Get Involved

The IESC believes that cross-cultural understanding is an important part of being a citizen of the world. Coffee hour is a time to learn about different cultures from around the world. It is one of the opportunities where international and American students gather to highlight their cultures. Come join us for Coffee Hour!

This organization is an academic and professional society. The society is unique because of its resolutely interdisciplinary and international. Visit the Phi Beta Delta national website and apply to the Omega chapter today!

APPLICATION AND INFORMATION - UPCOMING AND TO BE DETERMINED

About Phi Beta Delta

Phi Beta Delta, founded at California State University, Long Beach in 1986, was established as an organization in 1987 with 38 chartered chapters, many of which had existed for a considerable time previously at the local level. It is the first honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education.

Phi Beta Delta traces its background to the eighteenth-century founding of Phi Beta Kappa. In the nineteenth century, Greek fraternities divided into the social, professional, and academic Greeks. Phi Beta Delta is an academic and professional society, unique because it is resolutely interdisciplinary and international. Its formal organization brought together numerous pre-existing internally-oriented campus groups. Its goals are:

• To recognize the scholarly achievement of international students and scholars, who have studied abroad along with faculty and staff who are involved in international activities
• To serve as a vehicle for the development of academic-based international programming
• To provide a network on each campus of faculty, staff and students involved in international endeavors
• To extend this network to thousands of members in chapters throughout the world

The Greek letters in Phi Beta Delta stand for the following:

• Phi (philomatheia) - love of knowledge;
• Beta (biotremmonia) - valuing of human life; and
• Delta (diapheren) - achieving excellence.

The colors chosen for the honor society were red and gold. Red symbolizes the strength and diversity of humankind and gold is a symbol for the sun from which all people and cultures draw strength and life.

The Crest of the Society was designed with a globe, a torch, the sun, a book and a shield.

The globe represents the international perspective of the Society's members. The torch symbolizes the leadership and influence of the Society. The sun stands for the energy from which all cultures draw strength. The book symbolizes the coining and sharing of knowledge. The shield represents the preservation of academic freedom.

The Society's motto —"Scientia Mutua Mundi" (world's shared knowledge) — is inscribed at the base of the crest.

Opportunities through Phi Beta Delta

How Phi Beta Delta Promotes International Student Integration and Retention

• Creates a network for international students to meet others on campus who are interested in international education thru IESC events (e.g.: International Education Week, SPICE, Coffee Hour and Study Abroad Fair).
• Integrate Phi Beta Delta Members with International Student Association (ISA).
• Scholarship opportunities
• Opportunity to attend the Phi Beta Delta Induction Ceremony

Phi Beta Delta Provides Opportunities to:

• Encourage Phi Beta Delta members to share accomplishments with the IESC and be featured on the IESC’s website and social media.
• Include honor society on the resume

Phi Beta Delta expectations of members:

• Attend the Phi Beta Delta Induction Ceremony
• Achievement and excellence - Students must have a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher (undergraduate), 3.2 or higher (graduate).
• Get involved in on-campus activities
• Share accomplishments with the IESC

Finally, the Omega Chapter of Phi Beta Delta is a resource through:

• Regular communications with members
• Programs and activities that promote international education

For more information, contact Apisda Konkankit, SEVIS Analyst/Involvement Coordinator at apisda.konkankit@csun.edu

Student Panels for an International Curriculum and Education (SPICE) allows international students to present information and share experiences from their home country in CSUN classrooms and with a variety of groups in the community. After students have applied and have been accepted to the program, they will attend a training session and can begin signing up for SPICE presentations.

Do you want to SPICE up your academic experience by helping students learn about different cultural points of view? Apply to be a SPICE panelist! If you are interested in becoming a panelist, contact Rebecca Spector at rebecca.spector@csun.edu.

SPICE is a program sponsored by the International and Exchange Student Center (IESC) at CSUN. The SPICE Program consists of a diverse group of international students who are available to present information on the topics that professors teach in their classes. For each panel presentation, there are typically three international students, each representing a different country, who present information from the perspective of their home country and culture.

Sample presentations

• Intercultural communication: verbal and nonverbal communication in other countries.
• Environmental geology: earthquakes and volcanoes, pollution and water quality.
• Sociology of gender and sex: gender roles and status of women in other countries.
• Health science (women and health): Women's health care in other countries.

Feedback from SPICE student participants

"The program gave me the opportunity to have more public speaking experiences which will lead me to be a better speaker. It also made me aware of other important issues around me and improved my research and analysis skills which are vital in college."
"I had the opportunity to interact with people from different cultural backgrounds and address important issues. This is a good way to gain a better understanding of how to work in an international environment."

If you are interested in learning more about the SPICE program, contact Rebecca Spector at rebecca.spector@csun.edu today!

Testimonials

Thanks for sending the panel, they were wonderful. The students loved it. I had Aaron Robinson from Car and Driver Magazine out Tuesday. The SPICE panel was a bigger hit. Aaron brought props — a car and a Lexus replica. The panel did a great job.
—Professor Michelle Hofmann

Thank you for a tremendous program! These speakers were the best student speakers I've ever had in any class. The students enjoyed this very much.
—Professor George Lough

The speakers this morning were GREAT! The SPICE input was very valuable.
—Professor Janet Marquard-Tormey

I think the SPICE Program is an amazing program. They all had great and interesting stories to tell about their cultures and also were all very proud to be part of the program. I think the most common comment I heard from my students was "I wasn't aware of that". I will definitely continue to request presentations for my class.
—Professor Samar Makarem

I thought the presentations were awesome and I could tell that my students loved them as well. They were very open, very honest, and allowed us to ask whatever we wanted. I'm definitely asking SPICE to come back to my classes. What an unexpected treat!
—Professor Frankie Augustin

The students and I really appreciated the SPICE presentation, because we learned so much from the panel. I've never seen my students so engaged during a presentation! It was a great experience for everyone and I will definitely have the SPICE panel return in the future.
—Professor Sally Kassamanian

My class thoroughly enjoyed the three presenters from India, Tibet and Peru. Each presenter highlighted the unique characteristics of their home culture and made interesting connections to their worlds and the U.S. My students were thoroughly engaged in the discussions and inspired by their courage to come and share their experiences with us. Thank you so much for this program—it is wonderful!
—Professor Lisa Riccomini

All three of the speakers that came to my class for the SPICE presentation were beyond outstanding! This was the best SPICE panel I've ever had in a class, by far. My students learned so much.
—Professor Bridget Sampson

The International Students Community (ISC) is a registered student organization at CSUN. The main aim of ISC is to provide International students with the opportunity to experience and appreciate different cultures and promote international friendship. They encourage everyone, including American students interested in world culture, to join.

They organize a number of cultural, social and recreational events that give students the opportunity to interact with a variety of cultures, further enriching their college experience. The events include international movie nights, dance nights, soccer, barbecues and more.

If you're interested in joining the International Student Community, please visit the CSUN ISC Facebook page.

Campus resources to help you engage with the CSUN community. https://www.csun.edu/student-success/student-engagement-support

CSUN with a HEART
Addressing Hunger/Homeless and Emergency needs with Assistance and Resources Together

CSUN Food Pantry
Provides emergency nourishment and basic necessities at no cost to CSUN students, faculty, and staff. Supplies food and offers food program assistance to those who are without reliable access to affordable, nutritious food.

Housing Instability Project
A listing of resources available to help and support students who may be experiencing homelessness and are looking for housing services.

University Counseling Services
Provides a variety of free short term counseling services to students, including individual counseling, crisis intervention, group and workshops, and psychiatric consultation.