by Elizabeth Ashford
Staff Writer
In attempt to increase international student enrollment, Appalachian
State University enlisted the help of Director of International
Students and Scholars at Utah State University Dr. Negar Davis.
“She shared with us some things that she thought we …
could and should do in order to better promote Appalachian,”
Director of Admissions Paul N. Hiatt said.
One of Davis’ suggestions included developing an international
recruitment travel program.
Hiatt said Davis recommended that Appalachian travel to Asia, Africa,
Europe and Latin America.
Sophomore Catalina de Enciso, originally from Colombia, is now an
American citizen.
“I think that by bringing international students ... it will
help the university establish more connections with outside countries
and have more students go, like it opens a means of communication,”
de Enciso said.
Davis’ second suggestion was to develop relationships with
foreign embassies and their educational liaison, Hiatt said.
“Each embassy has, for lack of a better word, an educational
liaison, and to get to know those folks and distribute information
about the school to these embassies and to these embassy officials
[is important] so that they can share the information,” Hiatt
said. “They then distribute the information to their citizens
who would express interest in coming here.”
Appalachian senior A. David Deese traveled to Madrid this past summer
through Appalachian’s international program.
“It opens your eyes to what the rest of the world is like
and gives you the opportunity to interact with other people outside
your own country,” Deese said.
He said expanding Appalachian’s international programs would
be beneficial for the students.
“I believe it would allow the students of ASU to be more aware
of the fact that the world is not as different from us as we sometimes
believe it to be,” Deese said.
Davis also suggested that Appalachian State develop a campus-based
recruitment program involving students and faculty, Hiatt said.
“[Students and faculty] travel abroad doing study and research,
and they can also serve as university ambassadors,” Hiatt
said.
Appalachian senior Kate L. Walters visited Morocco through Appalachian’s
program and a program in New York.
“I think study abroad is a unique opportunity to be really
immersed in another culture in a way you don’t get from tourism,”
Walters said.
Walters said expanding the international program would be good exposure
for students and "a way any student can have exposure to different
cultures.”
Senior international program trip participant Erin P. Dorney said
increasing Appalachian’s international student enrollment
will bring awareness to campus.
“By expanding the international programs, it will give students
the chance to experience things they wouldn’t normally experience
in Boone, and it’ll bring awareness and acceptance of different
cultures,” Dorney said.
|
