{"681667":{"#nid":"681667","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Expands BuzzCard Access to Online International Students ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Expands BuzzCard Access to Online International Students\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn alignment with Georgia Tech\u2019s 2024 goal to assess the needs of various student populations and implement changes that enhance holistic success and belonging, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.buzzcard.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBuzzCard\u003C\/a\u003E center within the cabinet of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/students.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EStudent Engagement and Well-being\u003C\/a\u003E has launched a pilot program to provide BuzzCards* to international students enrolled in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/omscs.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EOnline Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS)\u003C\/a\u003E program. Beginning in Fall 2024, a test group of OMSCS international students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), India, Singapore, and South Korea received their official Georgia Tech BuzzCards via international shipping.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor years, the BuzzCard has been an essential part of the Georgia Tech student experience, providing identification, access to campus services, and a tangible connection to the Institute. With more than 3,000 international students currently enrolled in OMSCS out of a total of over 16,000 students enrolled this semester, the need for a more global solution is apparent. Recognizing this, Jennifer Rocke (Operations Manager for the BuzzCard team) and Ana Mary Rusch (Associate Director of Learner Engagement and Student Life for OMSCS) collaborated with leadership to ensure that online students worldwide could benefit from the same sense of belonging as their on-campus peers. They also cited the collaborative efforts from Michael Teed, Manager of Georgia Tech\u2019s Printing and Copying Services, as another integral part in the success of this test project. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe BuzzCard Center has produced and shipped over 11,050 cards to students within the United States which reflects a 75.5% increase since the program\u2019s inception in 2017,\u201d said Rocke. \u201cWe are looking forward to this partnership with OMSCS to service students based outside of the U.S. starting in the fall of 2025.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis initiative is part of a broader effort to bridge the gap between online and in-person experiences for Georgia Tech students. By offering BuzzCard distribution internationally, the Institute strengthens its commitment to fostering a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/strategicplan.gatech.edu\/focus\/global\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eglobal community\u003C\/a\u003E where every student\u2014regardless of location\u2014feels fully integrated into the Georgia Tech experience.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We\u0027ve always been proud of the fact that our online offerings are equal to on-campus\u2014they grant the same degree with the same rigor and prestige,\u0022 said David Joyner, Executive Director of OMSCS \u0026amp; Online Education and Associate Dean for Off-Campus \u0026amp; Special Initiatives. \u0022This effort further emphasizes that at Georgia Tech, there aren\u0027t \u2018in-person\u2019 students and \u2018online\u2019 students\u2014there are just Georgia Tech students.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe international shipping pilot program will be closely monitored, with the possibility of expansion to additional countries based on demand and logistical success. Georgia Tech is one of the few universities pioneering this level of inclusion for online students, further solidifying its reputation as a leader in global education.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn support of Georgia Tech\u2019s 2024 goal to enhance student belonging and success, the BuzzCard Center has initiated a pilot program to provide BuzzCards to international students enrolled in the Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) program. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between online and in-person experiences by offering OMSCS students a tangible connection to the Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech has launched a pilot program to deliver BuzzCards to international OMSCS students, strengthening global student inclusion and connection to campus life."}],"uid":"35052","created_gmt":"2025-04-08 16:26:29","changed_gmt":"2025-04-09 13:46:56","author":"mcarter80","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-08T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-08T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676790":{"id":"676790","type":"image","title":"DSC_0263.JPG","body":null,"created":"1744129615","gmt_created":"2025-04-08 16:26:55","changed":"1744129615","gmt_changed":"2025-04-08 16:26:55","alt":"a photo of a BuzzCard in front of the international flags in Smithgall\u0027s atrium","file":{"fid":"260629","name":"DSC_0263.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/08\/DSC_0263_0.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/08\/DSC_0263_0.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":9417642,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/08\/DSC_0263_0.JPG?itok=40ikcFYu"}}},"media_ids":["676790"],"groups":[{"id":"494211","name":"BuzzCard"},{"id":"1182","name":"General"},{"id":"652360","name":"Student Engagement and Well-Being"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"7834","name":"BuzzCard"},{"id":"173330","name":"BuzzCard Center"},{"id":"121521","name":"OMSCS"},{"id":"1808","name":"graduate students"},{"id":"186263","name":"online community"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}