The International Students Union (ISU), formerly the International Students Board (ISB) and the International Students Programming Board (ISPB), is an organization dedicated to promoting dialogue and international awareness at Cornell. ISU achieves this by hosting and programming international events, as well as funding and co-sponsoring cultural organizations and internationally oriented activities. ISU also strives to provide a voice for the international community, and to communicate issues faced by international students on campus to the administration and to the rest of Cornell. ISU encourages students to approach the organization with any potential ideas or concerns that are relevant to the Cornell international community. While ISU does not take political stances on issues, the organization strives to defend and support the rights of all international students on campus. The International Students Union (ISU) serves a crucial role in representing the international student population as well as fostering cross-cultural awareness and diversity on campus. ISSO statistics depict an increasing trend in Cornell’s international enrollment; in 2016, 22.5% of Cornell’s total admissions was comprised of international students, as compared to 21.23% in 2015 and 20.1% in 2014. In addition, there were over 320 international and cultural groups (representing over 30% of total organizations registered at Cornell University). An internationally focused organization is therefore essential to promoting international and cultural education on a campus that is becoming increasingly global.
