Get Involved at Cal Poly
Study abroad is just the beginning! Continue to share your study abroad story through helping other students become Global Mustangs!
Coming home doesn't mean that you are no longer engaged in education abroad and graduating from Cal Poly doesn't mean that your only option for international engagement is the occasional overseas vacation. Your abroad experience has made you more capable, more curious, and more aware of the world of opportunities that are out there, if you just look for them.
So, get involved! Check out the suggestions below on how you can stay involved and remain connected to your study abroad experience both on and off campus. Taking an active role in the international community will help you adjust to being back in the United States and give you a way to meet other people who value study abroad the way you do.By being engaged, you'll continue to build on the skills you learned abroad. Learn more about how to market your study abroad experiences; explore post-baccalaureate fellowship programs that can help you return abroad; and maybe think about other ways to go abroad again, like teaching or volunteering abroad.
- WAYS TO GET INVOLVED -
1. Become a returnee contact
2. Apply to be a paid peer advisor (one year commitment)
Cal Poly Study Abroad Peer Advisors are often study abroad alumni and, although they are trained to advise on all of our study abroad programs, they bring their own experiences to bear in talking with students about going abroad.- Learn more about the position and apply on our Study Abroad Peer Advising webpage.
3. Volunteer at an event
If you are looking for some low-commitment opportunities to get involved when the time is right for you, you can always connect with the International Center in other ways to help out at some of our bigger events throughout the year!- Volunteer the Study Abroad Fair (Oct): Work a table for your program during the next Study Abroad fair! There are lots of opportunities to help out. Study Abroad Fairs are held twice a year.
- Attend a Pre-Departure Orientation Event (Nov/May): Share your experience and tips with students about to depart on their study abroad adventure! Each Fall and Spring we hold pre-departure meetings for each of our respective programs. We are always looking for study abroad returnees to attend and briefly discuss their study abroad experiences. Students love to ask returnees questions; after all, you are the best ones to ask!
- Volunteer for "Taste of the World" (Feb): Help at one of the most fun (and delicious!) campus events of the year with Taste of the World! This free event is a celebration of international cuisine and international education where attendees can sample delicious cuisine from all around the world and learn about Cal Poly study abroad opportunities in those locations. More information about this event can be found on our "Taste of the World" webpage. If you'd like to get involved at this event, just email studyabroad@calpoly.edu.
4. Become a Welcome Ambassador for international students
The International Welcome Ambassadors Program brings international and domestic Cal Poly students together to share their culture and develop friendships. International Welcome Ambassadors (IWAs) provide a support system to assist new international students with adapting to life in California. In return, IWAs get to learn about life in other countries, make many new friends, and create long-lasting relationships with people all around the globe. For more information, visit the International Student Programs page; to apply, contact intlservices@calpoly.edu (the application cycle opens in February/March each year).5. Join a Cal Poly cultural organization
- For a full list of organizations, visit the Cal Poly NOW site.
6. Find a language group or conversation table
If you want to continue speaking the language you studied while abroad, look into joining a language group in San Luis Obispo! This will give you an opportunity to meet other people in the community who want to practice their second language skills.- WLC Conversation Tables: Check the World Languages & Cultures website for up-to-date information on language conversation tables happening around campus. These are informal meetups where Cal Poly students can practice their language skills. In the past, there have been conversation tables for Russian, Spanish, German, Vietnamese, and Italian!
- WLC Language Club: WLC invites Cal Poly students of all language skills and cultural backgrounds to join us in an open and embracing environment to celebrate the sparkling variety of cultures on our campus and around the world.