2013/2014 FIUTS ANNUAL REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS Director’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 FIUTS Year in Numbers, 2013/2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Collaboration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Exploration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Homestay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Friendship Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Celebration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

FIUTS CulturalFest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8



Wednesday Lunch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Dialogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Global Ambassador Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12



Pen Pal Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12



CulturalFest International Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Financial Reporting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Looking Forward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

FIUTS Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17



Board of Trustees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17



Student Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Supporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Individual donors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18



Corporate Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Director’s Message With a strange acronym for a name, FIUTS can be a little bit hard to explain. But for many people in our community and for the thousands of students and scholars who have studied at the University of Washington since 1948, FIUTS is an important place. For them, it is where they come when first arriving on campus to find much-needed guidance. It is the place to meet new people from many different backgrounds, feel comfortable in a new country, and learn about other ways of seeing the world. It is a place to grow our understanding of the complex world we live in today. FIUTS is a community. And like all communities, it’s a complex web of individuals, beliefs, and backgrounds. And what makes it special is the understanding FIUTS inspires and the connections FIUTS programs build between individuals, many of which span generations and continents. 2013/2014 was an amazing year – one of challenge, opportunity, and growth. I’m excited to share some highlights with you in this annual report. Highlights of our year include: • Increased opportunities for student leadership on the FIUTS Student Board and through the FIUTS Facilitator Program. • Expanded programming for UW students from around the world to explore our region through outdoor recreation, the arts, and neighborhood events. • A larger-than-ever CulturalFest event in Meany Hall, creating a forum for students and members of the community to come together to celebrate cultural diversity. • New collaborations across campus to provide comprehensive support for new and struggling international students and scholars. • Inspiring alumni projects delivered by alumni of FIUTS Youth Leadership Program with Bosnia and Herzegovina. • A new contract with the U.S. Department of State and a new programming partnership with the Seattle Globalist. It may be challenging to explain FIUTS, but it’s easy to see the results of our work – an active, engaged circle of individuals around the world who believe in the power of friendship to build a better future for all of us. Era Schrepfer, Executive Director

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FIUTS Year in Numbers, 2013/2014

2,009 NEW UW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

from 100 countries

Represented at CulturalFest

took part in FIUTS International Student Orientation Programming

SIXTEEN STUDENTS Served a one-year term on the FIUTS Student Board

169 NEW

Facilitators TRAINED

guests attended at least one Wednesday Lunch STUDENTS participated in education outreach programs

112 young leaders

visited Seattle for FIUTS short-term programs

5

STU DEN

from

44

TS

1,042 K-12

2

students attended at least one local excursion

27

922

1,140 COUNTRIES

were matched with local hosts for a short-term homestay

Leadership FIUTS Leadership Programs engage students as community leaders and mentors, providing hands-on leadership experience in a cross-cultural context. In the FIUTS Facilitator program, students from the U.S. and around “All the opportunities the world serve as volunteers for that FIUTS gave me FIUTS programs, acting as peer to work with and mentors and guides to other befriend international students. By engaging with our students really boosted community in an active way, up my confidence and FIUTS Facilitators practice group understanding of management, conflict resolution, other countries.” and cross-cultural communication skills while supporting and engaging with other students –Thao Tran, USA from diverse backgrounds. Facilitators take on a wide variety of roles from leading campus and community tours and excursions to serving on planning committees or designing their own events. In 2013/2014, 152 FIUTS Facilitators signed up for 1,064 volunteer shifts. Members of the FIUTS Student Board play a key role as advisors and leaders at FIUTS. An elected group of American and international student leaders, Student Board members explore advocacy, planning, and nonprofit management through concrete experience over the course of one year.

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Collaboration Every year, FIUTS welcomes all international students and scholars to the campus, the greater Seattle area and to America. This year was no exception. At FIUTS International Student Orientation last fall, FIUTS welcomed more than 2,000 new undergraduate, exchange, and graduate students to the UW community. Months before their arrival, FIUTS staff members communicate with incoming students prior to departure from their home countries. During orientation, all hands are on deck as the staff coordinates seminars, activities, and events to help international students quickly adjust to academic and social life in the U.S.

