International Academic English (IAE) will join with Global Affairs in a phased transition beginning in August. IAE delivers several programs that prepare non-native English speakers for academic and professional success. The merger with Global Affairs offers IAE expanded opportunities to serve the international and multi-lingual community at UC Davis and support Global Affairs’ mission to “inspire global curiosity, understanding, and engagement.”

“We have been working with Global Affairs for years, so in a way, this feels like a natural transition,” said Dawn Takaoglu, director of IAE. “So much of our work, from coaching and community building to language and culture, aligns with the core of Global Affairs’ values. My team and I look forward to connecting more with the campus community and continuing to evolve programs, including launching support for postdocs.”

IAE serves over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students annually through several hallmark programs.

Undergraduate programs include Summer Start and the Pal Program. Summer Start serves around 15% of pre-matriculating international first-year students, offering on average eight to 10 units for six and a half weeks as students acclimate to Northern California and adjust to a fast-paced quarter system. The Pal Program pairs students for a culture and language exchange, offering students an opportunity to learn from each other, make friends and have meaningful intercultural experiences.

For graduate students, the Language and Culture Coaching Program supports current and prospective teaching assistants (TAs) with developing oral communication skills for the classroom and beyond. Students receive personalized training and guidance, including one-on-one support from an undergraduate coach. Most of the students served by this program will apply the skills honed in this program in teaching and research roles at UC Davis. IAE also administers the Test of Oral English Proficiency, an exam to determine the language proficiency of potential TAs and associate instructors through a 20-minute classroom simulation.

“After partnering for many years, welcoming IAE to Global Affairs is very exciting. These programs are fantastic resources for international and multi-lingual students at UC Davis, and its expert staff is passionate about their work. We are eager to more formally support these efforts and find new ways to align IAE’s programming within Global Affairs,” said Joanna Regulska, vice provost and dean of Global Affairs.

Global Affairs encourages and supports global thinking and learning throughout UC Davis by welcoming thousands of international students and scholars, offering students global learning experiences, and supporting faculty with international partnerships for research and other pursuits. The office is an ideal home for IAE. Not only do IAE programs prepare students to lead in an interconnected world, but they also support a more global campus for the entire UC Davis community.

“IAE programs have years of success helping students acclimate to campus, build community, engage interculturally, develop language proficiency and develop lifelong skills for their careers. We look forward to continuing this work together,” said Michael Lazzara, associate vice provost of Academic Programs and Partnerships in Global Affairs.

About Global Affairs at UC Davis

Global Affairs brings the world to UC Davis, welcoming more than 10,000 international students, scholars and leaders, and hosting programs that inspire global curiosity, understanding and engagement. Compelled by the valuable outcomes of thinking globally, we make transformative opportunities a reality by supporting the thousands of students and faculty learning and researching globally—and by facilitating collaborations that tackle the world’s most pressing challenges through more than 150 global partnerships.

Putting our vision of a UC Davis community that engages, thrives, and leads in this interconnected world into action, Global Affairs is in pursuit of an ambitious goal: Global Education for All.