WSU a world of its own

With the population in the United States reaching 300 million, the nation is increasingly becoming a "global village."

International students and the programs offered by the University Center for International Education help Wright State to reflect this trend.

There are currently 637 international students studying at WSU, according to Michelle Streeter-Ferrari, director of the University Center for International Education (UCIE). And of those 637 students, the majority (51 percent) comes from India, with the next two largest groups coming from China and Korea. These numbers reflect trends nationwide, Streeter-Ferrari said.

"The majority of international students come to complete degrees just like any other student" said Streeter-Ferrari. 85 percent of international students are currently pursuing graduate level degrees.

Most are studying engineering, computer science, or business, according to Streeter-Ferrari, although there are international students in many areas of study.

Most international students coming to Wright State hear of the university through word of mouth, Streeter-Ferrari said. The university employs a Director of International Student Recruitment to make trips overseas and advertise for potential students.

WSU also sponsors an exchange student program with fourteen universities in other countries, according to Streeter-Ferrari.

This is a reciprocal agreement where a Wright State student will study abroad for a quarter or a year, and a student from that university will study at Wright State for the same length of time.

The UCIE serves as a major resource for international students on campus.

According to Streeter-Ferrari, two graduate students employed by the UCIE provide programming for both American and international students, including field trips and educational programming.

The UCIE works closely with residence services on the international house program. This is on-campus housing located in University Park where American students are roommates with international students.

Another service the UCIE provides is to help international students receive a visa to study in the United States, and to maintain that visa throughout their studies.

"I see our office as facilitating international students on campus. We work closely with other departments" said Streeter-Ferrari.

In the future, UCIE hopes to expand study abroad opportunities, according to Streeter-Ferrari. This includes offering work, internships, and service learning abroad programs. UCIE also hopes to offer more locations, rather than only Europe and Latin America, where most students traditionally study. "Less than one percent of students in higher learning study abroad" said Streeter-Ferrari.

"I had the opportunity to study abroad in Costa Rica. You learn a lot besides the language and it was a great experience. I'm glad Wright State offers the same opportunity to other students," said Dave Glassmeyer, a junior math major.

"Studying at Wright State has been a positive experience. I've been here four years studying biomedical engineering and it's been the best four years," said Mohammad Saraj, a biomedical engineering "It's nice to get the opportunity to meet students from other cultures. I believe the international studies program is a good way to build Wright State's reputation,"said Grant Dennis, junior computer science major.

UCIE also hopes to continue to recruit international students, and to diversify the countries where international students come from. In addition, the program hopes to have students in other areas of study besides the traditional engineering, computer science, and business. This could include areas like liberal arts, education, and the School of Professional Psychology, according to Streeter-Ferrari.