Office of International Education

Michele L. Petrucci, Associate Vice President for International Education and Global Engagement
Emma Archer, Director of International Student and Scholar Services
Ileana Townsend, Director of Education Abroad

IUP’s Office of International Education serves as an umbrella for the university’s many international initiatives, programs, and events. We students at IUP from more than 50 different countries.

The Office of International Education is the primary catalyst for IUP’s international initiatives. The office proactively facilitates, promotes, and organizes international programs, events, support, and initiatives to more fully enrich IUP and local Western Pennsylvania communities. To this end, the OIE:

Facilitates deeper internationalization efforts for our community in collaboration with IUP leadership, faculty and staff.
Develops and maintains international partnerships with institutions, non-profit organizations and government agencies across the world.
Engages in grant and fellowship activities focused on international education in Western Pennsylvania and beyond.
Provides services and programs that help international students, scholars, visitors, and faculty to maintain legal immigration status, adjust to life in the U.S., and facilitate impactful engagement with IUP and the surrounding communities.
Initiates, fosters, and maintains a range of diverse and enriching international exchange and education abroad programs for all students.
Creates faculty-led programs across the disciplines.
Offers quality intensive English programming (traditional semesters and short-term, custom-designed programs (in-person and virtual).
Sponsors and organizes a variety of activities and programs to internationalize campus and the broader community.

Website: www.iup.edu/educationabroad

Through the OIE, IUP students are encouraged to participate in education abroad programs. Students seeking information on academic programs offered by educational institutions abroad are welcome to attend a workshop which provides an overview of the process and opportunities for semester, year and summer study abroad. Students are also welcome to stop by the OIE to read materials or jump online for information. Start planning early with the OIE and your academic advisor to make your dreams of study abroad come true!

Through its established partners (Crimson Exchange), affiliated providers (CEA, ISEP Direct, SAA, and Semester at Sea) and specially designed IUP-Faculty Led Programs, IUP offers academic programs in locations across the world giving students an opportunity to expand their academic perspectives and experience the world first-hand. Visit the OIE to learn more about locations from Argentina to Botswana to England to India to Japan to Spain and beyond!

American Language Institute (ALI)—English Language Programs for International Students and Visitors

Website: www.iup.edu/ali
The American Language Institute (ALI) offers intensive English classes for international students and visitors. The ALI provides courses for students from beginner to advanced proficiency in English. Students at the ALI take 18-24 hours of course work a week, with 14-week semesters in the fall and spring and a seven-week term in the summer. Cocurricular social and cultural programs are offered to all ALI students.

The ALI offers several programs of study to meet the language needs and academic interests of international students:

The English for Academic Purposes program is for applicants preparing for study at a US college or university, exchange students, and individuals in the community who want to improve their English skills.
The ALI Provisional program (ALI-P) is for applicants who plan to study at IUP. This program allows students to receive conditional admission to an undergraduate and several graduate programs at IUP while they study at the ALI to reach the required level of English proficiency.
The ALI Bridge program allows qualified students to take up to two IUP classes while also studying English at the ALI. If students successfully complete nine IUP credits through the Bridge program, the language proficiency test requirement may be waived for undergraduate admission.

The ALI also works with groups and organizations to create programs to meet their students’ schedules and specific language learning needs. Please contact the ALI for more information.