By Robin Broberg
Being one of the few LDS universities, BYU sticks out as an option for international students looking for an LDS atmosphere, high standards, low cost and a reputable education. The international student population represents about 99 countries and over 2,300 students at BYU.
UVSC also has attracted a great number of international students; about 400 students come from more than 75 countries, including Bulgaria, Mongolia, Vanuatu, India and Jamaica. Some may wonder what drew these students to UVSC.
Junko Watabe, an international student adviser at UVSC, said the program depends on word of the mouth recruiting. International students will tell their friends about UVSC and their experiences. Even more successful, she said, is the amount of publicity UVSC gets from LDS missionaries.
'If the prospective student wants to study in the U.S. and can''t get into BYU, missionaries will suggest UVSC,' Watabe said.
The college does recruit students in other countries, and faculty members have also personally traveled to Kenya, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Brazil. Students are drawn to the safe community, the low cost of living and sometimes a non-LDS curriculum.
UVSC also takes pride in its English as a Second Language program, Watabe said. Students enrolled in the program have a lower tuition cost for the first nine months, have small classes and stay with the same group of students throughout the program.
Woohaeng Lee, a Korean student, transferred to BYU from UVSC. He chose UVSC at first because it was easier to get into when he was first studying in the United States. He participated in the ESL courses and took part in the Korean Club on campus, which helped him overcome language challenges. Lee said melding in with the students has never been a problem for him.
'The advisers helped me a lot, and people in Utah are very nice,' he said.
The ESL students quickly become friends because they are all in the same boat, said Lorraine Gunn, an administrative secretary for the international services at UVSC. They all face the same challenges.
'They are very supportive of each other,' Gunn said. 'At graduation they''ll cheer and clap for each other. Very few struggle throughout their time here, and some are just exceptional.'
One student from China was working, going to school and raising a baby while her husband was in school. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
Faculty and staff are also supportive of the international programs at UVSC. Gwen Anderson, the director of multicultural services, said William Sederburg, the president of UVSC, attends all the international student activities. He gets to know the international students personally and invites them into his home.
'One time Sederburg was very sick in bed with a temperature,' Anderson said. 'His wife came to the activity in his place, but he showed up anyway. His wife went up to him and asked him why he wasn''t home in bed like he was supposed to be. He just felt like he had to be there.'
UVSC also has funds specifically set aside for the international students to use. A committee run by international students budgets the money and runs events. The money also gives international students an opportunity to earn scholarships.
'UVSC doesn''t only talk the talk,' Anderson said, 'We walk the walk.'