WHAT: It’s an international exchange—right on the University of Iowa campus. UI students from U.S. states will “buddy up” with UI students from other countries in a unique program to share cultural experiences and help international students at the UI assimilate into campus life.

The program, at the UI Tippie College of Business, pairs international and domestic business and pre-business undergraduate students for a semester-long partnership.

The International Buddies at Tippie initiative, now in its second semester, kicks off on Friday, Sept. 19, during which student buddies will meet each other for the first time.

WHEN: 4-5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19

WHERE: Pappajohn Business Building, ground floor gallerias, 21 E. Market St., UI campus

BACKGROUND: According to Jennifer Blair, assistant director of global community engagement at the Tippie College of Business, interest in International Buddies at Tippie has grown nearly 46 percent over last semester. This semester, 164 new buddies signed up for the program—82 international and 82 domestic students. About two-thirds of the new domestic buddies are first-year students and part of the UI’s largest and most diverse class in history. In spring 2014, 112 buddies participated in the program.

The group is organized by the Global Engagement Student Advisory Board, a 14-member group providing recommendations to the Undergraduate Program Office at Tippie about undergraduate internationalization efforts.