“I attended information sessions about volunteering, living in Seattle, student government, library orientation for Japanese students, and support service for academic English Writing.” –Fall 2013 Orientation Participant Over the past five years, the UW has experienced a dramatic increase in international student enrollment. Increasing cultural diversity on campus is an opportunity for all UW students to build important skills that will be necessary to work and live in our global society. To that end, in 2013/2014, FIUTS joined with several campus departments and offices to form the International Student Success Committee (ISSC). This working group provides offices an opportunity to share questions and resources, and to work together to improve services and support to our growing international population. In addition to the ISSC, FIUTS increased collaboration across campus through partnerships with university leadership, First Year Programs, UW Libraries, Housing and Food Services, and other departments. 4

Exploration From local outings to weekend trips, FIUTS Events and Activities provide opportunities for shared exploration. 2013/2014 saw expanded programming focused on outdoor recreation, the arts, neighborhood events, and service. These programmatic themes allowed students to deepen their experience in the Puget Sound region and build friendships around shared interests. In 2013/2014, FIUTS produced 73 excursions to provide students with opportunities to socialize and explore the great Pacific Northwest. 990 unique participants filled more than 1,200 spaces.

“The Leavenworth trip in January was great. The group was really from all over the world and pretty much everyone decided to go on a walk/hike the first evening. It was really amazing to see everyone making new friends..” –Kailyn Swarthout, USA

Participants in FIUTS events this year were 50% undergraduate, 21% graduate, and 29% other (scholars and participants in the UW’s English Language Programs). These incredible numbers do not include large events with unlimited capacity, including the Halloween Party, Community BBQ, and other events.

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Community HOMESTAY FIUTS supports UW international students off campus as well, creating opportunities for them to build bonds with people in “Max and Kamila were our region. The FIUTS Homestay absolutely perfect Program shows time and again guests. Helpful, that personal connections are invaluable to students who are thoughtful, respectful and learning about a new country appreciative. They are and its culture and provide an among the best homestay educational opportunity for guests we’ve had so far!” Puget Sound residents to learn about a new part of the globe. –Homestay Host In 2013/2014, 281 international students and scholars spent from seven days to four weeks in the homes of Seattle area residents. Homestay hosts provide a foundation of friendship and local knowledge on which students can rely at an otherwise overwhelming time. Many homestay participants and hosts maintain their friendship and build strong bonds between families and communities on opposite sides of the world.

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HOMESTAY AT-A-GLANCE 164 University of Washington Students 72 High School students in visiting programs 24 other university students in Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition with UW Foster School Top 5 Countries: China, Korea, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom

FRIENDSHIP CONNECTIONS For those unable to host a student in their home, FIUTS provides community members an opportunity to interact with international students through friendship connections. Scholars from many different programs such as visiting Humphrey Fellows are paired with a host who can answer questions, provide a local perspective, and engage in social event throughout their time at the UW. 22 scholars participated in the Friendship Connection program in 2013/2014.

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Celebration FIUTS CULTURALFEST FIUTS CulturalFest is the one time each year that our community comes together to celebrate the cultural diversity of the University of Washington. Staff, board members, and students from around the world take part – as members of planning committees, as performers, and as captains of booths exploring cultures from across the globe and practicing hands-on leadership. Over 360 students and scholars volunteer for the event, starting shortly after school begins in the fall and spending months on preparation.

“This large-scale, well-organized, and much-publicized type of cultural showcasing is absolutely needed in the community. And the level of leadership shown by students is crucial to CulturalFest. 100%, CulturalFest contributes greatly to [the FIUTS] mission. I was honored to be a part of it.” –Denná Good-Mojab, USA & Iran Over the past six years, CulturalFest has grown into a large-scale community celebration welcoming more than 1,000 guests. A silent auction added to the event in 2008 has now become a favorite opportunity to support FIUTS and enjoy a special evening with others who are passionate about global arts and culture.

