An assessment of counseling needs of international students at the University of Wisconsin-Stout Spring 2003

Abstract

The literature, Pedersen (1996) and Tucker (1991), discusses some issues related to counseling needs of international students in the United States, but there is little empirical data related to international students’ counseling needs, or counseling service for international students. The purpose of this study was to identify counseling needs of international students and counseling resources available to them at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The questionnaire used was especially designed to collect some useful data to answer three research questions. The research questions for this study addressed the counseling needs of international students at UW-Stout, what counseling resources are available to international students at UW-Stout, and if the services at UW-Stout meet the identified needs of international students. One hundred and ten surveys were mailed to international students at Stout. Of those, 48 participants mailed their questionnaires back to the researcher. Twenty-six participants were male and 22 participants were female. Twenty-two participants were undergraduate and 25 participants were graduate. The results of this study indicated that most participants did not have interest in counseling services at UW-Stout. About 48% of the participants (n=23) did not know where the Counseling Center was located, about 71% of the participants did not know what services the Counseling Center offered, and about 79% of the participants have never been to the Counseling Center to meet a counselor. Approximately 88% of the participants (n=42) thought that the Counseling Center should have specific services for international students, and about 58% of the participants (n=28) thought bilingual counselors should exist to serve international students. Most participants, approximately 56% of the participants (n=27), indicated that they would like to access to career counseling services. Most participants of the study chose friends and family members as the best solution to cope with their personal worries and concerns, instead of seeking a professional counselor to deal with their personal issues. Even though international students did not seem to use the services of the Counseling Center, international students presented needs which could be addressed in the future by Stout’s Counseling Center.