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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Sources: M. Duane Nellis, 785-532-6224; dnellis@k-state.edu; Kristine A. Young, 785-532-5990, kkristin@k-state.edu; Jim Lewis, 785-532-7272, jelewis@k-state.edu; and Sara Thurston-Gonzalez, 785-532-5332, saratg@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Cheryl May and Beth Bohn, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Friday, August 15, 2008

K-STATE EXPECTS RECORD NUMBER OF NEW UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FOR FALL SEMESTER

MANHATTAN -- The main campus of Kansas State University will have more diversity and international flavor this fall as a record number of international students are expected to enroll.

More than 700 undergraduate international students new to K-State have been admitted to the university for the fall 2008 semester. Based on this number of admissions, K-State could welcome more than 250 new international undergraduates this fall. In fall 2007, K-State's new undergraduate international enrollment was 153.

"Increasing the number of international students at K-State is a win-win for both the American students already on our campus and for the international students joining us this fall," said M. Duane Nellis, provost and senior vice president. "Getting to know students from different cultures not only enhances an individual's personal experiences, but also aids in broader ways. The more we understand other cultures, the better we get along as world citizens."

Nellis credited the K-State international programs staff with increasing the number of new undergraduate international students.

"Dr. Kristine Young and Jim Lewis have devoted a great deal of time and effort to recruiting new students from foreign countries, and other staffers have worked hard to ensure that each student has a successful experience at K-State," he said.

Young is interim associate provost of international programs, and Lewis is director of international pre-admissions and recruiting.

"The majority of the new students are from mainland China," Nellis said. "We think our new Chinese students will benefit from their K-State experience."

Lewis credits the expected increase in Chinese students to the opening of the K-State China office in October 2006.

"The office has developed a K-State Web site in Chinese and we have had a presence at fall and spring recruiting fairs in China for the past two and one-half years," Lewis said. The Web site is http://www.kstate.cn

"K-State's International Student Center staff and English language program staff are poised to meet the challenge of welcoming, processing and serving this large influx of new international undergraduates," Young said.

"Approximately 80 percent of these new students -- probably more than 200 students -- will begin their studies in the English language program at varying levels. These new undergraduate international students will begin entering regular academic studies by the fall 2009 semester," she said.

K-State's English language program was recently notified that it has been awarded a one-year accreditation from the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation, Young said.

"Our office is preparing for this increase by streamlining all of our regulatory processes and making key forms available to students online," said Sara Thurston-Gonzalez, director of K-State's International Student Center. "We also are increasing our programming activities to include more information on U.S. culture, cultural adjustment and social activities to help the students feel more welcome and a part of K-State," she said.

New international student orientation is Monday, Aug. 18, at K-State. Fall semester classes start Monday, Aug. 25.

"It is very important for faculty and staff to let K-State's office of international programs know how it can assist all campus units in preparing for and supporting our new international undergraduate students," Young said.

K-State's total international student enrollment is expected to exceed last year's 1,220, which was a 15-year high. International student enrollment will be included in K-State's 20th day enrollment figures.