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Abstract

Immigration was one of the key issues from within the Obama administration. One focus of the administration was to retain brilliant foreign scholars who have studied in the United States (U.S). Rather than let International Faculty return to their countries after completing their programs, employers found it advantageous to retain these professionals to boost the United States workforce. Higher education was one of the government sectors that experienced an increase in the numbers of foreign nationals choosing to remain in the United States after completing their degrees. What many International Faculty may be oblivious of, and which their programs of study may or may not have prepared them for, was how their lives will be impacted by the U.S. American culture and their new Deep South environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the obstacles and opportunities for foreign born college faculty to contribute to the internationalization and globalization of the higher education in U.S., in Southeastern colleges. Data were collected from face-to-face interviews and online surveys. The researchers provided an overview of what International Faculty feel about colleagues, students, and the educational system in a region known for its Southern Hospitality, along with politics and racial biases. Interviews provided insight into International Faculty’s positive and negative experiences and what administrators can offer to help new International Faculty become more comfortable in their new environments. Findings also provided insight about International Faculty’s perceptions about the Southern culture, the people, and the community.

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