[Intl-stu] International Student Cultural Awareness

[International Students]

Dear International Students:



Today I'd like to address you in a way that I seldom do--as a community of students.  This is appropriate because the campus community regards you as an important component of the Texas A&M University-Commerce family.



Recently, President and Mrs. Keck sponsored a dinner in honor of our international students, as a way of demonstrating how important you are to enriching our community of student, staff and faculty and to extend our collective thanks that you chose to study here with us in Commerce.  Students responded robustly as 137 indicated they would attend--sadly, only 35-40 actually showed up.  While we might have hoped for a better showing, the circumstances nonetheless provide an opportunity for a cultural lesson: the importance of the RSVP in American culture.  I should stress that this correspondence is intended to be merely educative in nature.  The Kecks were delighted to host the students who attended and remain so.  President Keck, as a decades-long educator does, however, consider this a great opportunity to do what this University does best--to teach and enlighten, which can only help as your respective lives and careers advance here in the U.S..



When you are invited to attend a function and asked to RSVP, that generally means the host(s) is relying on the accuracy of your response to adequately plan the event to ensure proper space is available to accommodate the crowd size and enough food and beverages are on hand. This is not only a matter of proper deportment, but can also be distilled to a common denominator we can all understand--money.



In American culture, the RSVP is regarded as an important protocol, one not to be taken lightly.  If you respond either positively or negatively, i.e., that you either can or cannot attend, then that is what you have committed to do.  Circumstances do, of course change, and should that occur, then you should contact the host(s) to indicate your circumstances have changed.



I am sending along this correspondence because the event President and Mrs. Keck hosted for you is not the first time this has occurred since my arrival to campus--but we should endeavor to make it the last.  When invited to an event and asked to RSVP, be considerate and respond accurately and live up to what you have committed to do.



Best wishes for continued success as the fall semester progresses.



Respectfully,



Jacques L. Fuqua, Jr.
Executive Director, Global Programs Office


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