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WEDNESDAY LUNCH Bringing students together every month for a sandwich bar and snacks, the popular Wednesday Lunch program saw impressive growth over the year. Student volunteers help prepare the meal ingredients and clean up after the event.

“Despite my first event being the last Wednesday Lunch of the academic year where everyone was saying “goodbye” while I was saying “hello,” it was one of the most welcoming experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Not only did I meet people from all over the world, I’ve established friendships I still maintain to this day.”” –Travin Dy, Philippines 922 students attended at least one Wednesday Lunch in 2013/2014, with an average monthly attendance of 165. October was the record month, with attendance of 282.

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Dialogue “Before the YLP, I was shy, nervous when meeting new people and I thought someone else should do projects to improve community and help people. Now, I realized that I’m the one who can make a change and who should do something.” –YLP Bosnia Participant, Spring 2014 Through partnerships with overseas institutions and The U.S. Department of State, FIUTS creates educational programs to welcome youth from around the world to Seattle for powerful shortterm programming. Each program provides youth ages 15-25 with an opportunity to engage with others, build important leadership skills, and increase their understanding of the world around them.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM In our second year of the Youth Leadership and Teacher Professional Development Program (YLP) with Bosnia and Herzegovina, FIUTS worked with 36 youth and 6 educators representing three different religions from towns across Bosnia. Over five weeks in Seattle and Washington, D.C., participants build teamwork and leadership while practicing communication and project planning skills. When they return to their home communities, participants develop and deliver development projects promoting social responsibility and civic engagement.

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SUSI PROGRAM In April, 2014, FIUTS was selected as host of a new program, The Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders in Journalism and New Media, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State and The Globalist. This three-year grant brings 20 university student leaders to Seattle from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal for a six-week program focusing on leadership and journalism.

“The SUSI program has changed me a great deal. I have become much more open minded now and very open to new ideas as well as cultures. Combined with the journalism skills I’ve gotten, its gonna make me a responsible citizen and also a better person.” –SUSI Participant, 2014 You can view all of the resulting articles on the Seattle Globalist’s website: www.seattleglobalist.com/category/susi-2014

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Education GLOBAL AMBASSADOR PROGRAM International students have the opportunity to develop their leadership and presentation skills by sharing an interactive lesson with elementary school students on Global Ambassador Day and in after school programs. This year, 50 students from 23 countries taught the youth of Seattle about their home country through crafts, music, and other fun classroom activities. Global Ambassador Day challenges international students to develop a grade levelappropriate lesson plan and to manage their time (and the young students) effectively.

PEN PAL PROGRAM Designed for students in grades 4-6, the FIUTS Pen Pal program involves local elementary school students exchanging a series of letters with an international student at the University of Washington over a period of 6 weeks. The program culminates in an opportunity for the grade school students to meet their UW pen pals in person on the University of Washington campus. In 2013/2014, 66 young pen pals had the chance to connect with a FIUTS student.

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CULTURALFEST INTERNATIONAL EXPO As part of the annual FIUTS CulturalFest celebration, 349 local school children and hundreds of others from the UW and surrounding community visited the newly remodeled HUB on the UW campus to walk through the country booths of the CulturalFest International Expo. Each of the 35 booths were planned and staffed by students from around the globe and featured interactive highlights such as painting, dancing lessons, and even a roaming string band on “horseback.”

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Financial Reporting With the support of donors, corporate partners, the University of Washington, and the U.S. Department of State (DoS), FIUTS sustained continued growth and stability in 2013/2014.

INCOME 2013/2014 DoS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $350,710 UW Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $277,665 Activity Fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $51,874 Fundraising. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $47,245 Endowment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$29,484 Special Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,650 Other Program Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $21,010 Work Study. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,871 Misc. Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,889 Total Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $821,398

WORK STUDY 2% OTHER PROGRAM INCOME 2%

MISC. INCOME