ACIREMA: Experiencing the International Student Path to FSU

On March 11, over 30 FSU staff from multiple departments across campus participated in ACIREMA, an interactive simulation designed to recreate the complex journey international students navigate before arriving at Florida State University.

ACIREMA, which is America spelled backwards, provides the opportunity for participating FSU faculty, administrators and staff to experience and better understand the many challenging steps international students must complete before beginning their academic programs in the U.S. The Center for Global Engagement team has provided this professional development opportunity twice a year since 2008.

During the event, participants work through a series of requirements that mirror real-world processes: successfully completing an English proficiency exam, gaining admission to FSU, obtaining a passport, demonstrating financial support through an assistantship offer or proof of personal funds needed to receive an I-20 from the CGE, applying for a U.S. visa at a consulate, and going through the visa interview process. Only after completing each step can participants finally “depart” from ACIREMA, the fictional home country, to the United States. While the process may look straightforward on paper, it is often lengthy, confusing and filled with unexpected challenges for real students.

The event made a strong impact on attending participants, bringing a better understanding of the many obstacles international students face in trying to arrive in the US. · Jordan Diaz, Admissions Counselor in the Office of Admissions, found the experience eye-opening, noting that “applications can turn into a numbers game. With events like this, it makes the student’s admission experience more personable, and I can now empathize with these students a lot more.” · Ian Williams, Accounting Specialist with the University Business Administrators for the School of Dance, shared that he “learned a lot, including some of the frustrations and confusion that can go along with that process, including a lot of back and forth between different offices.” · Kimberly Howell, Graduate Academic Program Specialist in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, emphasized the difference between the event’s convenience and what students actually experience: “This experience is in one room whereas all the different offices international students have to go to in order to get everything is not nearly as convenient.” · Jordan Huston, Research Security Analyst for the Office of Research Integrity, Security, and Ethics (RISE), participated by representing his role as a RAMP reviewer. He explained that “It’s important to know who you are helping and understand what they are going through. ACIREMA is a great exercise for that.”

Scott Bleiweis, CGE Program Manager for New International Student Services and ACIREMA organizer, highlighted the importance of the simulation: “Being a college student is difficult for anyone, but the challenges involved for incoming international students are even more heightened.” He added that while the experience is informative, he also hopes participants find it enjoyable: “ACIREMA really does give attendees an appreciation for the significant boundaries and roadblocks that international students must overcome. However, my hope is that it’s also fun for participants to walk in the shoes of an experience outside of their own.” Reflecting on the broader impact, Bleiweis noted, “Connecting all of these dots leads to a better understanding of where these students are coming from, literally and figuratively, which I think results in a better ability to serve and support them once they arrive.”

ACIREMA is free and open to all FSU faculty and staff. The event is held each fall and spring semester, with registration available through a Qualtrics form distributed a few weeks in advance. For more information or to express interest in a future session, contact cge-newstudents@fsu.edu.