Iowa Wesleyan University set to welcome its largest international class

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

In 1890, Iowa Wesleyan University welcomed its first international student. One hundred and twenty-six years later, the university is honoring that tradition while expanding upon it.

Previously, the university has opened its doors to anywhere between five to 15 international students a year from two countries ? China and the Democratic of Congo, Vice President for Academic Affairs DeWayne Frazier said. ?We wanted to diversify the countries represented as much as the numbers,? said Frazier.

This year, Frazier said the university will welcome somewhere between 65-70 international students from over 20 countries, including Australia, Venezuela, Italia and Eritrea in Africa.

Besides being part of the university?s strategic plan, the university wanted to increase its international services to benefit the students.

?This is great for the American students and also great for the international students,? he said.

Frazier said for most international students, their impression of the United States comes from television or mass media. ?When they come to what I call the pride of America, the Midwest, they get to see what people are really like,? he said.

And as for the American students, they are not only forming relationships and learning about different cultures first hand, but the experiences are preparing them for a global market.

?It is paramount that we help simulate for our students the world market in which they will have to compete in on a daily basis,? said Frazier.

How has the university been able to grow its international student base so quickly? Top-notch recruiters, Frazier says.

?We have an entire network of recruiters and a representative in every continent of the world,? he said.

Frazier said the university has found recruiters as passionate about the university as he is and they are helping to spread the word about all Iowa Wesleyan has to offer.

?We have trained the recruiters about Iowa Wesleyan University, they?ve visited the campus. They go to college fairs and we end up getting the kiddos,? he chuckles. ?We will have students from every region (of the world) this year.?

To better serve the international students, the university has established an International Office, which is headed by Maria Metcalf.

Frazier said students will receive first-rate services through the International Office. ?They?ll get the same kind of service students at (the University of) Iowa would get,? he said.

These services include helping students with legal advice when it comes to Immigration Services, being picked up from the airport and coordinating routine shopping trips.

?We also help them establish friendship families,? said Frazier. The families, which are often set up through local churches, provide students will a support system despite being thousands of miles from home.

?Outside of those things,? said Frazier, ?we also do special advising for career placement afterwards.?

Frazier said the university helps students set up work licenses for one year.

?This helps us go and fulfill the mission our Methodist founders had,? said Frazier of expanding the international program. ?This is a place where people are always welcome and a place for opportunity.?

Frazier then quoted Nelson Mandela, ?Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.?

?If we want to make the world a more peaceful place, the key is understanding and this is one way to get there,? he added.