BOARD MEMBERS
Nathan Hult, Chair (nathanhult@gmail.com)
Eva Nautiyal, Vice Chair, USU Employee
Manijeh Nouraei, Treasurer
Deborah Evans, Community Member
Eduardo Ortiz, Community Member
Kirk Peterson, Community Member, Special Events Chair
Hadia Akbar, USU Student
Indu Garg, USU Student
Jack Greene, Community Member, Outdoor Recreation Chair
Heather Winegar, Community Member
Arthur Caplan, Community Member and USU Professor
Megan Kast, Community Member
Sidi Becar Meyara, Community Member and USU Professor
The International Friends Program (IFP; ifplogan@gmail.com) provides international students and visiting scholars at USU, including their families, and the people in the Cache Valley Community with opportunities for interaction and friendship, thereby strengthening Cache Valley’s service and outreach to the global community.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The International Friends Program (IFP) is incorporated as a Utah non-profit corporation and is recognized by the IRS as an educational and charitable tax-exempt organization. IFP has a signed Memorandum of Cooperation with Utah State University through the Global Engagement office to provide international students and scholars with opportunities for interaction and friendship.
The IFP Board includes members from the university, including USU faculty and employees, students, and members from the community at large. Committees have been established to handle the work of the program areas of the organization as well as community outreach, operations and internet support. Committee chairs named by the board need not be board members.
IFP FOR THE UNIVERSITY
- Helps publicize the broad spectrum of international students who choose USU
- Provides additional resources to supplement university staff at no cost
- Shows international exchange in a very favorable light
- Helps to promote USU as a friendly, supportive setting for international students
IFP FOR USU’S INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS & SCHOLARS
- Gives a head start in understanding U.S. culture
- Provides opportunities for public speaking
- Provides English practice in a non-classroom setting
- Develops friendships and eases anxieties
- Makes available a wealth of local knowledge and a variety of experiences
IFP FOR THE CACHE VALLEY COMMUNITY
- Provides opportunities for friendships with those from other cultures
- Provides opportunities to give service that is appreciated
- Involves community members in international celebrations and recognition of students
WHAT IFP IS NOT INTENDED TO DO
- Encourage community members to subsidize students’ educations
- Promote off-campus work in violation of immigration regulations
- Provide opportunities for illegal activities such as smuggling
- Provide opportunities for recruiting or proselyting for religious or other groups
- (Mutually sharing your culture and beliefs is okay, but please focus on friendship and understanding others!)
- Reduce cost of living for students by giving loans, long-term free transportation, food, housing, etc.
- Put pressure on community members to sponsor immigrants
- Involve students (or community members) in multi-level-marketing plans, etc.