International Program Adds Diversity to Campus

Editor-in-Chief

   Despite the federal government's changes to the international program, enrollment of international students at the University of Arkansas at Monticello continues to gain momentum.

Photo by Eric Bell

Culture on Display - Office of Admissions employee Josh Rauls suspends Foreign flags in the cafeteria.  The flags represent the foreign students attending UAM.  The cafeteria will serve ethnic food everyday next week, Feb. 18-22.

   Since 2005, with a record-breaking 20 students from nine countries, enrollment of international students remains around 20 per semester.  Director of Admissions and International Officer Mary Whiting said she processes approximately 50 applications every semester.  However, only about half of those students receive admission to the United States and UAM.

   Despite the almost 50/50 chance of gaining acceptance to an international studies program, Whiting said interest in studying in the United States continues to grow, and the piles of applications on her desk prove it.

   "In the last seven years, (enrollment) has increased by about 50 percent student-wise and 150 percent applicant-wise," Whiting said.  "There has been a huge increase nationally and part of it is (international students) see education here as a great opportunity and an opportunity to help their own country."

   In order to study in the country, international students must go through a rigorous application process and meet federal and university guidelines.  International admission requirements according to the UAM handbook include an international fee, college entrance exam, certified translated copies of all academic records, English competency test, certified statement from a financial institution, medical insurance and proof of immunization.

   International students must also enroll full-time and show good academic progress.  Therefore, they cannot drop or fail a class as easily as other students.  Considering the hard work entailed in coming to study in the states, Whiting said she's proud of her students for their dedication.

   "I find most international students to be extremely hardworking, loyal and eager to learn and cooperative," she said.  "I'm very proud of the students we have."

   After working with the international program at UAM for seven years, Whiting began implementing more and more international work into her life.  In addition to her role as international adviser for UAM, Whiting also claims membership to the International Association in Arkansas and the Association of International Educators.

   Her involvement with IAA and NAFSA allow her to work throughout Southeast Arkansas with other international programs.  She also mentors other international officers in the state.  She currently mentors at Southeast Arkansas College and Philander Smith College.

  "I am as involved as I can be," Whiting said.

   In addition to her roles outside of the campus community, Whiting also founded the International Club on campus in the spring of 2007.  According to Whiting, the club receives a lot of response.

Courtesy of Carlos Bertoglio

Happy Group - (from left) International Adviser Mary Whiting, Forestry Graduate Research Assistant Dave General, Fulbright Scholar Carlos Bertoglio, Beia de Silva, Fulbright Scholar Anany Chacon, Lindsay Rymes and Nika Najafova pose for a picture.

   The International Club gives international students a place to connect with people dealing with the same struggles and transitions.  It also allows national and international students to come together and learn more about different cultures.

   "The International Club has brought the students closer together," Whiting said.  "It's been really good."

   Members of the group hosted a cultural display last year, and with the positive response from the campus and local communities, the club decided to host an International Week this semester Feb. 18-22.  The week will include, international meals, international displays and an international day of dress, which will allow international students a day to dress in their native dress.

   Assistant Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Ranelle Eubanks said she finds the international program and events such as international week enriching to the UAM community.

   "We have a tendency to think like we're brought up," Eubanks said.  "Exposing UAM students to different cultures will broaden their horizons and show them, 'Yes, everyone's not the same.'"

   With nearly 20 students hailing from England, Canada, Panama, Azerbaijan, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Nepal, Philippines and Australia, Eubanks also noted the growth of the international program in recent years.

   "I know (the program) has progressively grown and provides an element of diversity to the campus we would not normally see," she said.

   The International Club events provide international students with a chance to share this diversity on campus.  Whiting said in addition to the events already in place, she would like to add to the list.

   Whiting would like to develop a mentoring program for international students.  This program will help international students transition and connect with not only the UAM community but the Monticello community as well.

Courtesy of Carlos Bertoglio

Birthday Surprise - Beia de Silva can hide her shock at her birthday gift from members of the International Club.

   Whiting connected Beia de Silva with a mentor in the Monticello community, and said she ha other contacts who would also like to mentor international students.  Whiting said she also received help from Rob Leonard, director of the Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship.  She described the expanding dynamic as a family network.

   "I really have a good support system," Whiting said.  "I feel very close to all my international students.  That's the advantage of a small institution; I know my students very well."

   Despite the close network for international students at UAM, problems still arise.  While problems will sometimes arise just from the sheer amount of paperwork required for everything from going to the hospital to taking a course at another university, sometimes problems arise from cultural differences.

   According to Whiting, a student approached her and asked if he could keep chickens on campus some years ago.  Though he killed, cooked and ate the birds as a part of his cultural customs, the university rules state residents cannot keep animals in the dorms.

   Whiting said, verbal cultural differences can also cause some humorous problems.  When talking with her Nepali students, she said she can get confused.  In Nepal, to shake your head up and down means "no," and from side to side means "yes."

  However, Whiting still recognizes that not all cultural differences that could arise are light-hearted or humorous.  Whiting said she prepared her students for what they might encounter when asked if they could use their prayer rugs to pray.

   She told the students as long as they did not disrupt class time, praying is acceptable.  However, she did warn the students that someone may try to stop them or ridicule them.  Whiting said, for the most part, the community has accepted the international students well.

   "We have a real accepting school and community," she said.

   Whiting encourages that acceptance by inviting faculty and staff as well as other students and community members to get involved with the international students and their programs.  Whiting said by connecting them with people in the community, it will help the international students and community members grow.

   "They're here as our visitors," Whiting said of international students.  "We can gain from them, and they can gain from us."

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