Reflecting national trends in international education, the number of international students enrolled at the University of Kansas and the number of U.S. students studying abroad through KU programs both increased last year, according to KU officials. KU's growth as a truly international university benefits the state of Kansas and the greater Kansas City area. More than a half a million international students are studying at U.S. universities, and the number of U.S. students studying abroad continues to increase, according to Open Doors 2000, a report recently issued by the Institute of International Education in New York. At KU, the number of international students represents a 6.8 percent increase from 1998-99, said Joe Potts, director of international student services. This is good news.
International students are an important part of our diverse campus.
O'Connell attributes some of the increase to more short-term programs, which do not require a full semester. Though longer immersion programs are still preferable to a student of languages and culture, the shorter programs offer more students the advantage of an international opportunity and often serve their needs better. An increasing number of short-term programs are becoming a part of the regular curriculum. KU offers more than 100 programs of international study and cooperative research for KU students and faculty at sites throughout the world, said Diana Carlin, dean of the graduate school and international programs. These numbers bolster KU's mission to prepare students for the challenges of an increasingly complex and diverse global community.