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International Student Services

Providing a welcoming, empowering environment that encourages a diverse college community to become the next generation of global citizens.

The mission of the International Student Services & Programs Department at Red Rocks Community College is to provide a welcoming, empowering environment that encourages a diverse college community to become the next generation of global citizens. This is achieved through quality English language programming, inter-cultural and academic advising, co-curricular experiences, and pathways to bridge cultural-linguistic barriers. We build an accepting respectful community which is passionately committed to academic success. 

Our department offers many services and programs for the community as well as both international and resident students. Our staff offers friendly, helpful International Student Services to help you with all your educational needs. We open our campuses to the world and open the world to our campuses. We are glad you have chosen Red Rocks, and we are happy to assist you in any way we can! RRCC is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Summer Study Camp for International Students

  • The Summer Study Camp is an opportunity to explore academic and career paths in the sciences while becoming familiar with US customs and culture, and improving English skills. We also include a variety of exciting outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer. Programs are offered in two-week to eight-week sessions, which can be customized to meet your specific goals. Traditional classroom and outdoor activities combine to create an exciting learning experience.

We offer a support system for international students as well as students interested in study abroad opportunities. Below are a few of the many types of support we provide:

International Student Support

Additional Information

Red Rocks Community College offers transformative travel study opportunities that blend accredited academic coursework with co-curricular travel. Faculty from various departments organize trips for their students to offer real-life learning opportunities. Class credit is generally offered to fulfill a general education requirement.

Both international and domestic travel study opportunities are available. A list of upcoming trips for can be found on our Academic Travel page.

For general Student Academic Travel/Study Abroad inquiries, please contact the Academic Affairs department at RRCC:

Janet Gonzales
janet.gonzales@rrcc.edu
Program Assistant
303.914.6402

Ten Points to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa

  1. TIES TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY: Under U.S. law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas, such as student visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States. "Ties" to your home country are the things that bind you to your home town, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans and career prospects in your home country. Each person's situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter which can guarantee visa issuance. If you have applied for the U.S. Green Card Lottery, you may be asked if you are intending to immigrate. A simple answer would be that you applied for the lottery since it was available but not with a specific intent to immigrate. If you overstayed your authorized stay in the U.S. previously, be prepared to explain what happened clearly and concisely, with documentation if available.
  2. ENGLISH: Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview, but do NOT prepare speeches! If you are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home country.
  3. SPEAK FOR YOURSELF: Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf. If you are a minor applying for a high school program and need your parents there is case there are questions, for example about funding, they should wait in the waiting room.
  4. KNOW THE PROGRAM AND HOW IT FITS YOUR CAREER PLANS: If you are not able to articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the U.S. relates to your future professional career when you return home.
  5. BE BRIEF: Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer's questions short and to the point.
  6. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION: It should be immediately clear to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you're lucky.
  7. NOT ALL COUNTRIES ARE EQUAL: Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the US as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the U.S.
  8. EMPLOYMENT: Your main purpose in coming to the United States should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the U.S. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the U.S. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.
  9. DEPENDENTS REMAINING AT HOME: If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that your family will need you to remit money from the United States in order to support themselves, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.
  10. MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE: Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.

OFFICE PHONE NUMBER : 303.914.6416
OFFICE E-MAIL : international@rrcc.edu

OUR LOCATION: 

Find us in the International Student Services & Programs office (Room 1231) at the Red Rocks Community College Lakewood Campus. Please contact us to make appointments, as we cannot always accommodate drop-ins. You can most easily find us by coming in through the East Entrance or the Main Entrance and asking the information desk for directions.We are on the main floor in the glass office space. Parking at the east lot, main lot, and south lot is free. Note: parking permit required at the Water Quality building.

Ana Carolina Gutierrez, Director

AnaCarolina.Gutierrez@rrcc.edu
303.914.6415

International Student Services Support Specialist, Designated School Official for the Student Exchange Visitor Program, and Passport Acceptance Agent

I am happy to have you at Red Rocks Community College! I’m here to help guide you and serve as an advocate for you throughout the admissions process, enrollment, acclimating to college in the USA, studying here, graduation, OPT, and everything in between. I can also offer support for study abroad including helping you apply for a passport. I love working with our English language learners and seeing how our students come in with basic English skills to succeeding in college level classes taught in English.

I have my Master’s degree in International Development with a Certificate in International Law and Human Rights. I have worked as a legal assistant with immigration attorneys and I have also been a case manager for undergraduate students experiencing times of crisis. I have studied and completed internships and other study abroad opportunities in multiple countries including the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Panama, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Cambodia, and India. I know living in another country and engaging in a different school system can be both amazing and challenging. I would love to do everything I can to help you make the most out of your time here. I love dogs, karate, food, and spending time with my family. My family is from Mexico and Puerto Rico, but I grew up in Colorado and would love to help you navigate life here. I look forward to getting to know you this year!

Map to RRCC Lakewood Campus

Global Initiatives

International Café

"Rock Talks"

Interactive discussions about current and developing issues around the world. We approach these topics with an emphasis on peace building, understanding and tolerance.  Speakers come from a range of backgrounds to share their expertise and facilitate an open exchange of thoughts, perceptions, ideas and solutions.

