International Coffee Hour Connects Diverse Communities at FSU

Students, scholars, faculty, and staff meet most Fridays* from 5–6 p.m. for International Coffee Hour in The Globe (GME Building) on Florida State University's main campus.

Each week the FSU community comes together to experience the featured culture and through conversation, music, dance or interactive activities, and it is the Center for Global Engagement's most popular program with an average weekly attendance of 250 attendees, over half of whom are U.S. students.

"I love Coffee Hour! I try to come here every time I can," said Dr. Jose L. Mendoza-Cortes, Assistant Professor, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. "I love it because not only is the food delicious, but also you get to meet other people and explore the different points of view, and you just learn something new just by being here."

Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) and FSU departments can submit an application to co-host a Coffee Hour. Students can share their cultures through traditional snacks and beverages at no cost to the groups. They are encouraged to submit traditional recipes, can help prepare and serve the snacks, as well as share music, dance, cultural displays, and interactive activities to promote their culture. 

For many, International Coffee Hour becomes a weekly tradition, and attendees look forward to connecting with friends and meeting new people from around the world each week. Many American students learn about International Coffee Hour through FSU's Welcome Week or an outside class assignment and learn it's so fun they return on a regular basis. U.S. student attendance has steadily increased in the last few years.

"The name 'International' gives the big picture. Basically people from all over the world, you can meet them here and talk about ... anything from the latest movies to international affairs," said Christian Kankam Wireko, civil engineering Ph.D. candidate from Ghana researching geoenvironmental issues. "The day I landed in Tallahassee was a Friday. In the afternoon I went to my department and ... that day at five o'clock I came to [International] Coffee Hour and I made friends. Actually the friends that I made here are still my friends, so that was the best thing that ever happened to me."

RSOs and FSU departments interested in submitting an application to co-host can find the link to the application here.

*International Coffee Hour is held every Friday that classes are in session.