Western increases international numbers

By Nathaniel Conant

September 27, 2012

All over the country and at Missouri Western as well, the numbers of international students are rising. For instance, in fall of 2007, Western only had 10 international students; as of this semester, we have 52 from 21 different countries.

Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Dr. Judy Grimes is happy to have a wide variety of international students.

“Some students come here as freshmen and do all four years, while others are here as exchange students for a semester or a year,” Grimes said.

Not only do the international students learn here at Western, but professors encourage the students to put on lectures to teach other students about their cultures. Grimes says there are some other benefits to coming to Western.

“One major advantage of the students coming here is safety, which is very important for parents when they are sending their kids somewhere across the world,” Grimes said. “Another large advantage is our academics; both our undergraduates and graduate programs are seeing an increasing number of international students.”

International Student Services Director Amy Kotwani says word-of-mouth is what is helping Western gain more international students.

“Our returning international students are a major part of why we have increasing numbers; they take new international students to go get things and get acclimated to the U.S. and college life,” Kotwani said.

Grimes believes international students impact Western as a whole.

“Having students from all over the world gives us a much larger perception of how things are not just here, but everywhere.”