Global Conversation Partners

Join us for enthusiastic conversations with International Students to help improve their conversation skills, insights into American culture, and discussions about current events, novels, idiomatic expressions, etc.  Native speakers can learn about other languages and cultural expressions!

International News & Events

Interesting and exciting international event coverage! From major international news events to the World Cup and International Jazz Day, we regularly provide the opportunity for all Red Rocks students to be knowledgeable of important international events.  Students are able to participate and interact with other students, creating greater global awareness and a sense of community.

Faculty Exchange

An exchange program that fosters internationalization efforts of RRCC and the modern world. We host select instructors from international colleges and universities to provide students with a "global" perspective. A selection of RRCC instructors also perform the same role in the colleges and universities with whom we have exchange programs.

International Visitors

The International Student Services & Programs department regularly host visitors from other countries as a way of continuing the development of our global opportunities. This also allows RRCC to expand its working relationships with international colleges and universities, as well as many other government supported programs.

Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Seeks to get More Community Colleges Involved in Exchanges

The U.S. State Department is doing more to make sure that faculty members and others from community colleges benefit from the Fulbright exchange program, with the goal of getting more international perspectives into community-college campuses and classrooms. To read the article: click here.

In The News

Merri Mattison

This photograph was taken as part of Merri Mattison’s trip to Uganda and Rwanda, May 17–June 2, 2016. Dr. Mattison was in Africa for professional development and future study abroad opportunities. To the left, Eric, the former Headmaster of the school that rehabilitated child soldiers in Lira Uganda. To the right, Betty, former child soldier, stolen by Joseph Kony and the LRA when she was 12 or 13 and forced to work as one of his body guards until she was able to escape some 3.5 years later. Thank you Merri for all the great work you have done and for representing Red Rocks Community College!

International educators to study Colorado college-workforce links

Fulbright Program Seeks to Get More Community Colleges Involved in Exchanges

The U.S. State Department is doing more to make sure that faculty members and others from community colleges benefit from the Fulbright exchange program, with the goal of getting more international perspectives into community-college campuses and classrooms. To read the article: click here.

International Students' Stories

Uma Situala

My name is Uma Situala, and I was born and raised in one of the remote centers of Nepal where the access to quality education was not very easy. My parents sent me to the United States to further my education in the field of nursing. With this in mind, I joined Red Rocks community College two years ago to complete the pre-requisites of Bachelors of Science in Nursing. After being in RRCC for considerably long period of time studying and working, I feel like I made the right decision to choose Red Rocks as a passageway to my career path.

In 2008, when a natural disaster in Nepal threatened my family’s ability to support me, I had lost my hope of getting education in this foreign land, but it was with the help of our International advisor and coordinator, I was able to not only continue my education, but also maintain a 4.0 GPA and win awards and scholarships. Their support, encouragement, and supervision laid a foundation to succeed in many ways. In addition to competent and quality education, I never felt like I was away from my home. With all my experiences at RRCC, I must say that RRCC is the best place for international students to start education. I am graduating this semester, but I will miss RRCC staff and faculty whom I have considered my family.

Cindy Amaya

My name is Cindy Amaya, and I am from Mexico. I am twenty years old, and I am a student at Red Rocks Community College. I moved to Denver in August 2005, but for many reasons, I could not study English. Then in 2008, I went back to Mexico and stayed there for almost one year. After I came back, I really wanted to go to college to get a business degree, but I thought that I was never going to be able to study business because I could not communicate with other people in English.

When I came to Red Rocks for information, they told me that they have ESL classes. I felt nervous about attending, but my family and husband convinced me. When I got to my classroom, I was surprised to see a lot of people from many different countries facing the same difficulties as me. As the days passed, I felt more comfortable because I had really good classmates and wonderful teachers that helped me a lot. Now after seven months of classes, I feel a lot better because I am able to understand and speak with people in English. I feel very lucky to be here because here I have found the help I need and the teachers and friends that really care about you. I feel very happy because I am completing the most important step to later get my business degree.

Josue Nduwa Mushidi

My name is Josue NDUWA MUSHIDI. I came to Colorado in August 2008 from the Congo (Dem. Rep. of). I decided to go to Colorado School of Mines when I heard it was a great engineering school. So I started my studies at Red Rocks Community College with the English as a Second Language program because the Congo is a French country. Then I found out that I could take some science classes and that I could transfer the credits over to Colorado School of Mines and in that case I wouldn’t have to take those classes again. After my studies here at Red Rocks Community College, I will transfer to Colorado School of Mines in the Metallurgy and Material department.

Solomon Assefa

My name is Solomon Assefa, I was born as a first child to my parents in a small town in Ethiopia. My parents always wanted the best for their kids so we moved to the capital when I was just 10 years old. From then on, I was admitted into one of the best private schools in the nation where I spent most of my childhood and youth years. It was with the intent of a good education that my parents sent me to study in the US. I must say they haven’t failed.

When I first came here, Red Rocks was just a passageway to a better school that I had in mind. But, it has surpassed my expectations and given me a quality and competitive education. Red Rocks not only offered me with personalized attention and small class size, but also helped me shape my future. I was able to realize my potential and aim higher here. But most of all, I was welcomed and felt at home all the time.