NSU Welcomes International Students

NSU Opens the Door to International Admissions With English Language Institutes

TAHLEQUAH, OK Thanks to combined efforts with several organizations, Northeastern State University is gaining international appeal as an affordable option for higher education. This year, NSU joined a select list of colleges and universities promoted to students in more than 160 countries because of its agreements with the National Collegiate Network (NCN) and The Language Company (TLC). According to administrators from each organization, Northeastern is one of the most affordable options available to international students.

Northeasterns partnerships with NCN and TLC are another great addition to NSU recruitment efforts, said Dr. Larry Williams, NSU president. Not only is this an opportunity to grow our Northeastern family, but to diversify it as well.

How it Began. This summer NCN approached Northeastern with the opportunity to administer an English-as-Second Language (ESL) course study for hosted international students. A recruiting organization that works exclusively with Japanese students who are seeking educational opportunities in the United States, NCN places qualified students in select ESL programs on college campuses around the nation.

In order to accommodate opportunity, NSU partnered with a leader in ESL programming, The Language Company of Edmond. With eight English Language Institutes (ELI) located around the nation, The Language Company has been preparing international students for studies in the United States since 1989. Owners Ali and Brenda Robati were extremely pleased to partner with Northeastern for its ESL programming on the Tahlequah campus. And, because of TLCs positive experience this summer, the Robatis have since moved their Tulsa ELI to the NSU-Broken Arrow campus. Northeastern is now host to two of TLCs eight English Language Institutes.

Northeastern State University has the best people we've ever dealt with, said Ali Robati. Part of the reason we wanted to stay with Northeastern is the caliber of people, the friendship and the willingness to help. For this I commend them.

Positive Experience. NSUs first class in the ESL program went smoothly with 40 of its original 45 Japanese students successfully passing their TOFEL test and choosing to enroll as freshmen at NSU. The remaining ESL students are completing additional coursework but have indicated they, too, will enroll at Northeastern. Officials with both organizations were highly complimentary of NSUs facilities and its ESL program and have agreed to continue recruiting students for NSU on an international level. According to Ali Robati, TLCs goal is to have 20 to 30 countries represented on Northeastern State University campuses in the next year. As the ESL program progresses, Northeastern can expect to welcome between 50 and 100 international students each year.

This is a very exciting opportunity for NSU, said Bill Nowlin, NSU dean of enrollment management/registrar. With two of TLCs English Language Institutes incorporated into our academic program, NSU can have an international outlet for recruiting on a limited budget.

11/26/02

Published: 2002-11-26 00:00:00