Aug 23, 2005 - 06:00:14 CDT
University officials will continue work on a proposal to recruit international students for North Dakota's colleges, the chancellor of the state university system says.The initiative, which Robert Potts discussed with the state Board of Higher Education on Monday, is meant to compensate for an expected steep decline in North Dakota's number of high school graduates.
"It's simply an attempt to address this demographic problem that we're facing in a comprehensive way,"Potts said.
As approved by the Legislature this year, the university system's budget bill included $1.5 million for special initiatives, and asked the board to consider using "a substantial amount" of the money for an international student program.
"It has a lot of potential," state Sen. Ray Holmberg, R-Grand Forks, said in an interview. Holmberg is the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
"If we bring those students in, they're spending all kinds of money while they're here," Holmberg said. "If ... 20 to 30 percent of them stay in North Dakota and make it a career, then we've certainly done good things."
The board took no action Monday. Potts said a proposal will be developed by several university councils, and presented to the board later if a blueprint can be agreed upon. He estimated the first group of international students could arrive next summer.
The project would generate enough income from tuition and fees to more than cover its costs, Potts said. International students would be charged more for tuition, and non-English speakers would have an instructional program available, for a price, to help them become fluent.
Michel Hillman, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, said the English instructional program would be the first stop for new arrivals. Once they learn English well enough, they will be eligible to enroll in one of the system's 11 public colleges, he said.
"What we're looking at is something of a unique concept, in terms of having ... a statewide-level 'English as a second language' program that would attract students from many countries, and then those students would end up enrolling in any of the 11 campuses," he said.
A number of the proposal's details are not final, Hillman said. The initiative, for example, does not yet have any countries that would be the focus of recruiting efforts.
Some of North Dakota's universities, including the University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University and Dickinson State University, already have contingents of overseas students.
Comments are reviewed for taste, tone and language before posting.
Some comments may be used in the Tribune's print edition.
We value and respect your privacy, but The Bismarck Tribune might
disclose certain information to governmental entities if served with subpoena.