International students build connection and community with the new WISS Buddy Program

International Buddy Program participants
NYU Wagner students participating in the WISS Buddy Program, from left: Jeremy Zhu, Chunyi Wang, and Jagger Huang.

The Wagner International Student Society (WISS) is a student organization representing the international student body at Wagner. It aims to foster strong ties within the international student community and works to address and promote international student interests. The Buddy Program connects continuing international students to first-year international students to help with their transition to the U.S., New York City, and Wagner.

“The WISS Buddy Program is something that sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you,'' says Junyi Ouyang (MPA 2023), who volunteered to mentor incoming students this year. “As an international student, I understand it can be really hard to transition to a new life within a new country. My host family helped me overcome challenges back in high school when I was a new arrival to the U.S., and I would love to pass that along to people who are new here, too.”

The Buddy Program started this semester with 17 continuing international students mentoring 42 first-year international students. Pairings were made based on program and specialization as well as topics of interest. First-year students could rank topics of interest such as career development, Wagner curriculum, life in NYC, practicing English, and American culture to indicate what they'd most like to get out of having a Buddy.

“As an international student from China, I hadn't been abroad until I came to NYU Wagner and I realized there are both language and culture gaps among local people,'' says Xiaoru Zhang, a first-year Master of Public Administration student specializing in public finance. “What I am excited about is that my buddy, Junyi, is also an international student from China and has helped me adjust to school and New York City life.”

The expectation is that each volunteer Buddy would meet with their first-year students at least twice this semester. Groups can coordinate and keep in touch via WhatsApp.

“When I first came to Wagner, I was not familiar with everything here,” says Ruby Shu, a first-year Master of Public Administration student. “I first joined the Buddy Program to get acquainted with my new life here and also to make new friends.”

Volunteer Buddies have expressed excitement about meeting with their first-year students. Pairs have been able to learn about each other's backgrounds, and Buddies are able to support the needs of first-year students. The most common questions from first-year international students have regarded academic and professional resources at NYU and Wagner. Buddies have answered these questions and pointed their classmates to existing resources, reducing the stress of first-year international students.

WISS is planning a check-in meeting with Buddy pairs in early November to more formally survey experiences within the Buddy Program and make enhancements to the program moving forward.