoors, FSU CampusRec services are a great way to get your blood pumping. Get a hearty workout in at the Bobby E. Leach Center, a 120,000 square foot fitness facility, or at the Fitness Movement Clinic (FMC) located within the Health and Wellness Center. Enjoy canoeing, kayaking, picnicking, swimming, disc golf, and other activities at Rez Lakefront Park & Retreat Center located along beautiful Lake Bradford. FSU Rez is the perfect spot for faculty meetings, or for training sessions and teambuilding programs. Challenge yourself on the high and low rope courses. Sign up for Personal Training, virtual or in-person, for yourself or with your partner or friends. For more information about membership packages and what FSU Campus Recreation has to offer, visit https://campusrec.fsu.edu/memberships/.

FSU ITS

Boost your confidence and skills in Microsoft through free training courses taught by Microsoft professionals. From OneNote to Excel, FSU Information Technology Services offers these free Microsoft trainings on over 40 programs. Past trainings are recorded and available for 180 days post-workshop session. To register for an upcoming training,
go to https://its.fsu.edu/microsoft-trainings.

The Office of Faculty Development and Advancement (FDA)  

The FDA offers faculty support for permanent international researchers and faculty, through new faculty orientation, Faculty Writing Retreats, coffee chats, and workshops on faculty development and award applications. This is your go-to resource if you have questions about going on sabbatical, academic policies, faculty recognition and tenure, and everything in-between. Some unique services the FDA offers include:  

• Milton S. Carothers Faculty Lecture Series – Sponsored by the FDA, Office of Research Development, and FSU Libraries, the Carothers Lecture Series is the longest running interdisciplinary research lecture series at FSU, promoting the formation of new collaborations and connections through shared ideas of research and creative activity. Sign up to attend an invigorating lecture over lunch or sign up to be a lecturer! If you would like to attend a Carothers lecture, RSVP here. 
• Faculty Affinity Groups – Find your tribe! The Office of Faculty Development and Advancement is here to help you connect to other faculty members, so you do not feel alone. Faculty-led affinity groups include the Black Faculty and Staff Network (BFSN) and LatinX Faculty & Staff Network (LFSN), among others. Faculty affinity groups are formed by faculty as part of FSU’s Diversity & Inclusivity initiative under Human Resources. Get involved with a faculty affinity group here.
• Connections Mentoring Network for Faculty of Color – The Connections Mentoring Network for Faculty of Color “employs researched based strategies proven to develop faculty of color in a white majority university.” For more information about Connections, visit https://facultyconnections.fsu.edu/ or email FDA-Connections@fsu.edu.
• Fulbright Scholar Program – This prestigious and globally-renowned scholarship program is perfect for faculty who want to travel and teach in another country. Fulbright is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational and cultural exchange program, fostering mutual understanding between the U.S. and over 160 partner countries. Each year, Fulbright awards more than 1,700 grants to U.S. and Visiting Scholars. For more information, visit cies.org or email scholars@iie.org. To register for Fulbright award writing workshops hosted by the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement, click here. For more information at Florida State University, email your questions to the OFDA at fda-faculty@fsu.edu.
• New Faculty Development Deep Dive Discussions – New to FSU? Sign up for FDA’s Spring semester’s New Faculty Development Deep Dive Discussions. New faculty meet once a month and learn proactive strategies for successfully navigating annual reviews, promotion, and tenure, how to better engage with their peers, and how to enhance their career at FSU.

The Office of Research Development (ORD)  

At ORD, we can help you craft and strengthen your proposals to become more competitive for award funding at all levels of your research career. Are you not sure where to start, but are interested in research? Using our expertise, we help faculty find funding and grant opportunities and become better-skilled in grant-writing and in research. We can help you craft your LOIs to perfection and meet those long and hefty proposal requirements. We build successful and lasting research mentor and mentee relationships through the Research Mentor Academy. We also offer collaborative research opportunities through strategic initiatives such as Collaborative Collision. Collaborative Collision is an accelerated program where members of the community and FSU researchers assemble research teams to propose solutions for current complex problems, with the chance of winning thousands of dollars in funding for their projects. Our Journeys in Research podcast chronicles distinguished faculty member’s journeys and experiences in research (available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Podbean). To learn more about the Office of Research Development, visit https://www.research.fsu.edu/research-offices/ord/.

These resources are here to help you better navigate the turbulent waters as a lifelong scholar, teacher, and researcher. Our team at ORD has cultivated relationships with international scholars who have demonstrated unique capabilities and innovative work in scholarship, creative activity, and research on multiple levels. ORD is here to support your efforts in research at FSU and beyond. We hope to unlock the potential within every researcher, by providing the right resources to succeed.  

Check out the University Events Calendar here. For Faculty/Staff Announcements, click here.