The University Performance Program (UPP) is an individualized student-advising and development system tailored for first-year international students. Co-designed by New Mind Education and North Carolina State University, UPP’s goal is to help international students become fully-acclimated, achieve holistic success, and turn their study abroad journey into a transformative experience. New Mind’s curriculum-based approach and experienced advisors help international students to become engaged learners and to develop the skills needed to achieve success.
1-on-1 Coaching
Students attend advising sessions to recognize their unique strengths, enhance problem-solving skills, and explore specific issues.
Our plans are student-centered and facilitated through a personal advisor using a rich archive of resources that includes activities and instruction to develop global-competency skills.
Individuals walk away knowing more about who they are and where they want to go in the future with a personal development plan. UPP’s purposeful curriculum and low advisor-to-student ratio puts the focus on each individual student’s growth.
Enrichment
American university experiences should be more than sitting at a desk and studying. Each semester, UPP offers students a series of curated activities to increase their access to communities, explore new interests, interact with diverse groups, and give back by sharing their culture and volunteering their time.
The program's events and activities that provide opportunities for students to build their confidence, openness, communication, resilience, and connection to local culture.
The five areas of focus are: increased access to the community, exposure to new experiences, application of knowledge learned in class, interaction with diverse groups, and giving back through community outreach.
Major & Career
UPP provides students with opportunities to engage in self-exploration and to visit local research labs and companies.
With interests and strengths being honed and developing comprehensive college plans, students are empowered to become better prepared to succeed in an increasingly globalized environment.
Our program helps students explore opportunities, provides them with guidance on how to find their unique interests and strengths, and helps them make a career plan.
Educational Field Trips
Each semester, UPP invites students to explore the cultural and geographic magnificence of their host region through our Field Trips.
At the heart of each trip are student-focused activities. Each experience has a different curricular focus based on individual student needs, and topics range from openness to US history, slavery, and racism.
On-Boarding
Cultural immersion is a process, and no one should face it alone. UPP provides foundational services to ensure international students’ basic needs are met.
By offering services, including room and board, insurance, transportation, and others, UPP helps to alleviate stress and facilitate a smooth cultural transition.
When international students move to a foreign country, it is crucial to get familiarized with the surrounding environment.
The ultimate goal is to empower students to develop life skills while living abroad so they can grow socially and academically.
Invoice Comments
UPP Programming Fees covers 1-on-1 coaching, academic support, major exploration, and career/personal development for two semesters. Coaching and support topics include critical skills such as academic writing, learning habits, effective communication, independent problem-solving, and critical thinking. Program also provides individualized language support to support students’ academic success.
Health Insurance covers two semesters of tailored international student health insurance coverage with up to $2,000,000 medical expense coverage. (Please refer to your insurance card for specific coverage details. ) It also includes immunization, travel insurance, medical-related support,mental-health and emergency support from UPP staff.
Extended Orientation is a signature UPP program component that includes personalized pre-arrival communication, onboarding workshops, airport pickup, banking, cellphone, and other key services setup, as well as coaching sessions after the university orientation to enable independent and healthy living on and off campus.
Enrichment is a series of curated, high-impact experiences to foster culture exploration, leadership development, and overall well-being. Past experiences include attending sporting events, volunteering, cultural and arts festivals, capstone projects, language exchange, company visits, and field trips.
International Student Fee is a mandatory fee charged only for the first year.
Testimonials
