By Matthew Wells

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A group of Bahamian students spent the day on the Middle Tennessee State University campus recently thanks to an invitation from the Office of International Affairs.

The Legacy Tours group, around 30 students and 10 parental chaperones, are all prospective students looking to learn more about the Blue Raider campus and community and their opportunities for international education here.

Through the visit, the Office of International Affairs hoped to provide these international students with a unique experience of campus life and academic opportunities.

Cindy Habara, director of international enrollment management at MTSU, led her staff in planning and scheduling the visit to make sure it was fulfilling for the students while still being a productive use of the day. 

“Being physically present on campus can help prospective students visualize themselves as part of the community,” Habara said. “Meeting students from their home country contributes to a sense of belonging and connection, which are important factors in overall satisfaction and success during college. This is what we hoped to foster during this visit. 

“The Office of International Affair is always happy to welcome prospective international students to the MTSU campus.”

The day started for these students as it does for many of MTSU’s international students living on campus, with breakfast at McCallie Dining Hall. The students then went on a campus tour, interacted with faculty members, toured James E. Walker Library, and learned about the diverse academic programs and extracurricular activities offered by the university.

Throughout the visit, the students had the opportunity to meet and connect with current Bahamian students to learn about their experiences at MTSU. The visit also included meetings with academic advisors and career counselors like Lewis Gray and Lisa Eddy to discuss academic and professional possibilities.

The visit ended with a reception at the President’s house hosted by President Sidney A. McPhee, a native Bahamian, and first lady Elizabeth McPhee. The meet and greet provided the students with the opportunity to speak with the McPhees and ask questions. Also attending was Robert Summers, vice provost for International Affairs.

The Office of International Affairs provides support for MTSU’s international engagements, with a mission to provide leadership for the comprehensive internationalization of MTSU by fostering growth and development of international programs and services. 

The office serves students who study abroad, international students that study at MTSU, and the faculty and staff who support them. To learn more, visit https://mtsu.edu/intered.

— Matthew Wells (Matthew.Wells@mtsu.edu)