Chancellor Welcomes Newest International-Sponsored Students to Campus

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l-r: Dean Tom Smith; Chancellor G. David Gearhart; Margaret Reid; Gloria Flores; Idrissa Noma, a Fulbright scholar from Niger.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearhart welcomed the newest international-sponsored students to campus last week at a reception in the university’s Multicultural Center. Sixty-three students, sponsored either by their government, their university, a U.S. State Department-funded organization, or another entity enrolled in the university this semester. There are now a total of 170 sponsored students on campus, part of the 1,164 international students attending the university, the largest international student enrollment in the history of the University of Arkansas.

Forty-four of the sponsored students studying at the university are on Fulbright Scholarships, one of the most prestigious international exchange programs for students and scholars, which was established by Sen. J. William Fulbright, a former president of the University of Arkansas.

“Senator Fulbright recognized that the United States was not an island, and that international cooperation and understanding are essential to our success as a nation,” Chancellor Gearhart told the new students. He also reminded them that their presence reflects the university’s vision of enhancing diversity in the campus community.

Chancellor Gearhart and sponsored students at the Welcome Reception held September 23 in the University's Multicultural Center.

“It’s wonderful to have your unique cultures and personal perspectives as part of our campus life,” Gearhart said. “The link you have formed between your homeland and the United States emphasizes the importance of unity among countries worldwide.”

Following an administrative re-organization, all support services for international students are now a part of the Graduate School and International Education division.

“Of the 120 countries with students at the university, 19 are solely represented by sponsored students,” said Gloria Flores, associate director of recruitment and sponsored student programs.“Through collaborative efforts between our office and the Spring International Language Center the relationships that we have built with sponsoring agencies, ministries of education and other government organizations all over the world are paying off in so many ways. We are so proud to be part of a unit in international education that specifically adds to this type of diversity at the University of Arkansas.”