Global Tide & International Peer Advisory Council (IPAC)

GLOBAL TIDE

What is Global Tide?

Global Tide is a mentorship program comprised of IPAC members and new international students. These small groups pair IPAC mentor-leaders and mentees.

Through Global Tide, we hope new international students will learn about the UA campus, make new friends, learn about resources at UA and in the community, and become better adjusted to life in Tuscaloosa. Groups attend on-campus activities, such as International Coffee Hour and events happening in the local area.

Are you interested in being a part of Global Tide?

The Global Tide Mentorship program is meant for new International Students attending UA for the first time. If you are an incoming student to UA for the 2025–26 Academic Year and want to be paired with a mentor, please complete our sign-up form.

If you are a current student either international or domestic and would like to serve as a mentor-leader and become a member of IPAC, you can find more information below about joining IPAC.

INTERNATIONAL PEER ADVISORY COUNCIL

What is IPAC?
Begun in 2005, the International Peer Advisory Council (IPAC) is a volunteer-based organization designed to assist international students at UA with cultural adjustment and to provide an opportunity for intercultural exchange among UA students, both international and domestic.

We are looking for full-time undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in engaging with students.

Applications to join IPAC for 2026-27 will open in January 2026 – Deadline is March 6, 2026

IPAC Member Requirements Per Semester

• Events
  • IPAC members must attend at least two (2) non-coffee hour ISSS events per semester.
  • IPAC Members must sign up for a shift at four (4) different coffee hours during each semester for the 2026-2027 school year.
  • While working at ISSS events, members are expected to wear their Global Tide/IPAC shirts and nametags.
  • It is preferred that IPAC members come to ISSS events whenever possible and encourage their Global Tide groups to attend as well.
  • If by the end of a semester, it doesn’t appear that an IPAC member can complete the previously stated expectations, it is the responsibility of the IPAC member to contact the International Programs Coordinator to discuss a plan of recourse.
• Global Tide mentors are expected to:
  • Attend the Global Tide meet and greet at the start of each semester.
  • Reach out to each member of their mentorship group two times per semester.
  • Complete the Global Tide Mentee Report each month
  • Attend a 1-on-1 meeting each semester with a member of the professional programming staff at ISSS.

• Be a current full-time, undergraduate or graduate student at The University of Alabama.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Have an interest in helping international students.
• Be available to assist with social events throughout the academic year.
• Be available for IPAC Training at start of academic year.
• Be available on Fridays during an International Coffee Hour shift between the times of 11:15 am – 12:15 pm or 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm.
• This position is for a single academic year.

OUR CURRENT IPAC TEAM