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Students on campus during the global student orientation

Graduate Orientation

Join us at the Spring 2019 New Global Student Orientation on January 11, 2019! This orientation is free, but you must register for it by January 4, 2019.

Register Now

Next Steps

  1. View the Global Graduate Student Orientation Schedule
  2. Sign up for Department Orientation
  3. Sign up for a Campus Tour

Global Student Orientation Schedule

Friday, January 11, 2019

Time
 		Event
 Location
9–9:15 a.m.

 Orientation Check In

Come to Lehman Board Dining Room to check in with Global Student Programs and Development (GSPD). You will be greeted by GSPD Staff and with some refreshments. Upon checking in, you will receive:

  • Name Tag
  • Welcome Gift
  • GSPD Information Brochure
 Lehman Board Dining Room (2nd level of Metzger Building)
9:15–9:30 a.m. Welcome to GSPD 
You will be introduced to the GSPD Team and Biola Staff members. 		Lehman Board Dining Room (2nd level of Metzger Building)
9:30–10:30 a.m. New Student Welcome & Cultural Transitions 
Each new student will be welcomed and invited into a discussion on cultural transitions. 		Lehman Board Dining Room (2nd level of Metzger Building)
10:30–11:15 a.m. Immigration & Visa Information
Our Immigration Specialist, Ranjini will be leading this informational session about all the things you would need to know as an F-1 Visa student. 		Lehman Board Dining Room (2nd level of Metzger Building)
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Navigating Biola as an International Student
  • Learn more about the global student community at Biola. 
  • Hear current global graduate students share about their experiences
  • Time of Prayer
 Lehman Board Dining Room (2nd level of Metzger Building)
12:15–1:30 p.m. Lunch

Enjoy a time of food and fellowship. At this lunch, you will mingle with fellow new students as well as staff members who will serve as supportive connections and resources during your time at Biola. After lunch, we will walk to the GSPD lounge where each student will pick up their official GSPD T-shirt and launch into our journey together with a group picture! 

Café Dining Hall

Department Orientation

Attend the orientation for your program to learn about academic advising, beginning classes, orientation activities and more. View graduate student orientation information to find out times and dates for each school's orientation activities.

Campus Tour

Schedule a visit! At Biola, we recommend you tour the campus, visit GSPD Office and meet with GSPD Staff. The campus visit is meant to be customized to meet your needs. Please register for a campus tour during orientation.

GSPD provides two special campus tours:

Category 1: Morning Campus Tour Lunch Special (11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.)

Time
 		Event
11–11:10 a.m.

 Campus Tour Check-In & Meeting GSPD Team
Come to the Global Student Office in Mosaic Cultural to meet GSPD Staff
11:10–11:30 a.m. Campus Life Information
  • Library, Health Insurance, Gym, Student I.D.

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Campus Tour

12:30–1:30 p.m.

Lunch at Biola Cafeteria

Category 2: Afternoon Campus Tour Coffee Special (2–4:30 p.m.)

Time
 		Event
2–2:10 p.m. Campus Tour Check-In & Meeting GSPD Team
Come to the Global Student Office in Mosaic Cultural to meet GSPD Staff

2:10–2:30 p.m.

Campus Life Information
  • Library, Health Insurance, Gym, Student I.D
2:30–3:30 p.m. Campus Tour
3:30–4:30 p.m. Coffee Break at the Heritage Café

Sam Svensson

Meet Your Global Graduate Coordinator

We would like to introduce you to your Global Graduate Coordinator, Sam Svensson. He will be a great resource for you as you are transitioning into Biola.

Sam was born and raised in Sweden, and lived there until he moved to the United States to attend Biola in 2014. Before moving to the United States, Sam spent nine months in Tanzania doing an internship with a local church. He served as a youth worship pastor, a church planter, Swedish teacher and refugee resettlement specialist.

Besides GSPD, Sam also currently works in Biola’s International Admission Department where he has worked since his second semester of undergraduate studies. Sam finished his undergrad degree at Biola’s Cook School of Intercultural Studies and is currently pursuing a masters degree in Linguistics and Biblical languages. His goal is to work in Bible translation wherever God wants him in the future. As a global graduate student coordinator, he helps global graduate students with transitional services and community building.

If you have any questions at any point, please do not hesitate to contact us at globalstudentservices@biola.edu.