Page 22 - och0216_BuyersGuide

The Back Page

Globally-Inspired Student
Staffing in Dining Services

By Dr. Mark Hayes

How many times do we, as What Can Dining Services Do? welcoming campus environment for
dining directors, chefs or international students, given we are
managers, mention the - Engage with your international office to typically the largest campus employers.
phrase “globally-inspired?” Too recruit and work on culturally specific
many times to count, no doubt. But training approaches. Additionally, studies have also
how many times have we used that indicated that international students
term to describe our student team? - Train professional staff and student managers benefited from increased social con-
Maybe it is time to broaden our to understand culturally specific leadership tact with host-country students and
understanding of what this phrase and communication techniques. reported higher levels of happiness.
can mean. We, as dining staff, can show inter-
- Engage with international student groups national students the best of the U.S.
In August 2002, Secretary of on employment and special events, incor- higher education system and univer-
State Colin Powell said, “I see the porating their direct involvement in recipe sity communities. Food can truly be
benefits of international education and preparation. This could easily transfer
every day. ... In my daily activities to adopting culturally accurate menus and
I encounter world leaders — from recipes.
Kofi Annan to Hamid Karzai —
who participated in an exchange - Form peer groups within dining services to
program or studied here or abroad. serve as trainers and ambassadors.
... People-to-people diplomacy, cre-
ated through international education - Employ dedicated dining service orientation
and exchanges, is critical to our programs to fit the needs of international
national interests.” students, including interpreters.

In 2003, Victor Johnson wrote in - Develop very detailed job descriptions, with
the Chronicle of Higher Education: no use of slang or colloquialisms.
“Foreign students bring important
and growing educational benefits - Create campus guides for navigating the
to American colleges. They add di- employment process, including offices,
required paperwork and documentation.

- Host job fairs geared specifically to in-
ternational students in collaboration with
international student offices.

versity to the student body; they a common language and one that can

provide the first opportunity that many Americans have for provide both domestic and international students viable pro-

close contact and extensive contacts with foreigners, and they fessional skills in the global business market.

fill perennially under-enrolled science courses that colleges The sample studied in my own research indicated that a

would otherwise find difficult to offer.” significant number of international students needed additional

According to the Open Doors 2015 Fast Facts, there were income. There was an underutilization of campus services,

974,926 international students studying in the United Sates in including the student employment office. We must not wait

2014-15, representing over 200 countries and territories. This until students come to us, but we need to reach out as the first

total comprises 4.8 percent of the total student enrollment at step. The majority indicated that meeting financial needs was

U.S. colleges and universities. The top 10 countries sending a major cause of anxiety and stress, which sometimes led to

students to the U.S. are: China, India, South Korea, Saudi distraction from their academic and personal pursuits. Even

Arabia, Canada, Brazil, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam and Mexico. with this stress, study participants considered their work envi-

The economic impact of international student enrollment is ronments welcoming and generally satisfactory. Half of study

$30 billion in the U.S. participants indicated that it was important to collaborate and

International students comprise an important contribution interact with students, staff and the community in general.

to diversity on campuses; they make valuable educational and Earlier research indicated that interaction with American co-

economic contributions, add new perspectives to educational horts helped decrease the stress of cultural adjustment and

activities; and foster appreciation for other countries and cul- led to better outcomes.

tures. As the number of international students continues to International students have spoken to their concern of the

increase, these students also indicate that the top factors for following: a lack of structure and organization in employ-

dropping out are access to jobs or internships, affordability ment settings; the need for better orientation, training and

and availability of scholarships. Studies have estimated that job coaching; language comprehension challenges; lack of

80 percent of undergraduate students are employed during the personal direction; and not fully understanding the associated

academic year, including many international students. In the demand of campus jobs.

case of international students, they are limited to 20 hours of

employment during the academic year and only on campus. Dr. Mark Hayes is a director of Dining and Hospitality

This means dining services can play a large role in creating a Services at the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs.

22 | NOVEMBER 2016 ON-CAMPUS HOSPITALITY