Perspectives from Faculty and Staff Participating in iCEP

  • Taylor Karnilaw, Career Services

    “A great overview with practical tips to support students!”

  • Kayla O’Donnell, International Student and Scholar Services

    “Our international students are always doing double the work: balancing academics while adjusting to U.S. culture. iCEP has given me the tools to empower their confidence and become a better advisor.”

  • Bashiyra Reed, Counseling and Psychological Services

    “iCEP Academy is an effective training tool for those looking to get a strong foundation of knowledge and those already familiar with working with international students.”

  • Nicholas Gallagher, Office of Health Promotion

    “Excellent start to reviewing cultural sensitivity and awareness within an institutional setting. Great for all positions – as we know many touchpoints can be beneficial.”

  • Megan Sanzo, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

    “Very informative and helped me think about the challenges international students face, in a new way.”

  • Jaclyn Napoleon, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy

    “It's a simple straightforward resource that gives real strategies for advising students.”

  • Michael Ramella, Auxiliary Services

    “A well worthwhile program to help you understand our international students better.”

  • Jennifer Ho, Counseling & Psychological Services

    “Very valuable and practical tools that all advisors and faculty should take.”

  • Patrizia Caiazza, Registrar Office

    iCEP Academy has increased my knowledge about the experiences international students have. It gives great recommendations on how to become an advisor or ally to international students. I found it very enjoyable to hear the stories from students. It helped me gain a better understanding of how to better help them.”

  • Rita Biswas, Massery School of Business

    “Very helpful for students.”

You are at Step 1 of the iCEP Academy:

Build Shared Understanding.

In this phase, you will establish a common foundation across campus through structured learning modules—strengthening how international student experiences are understood and interpreted across roles. iCEP is not just an online course—it’s a system-level model for aligning how institutions support international students across campus.

Schedule a Conversation on Aligning Student Support

Complete the iCEP 3-module foundation to build cross-cultural insight, contribute to a shared foundation across campus, and earn a Certificate of Completion.

Why was iCEP created—and why does it exist at the system level?

The iCEP Academy was developed by ICAway to address a recurring challenge observed across institutions: as support for international students expands across faculty, advising, admissions, and career services, it often lacks alignment—resulting in fragmented and inconsistent guidance throughout the student journey.

This insight emerged from years of working closely with international students and universities, where the issue was not a lack of resources or programming, but a misalignment in how student needs were interpreted and supported across different campus roles. While institutions were investing in career readiness and student success initiatives, these efforts were often experienced by students as disconnected rather than coordinated.

iCEP was designed as a system-level training model to address this gap—aligning how institutions support international students across campus by building cross-cultural advising capacity and creating a shared foundation for decision-making and guidance.

The model was further developed and validated through a six-month pilot at the University at Albany, SUNY—selected as the inaugural prototype institution for iCEP’s campus-wide cross-cultural advisor development model. In partnership with the Center for International Education and Global Strategy (CIEGS), the Academy was piloted with 79 faculty and staff and expanded to more than 100 participants across over 40 departments in its next iteration.

At UAlbany, iCEP evolved from a pilot into institutional practice. Human Resources promotes the program through onboarding and professional development channels, while senior leadership reinforces its importance across academic units. Participants demonstrated a +46% increase in knowledge and 90% reported improved understanding of international student needs. More importantly, the program drove sustained changes in advising behavior—improving how staff interpret student needs, coordinate support across departments, and contribute to students’ academic continuity, system navigation, and sense of belonging.

The University at Albany’s implementation of iCEP was recognized as a finalist for the 2026 NAFSA Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award for its internationalization efforts.


Strengthening cross-campus advising for international students’ career transition

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • 1. What is the iCEP Academy?

    iCEP is a system-level training model that aligns cross-campus advising to support international students’ transition from education to the workforce.

    iCEP addresses this through a structured, three-step model:

    Step 1: Build Shared Understanding Establish a common foundation across campus through structured learning modules that strengthen how international student experiences are understood and interpreted across roles.

    Step 2: Generate Institutional Insight Use engagement data and learning insights to identify patterns in how international student support is understood and applied across campus—informing more aligned decision-making across teams.

    Step 3: Institutionalize Alignment Embed alignment into institutional practice through iCEP Stars—equipping key staff to reinforce consistent, cross-campus advising and sustain alignment over time.

  • 2. Who is the iCEP Academy for?

    The iCEP Academy is designed for institutions seeking to strengthen how they support international students across campus—particularly those looking to align advising, career services, academic departments, and student support functions around international student career outcomes.


    It is most relevant for:

    Senior leaders responsible for international student success, retention, and post-graduation outcomes

    International student services (ISSS) and global education teams navigating complex student needs across departments

    Career services professionals supporting international students’ transition to the workforce

    Academic advisors, faculty, and student support staff who serve as key touchpoints in the student journey


    iCEP is especially valuable for institutions where support is already in place—but alignment across roles and departments remains a challenge.

  • 3. What topics does the iCEP Academy cover?

    The training is divided into three modules, each with practical objectives and real-world applications:

    Module 1: Bridging Cultural Gaps - Understand core cultural values, U.S. communication styles, and the unspoken challenges international students face.

    Module 2: Redefining Networking - Learn to coach students through fears and cultural barriers related to networking in the U.S.

    Module 3: Empowering Advisors - Explore key deadlines, emotional pressures, and challenges related to work authorization and job searching—valuable even if you’re not in career services or visa advising.

    Each module includes real-life scenarios, Q&A sessions, and actionable tools.

  • 4. How long does it take to complete the program?

    The core content—including video, audio, and reading materials—takes approximately 3 hours to complete across all three modules.

    Additional activities, such as quizzes, reflections, and surveys, take about 30 minutes, for a total estimated time of 3.5 hours.

    The program is fully self-paced, and you can progress at your own speed.

  • 5. Is the training live or asynchronous?

    The iCEP Academy is 100% asynchronous and fully online. There are no live sessions, and you can start any time and revisit materials as needed.

    Accessing via Thinkific App:

    You can also access the program through the Thinkific App on your mobile device, allowing you to learn on the go.

  • 6. Do I need to complete the courses in order?

    Yes. The courses are designed to be completed in sequence, as each module builds on the knowledge and context from the previous one.

    The program is fully self-paced, and you can progress at your own speed. You will have 6 months of access from the date of enrollment.
    During this time, you can revisit the content as often as you'd like.
    The self-paced format allows you to learn on your schedule and return to materials when needed. Be sure to complete the modules before the access period ends to fully benefit from the training!

  • 7. Will I receive a certificate of completion?

    Yes. Upon completing all modules and required activities, you will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by ICAway and the iCEP Academy.

  • 8. Why is this training important even if I don’t work in career services or immigration advising?

    International students face unique emotional, cultural, and systemic pressures—especially during transitions like graduation or job searches.

    Even if you don’t directly advise on CPT, OPT, or employment, you may still support students navigating these challenges.

    iCEP prepares all campus partners to respond with cultural empathy and foster student trust and success.

  • 9. How long do I have access to the training?

    You will have 6 months of access from the date of enrollment. During this time, you can revisit the content as often as you'd like. The self-paced format allows you to learn on your schedule and return to materials when needed.

Transforming Advisor Impact for International Student Success