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 the University of North Carolina Greensboro, 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.
The Graduate Pathway Program provides qualified international students the opportunity to earn master’s degrees from UNC Greensboro and have a transformative study abroad experience. Over the period of 12 months, students take a combination of language and academic courses together with individualized advising and tailored cultural and career development activities. This purposeful graduate study and language enrichment leads to meaningful engagement, both during and after their graduate study.
Lu Fan, class of Spring 2020
Because of my poor English speaking ability, I was afraid to communicate with my teachers and classmates, and sometimes I even dared not make too much eye contact. But with the encouragement of teachers and various opportunities for exercise, my confidence and English speaking ability gradually improved. Now I have adapted to the American culture and no longer worry about daily communication with teachers and classmates. Instead, now I enjoy sharing my ideas with others.
Experience by the Numbers
280+
Students recruited to UNCG
150
Average program contact hours
25
Average enrichment activities per year
120+
Experiential learning modules and workshops developed
1:5
Average advisor to student ratio
10+
Years of partnership with UNC Greensboro
University Benefits
Increased institutional reputation overseas
Streamlined recruitment & enrollment process
Maximized intercultural student engagement
Holistic international student success
Student Benefits
Increased confidence and self-efficacy
Streamlined academic empowerment
Maximized campus and cultural acclimation
Enhanced English communication skills
Advising
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.
Student Life
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.
Seminar
Designed and taught by seasoned and passionate international educators, UPP seminars reveal aspects of US culture that students may not have considered relevant to achieving success during their transition.
Interests-driven topics and small group settings provide a safe space for inquiry, dialogue and reflection for students to navigate their new environment.
Out-of-class experiences and trips enrich the seminar experience with new layers of communicative challenge, interaction, and contemplation.
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.
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.
Foundational Services
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.