b'Exchange Visitor Services Creating a welcoming setting to advance UFs research and teaching collaborations worldwideVISITOR SERVICESA s all other units on-campus,are hopeful that the Student-Intern Exchange Visitors Servicescategory will become an excellent (EVS) is actively preparing andtool to help increase our numbers and adjusting for a post-pandemic reality.foster the internationalization of the Although we still have fewer thanUF campus. normal scholars, a greater percentageFaced with the challenges of of them are post-doctoral scholars,serving our populations virtually, evidencing the constant interestEVS created new resources to address from highly qualified internationalvisitors needs and concerns while researchers in joining the University ofstill providing virtual opportunities Florida. for cultural exchange. Other resources In contrast to some countries stillcontinued to be developed and updated facing severe health emergenciesduring this time, such as a regularly (including those that source most ofupdated list where we provide our scholars, such as Brazil, China,answers to COVID-19 frequently asked and India), other nations are makingquestions, with official information significant improvements in theirfrom UF, local, national, and public health area. Following thoseinternational authorities. In addition, improvements, we expect additionalEVS developed an optional orientation travel bans to be relaxed shortly, sothat covers various cultural norms and we can resume hosting J-1 visitorshelpful information for life in the U.S. in the Student-Intern category. WeThis orientation resource expands on previous materials to fill in knowledge gaps, reduce culture shock, and support visitor success.Increased use of Zoom and other digital platforms has enabled us to have face-to-face conversations with scholars even before they arrive, allowing us to provide full-circle support for our visitors, even during their visa application. It has also significantly improved our visitors access to the J-1 orientation. These improvements allow us to conduct orientations with scholars located at other UF campuses across the state, and around the world.4 |GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT REPORT 2021|Celebrating 30 Years!'