Regional Connection Groups (RCG) for New International Undergraduates
Connect with other new huskies, living internationally, in your region.
Regional Connection Groups (RCG) is a seven-week engagement program to connect you virtually with other new international huskies in your region. The program also offers a series of small-group interactive Zoom sessions to help you transition to UW.
RCG Goals
By participating in RCG you will:
- Connect with other huskies from the same area and create a community before you arrive on campus
- Develop a college mindset that values communication and critical thinking
- Have access to a trained Peer Connection Leader (PCL) who will support your transition to UW and will help you build a support system for college success
- Have some fun!
Program Information & Schedule
- In June 2024, you will receive an email from fyp@uw.edu, inviting you to join a preset chat group via a social media app commonly used in your region (WeChat, Line, WhatsApp, Kakao, and Messenger). Each group consists of new international students from your country or region. For instance, all new students from Taiwan will join a Line group. We will also publish all group chats by June 2024.
- From June -July, CIRCLE social media assistants and PCLs will be present in all group chats to provide support and answer questions, as you get ready for A&O and navigate other university processes. PCLs are current UW students who are very resourceful and highly involved on campus.
- From mid-July to mid-August, for about five weeks, PCLs will lead a series of small-group interactive Zoom sessions, covering a wide range of topics including communications, majors, immigration, Arrival 101, etc. RCG also offers virtual cross-group fun activities over the weekends to help you connect with other new huskies around the world. We will publish all session topics and dates soon.
- After mid-August, you can stay in your RCG chat to continue receiving CIRCLE weekly reminders of important resources and dates, such as arrival information and welcome events. You can also reach CIRCLE for questions and concerns via your RCG chats.
Change a group or Add to Another Group
If you prefer a different chat app or would like to be added to another group, you will have the chance to do so by filling out a RCG Group Change/Add form that will be published.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, please email UW CIRCLE at uwcircle@uw.edu, or contact CIRCLE via the following social media platforms:
- WeChat ID: UWCIRCLE
- Line ID: uwcircle
- Kakao ID: uwcircle2020
- WhatsApp phone number: +1 206-665-9662
- Facebook Messenger: UW Circle
RCGs is a collaboration between First Year Programs and the Center for International Relations & Cultural Leadership Exchange (CIRCLE) at the University of Washington
RCG People
Dr. Dan Zhu (she/her) | Executive Director, CIRCLE
Languages spoken: Mandarin Chinese, English
Favorite café in Seattle: Spicy Chongqing in Renton
Fun Fact: I am a mother of two little boys.
Chat 1:1 with Dan
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
David(he/him) | RCG Program, CIRCLE
Languages spoken: English, Mandarin Chinese
Favorite place to eat in Seattle: Hong Kong Bistro in International District
Favorite book: Dune by Frank Herbert
Xinyue (she/her) | RCG Program Manager, CIRCLE
Languages spoken: Mandarin, Korean, English
About me: I love hiking, learning about diverse cultures, and travel around the world!
Charlotte Hsu (she/her) | Peer Connection Leader
RCG: Latin America & Canada (RCG 1), Thailand (RCG 6), and Taiwan (RCG 8)
Country: Taiwan
Language Spoken: English, Chinese
Fun fact: I don’t drink boba…
Fredrick Felicio (Erick) Susilo (he/him | Peer Connection Leader
RCG: South East Asia (RCG 5), Indonesia (RCG 7), and International Transfers (RCG 18)
Country: Indonesia
Language Spoken: English, Indonesian
About me: I enjoy stargazing and exploring the night sky.
Haeyoon Choi (she/her) | Peer Connection Leader
RCG: South Korea (RCG 9) and Japan (RCG 10)
Country: South Korea
Language Spoken: English, Korean
About me: I love cooking, listening to music, dancing, and figure skating!
Jiayu(Catherine) Xu (she/her) | Peer Connection Leader
RCG: 上海+江苏 (RCG 13), 豫+皖+湘+鄂 (RCG 15), 粤+桂+黔+琼 (RCG 16)
Country: China
Language Spoken: English, Chinese
About me: I enjoy the sunset by the ocean.
Mrityunjay Joshi(he/him) | Peer Connection Leader
RCG: Europe & Africa (RCG 2), Middle East (RCG 3), South Asia (RCG 4)
Country: India
Language Spoken: Hindi, English
Fun fact: I can guess the TwentyOnePilots song you play from the first few seconds.
Yuxi (Daniela) Cao(she/her) | Peer Connection Leader
RCG: 北京 (RCG 11), 东三省+津鲁冀蒙晋 (RCG 12), 浙+赣+闽 (RCG 14), and 渝+川+滇+陕+宁+甘+新 (RCG 17)
Country: China
Language Spoken: English, Chinese
Fun fact: My favorite study spot this quarter is the 25th floor of
The Standard Apartment