Office of International Programs
The Office of International Programs (OIP) supports UT Tyler's mission to understand and appreciate human diversity and the global nature of the new millennium and to gain international understanding for participation in the global society. The OIP team is passionate about transforming lives and making UT Tyler a more culturally diverse community. Our ultimate goal is to provide every UT Tyler student with meaningful and safe opportunities to develop intentional and transformative multicultural and global competencies, and to better serve the region through our globally competent graduates, strategic international partnerships, and multi-disciplinary research collaborations.
The Office of International Programs (OIP) leads, champions and serves UT Tyler's mission through several cross-functional units: Study Abroad and Faculty-Led Programs; International Student, Scholar and Faculty Services (ISSFS) Center; the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI); International Research and Engagement; and International Recruitment and Marketing.
Study Abroad and Faculty-Led Programs
The OIP assists students and faculty at UT Tyler to travel abroad and facilitates exchanges with our partner universities. The OIP facilitates four types of study abroad experiences:
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Short-Term Faculty-Led Trips – Travel/study courses, organized by UT Tyler faculty, varying in length from one to five weeks. Travel study courses typically occur over vacation periods and the summer term.
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Longer-Term Programs – Study abroad opportunities and regional study programs created through collaborations among faculty in multiple departments and colleges.
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Exchange Programs – Study opportunities at foreign universities that have an exchange agreement with UT Tyler and study at foreign universities through University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) approved semester-long or academic year programs abroad.
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The Friends of UT Tyler Travel Program – International travel opportunities for community members to travel with UT Tyler faculty who are extremely knowledgeable and share information and insight.
For more information about Study Abroad visit www.uttyler.edu/oip/study-abroad or call 903.565.6155.
International Student, Scholar and Faculty Services (ISSFS) Center
The OIP International Student, Scholar and Faculty Services (ISSFS) Center provides post-admission advising, cultural and social programming, and immigration services to UT Tyler international students, scholars, faculty and their family members. International Advisors at the ISSFS Center assist all international students, scholars and faculty who come to UT Tyler for academic study or research purposes, providing services related to F-1 students who wish to study at UT Tyler, as well as information on the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (J-visa) and H-1B petition for international faculty at UT Tyler. OIP ISSFS staff work closely with the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a part of the National Security Investigations Division in the Department of Homeland Security, to advise, monitor and report on all nonimmigrant students attending UT Tyler in the F visa classifications and their dependents as well as work closely with the Department of State (DoS) Exchange Visitor Programs to advise, monitor and report on nonimmigrant exchange visitors in the J visa classification and their dependents. For more information visit the Office of International Programs Student, Scholar and Faculty Services Center webpage at www.uttyler.edu/oip/ISSFS.php or call 903.565.5960.
Intensive English Language Institute (IELI)
The Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) is a self-supporting auxiliary unit within the OIP designed to prepare non-native English-speaking students to improve their language and culture skills, successfully meet the requirements of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Pearson Test of English (PTE), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and matriculate into the university. IELI students are non-degree seeking students who take non-credit generating English classes.
The IELI Program is organized into two 8-week sessions each semester (168 instructional hours per 8-week session) and offers seven (7) levels of instruction, based on clock hours, from beginning to advanced levels, ensuring that classes do not exceed an average of 12-15 students in each. Classes meet five days each week (from Monday-Friday), with daily homework (21 hours weekly). For more information visit the Intensive English Language Institute website at www.uttyler.edu/oip/IELI.php or call 903.565.6155.