University prepares for Saudi students

Majority of 15-75 Saudis attending SVSU next semester will enter technical programs, adjust to English language

December 12, 2005 —

SVSU administration, faculty, staff, Residential and Student Life personnel met on Friday, Dec. 2 with representatives from the Lansing Islamic Center to discuss the influx of Saudi students and how culture differences will affect the environment.

The influx was made possible after the meeting between Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah and President George W. Bush in May, when it was declared that U.S. border restrictions would be reduced to allow a greater number of Saudi students to begin studies in the United States. Bush endorsed the policy to allow a greater degree of sharing between the two countries on an educational level.

Subsequently, King Abdullah announced that the Saudi government would be subsidizing the costs of attendance for Saudi students, including tuition, housing and other costs, allowing for students to attend U.S. colleges and universities at no cost to themselves. SVSU has been included on the list of approved universities that Saudi students can attend.

Estimates for the number of students that the U.S. can expect to receive have reached 5,000. At SVSU, this number can translate to between 15 and 75 students beginning their education here in January.

Heidi Vellenga, the director of English Language Programs, says that 120 Saudi students have applied and been "conditionally admitted," but how many actually decide to attend is still unknown.

According to Vellenga, conditional admittance involves testing the students' English language skills to determine their initial level of study because the Office of International Programs currently has no knowledge of the students' English proficiency. While most if not all of the students will be enrolled in the English Language Program (ELP) for a semester or two to fine tune their English language skills before venturing into other courses, some students may have achieved a competent level of understanding of English to proceed to take more academic classes.

Although it is not set in stone, a majority of the Saudi students will be entering more technical programs than educational or instructional ones. Computer Science, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and Accounting are some programs that will be seeing an increase in attendance by Saudis.

There are three Saudi students that began their education at SVSU this semester and are working their way through the ELP. Three weeks ago three more students arrived in Saginaw and are being lodged in a local hotel until the winter semester begins.

Saudi culture is very segregated by its nature. The education system separates men and women, keeping them from learning in the same space. For SVSU and new Saudi students alike, it will be a new experience. Of the over 100 Saudi applicants for next semester, only eight are women; any of these women, if accepted, will be coming to SVSU with either their husbands, brothers, or another male family member.

The men will not have had a female professor before, nor will the females have had a male professor. The only interaction that either has had with the opposite gender is through distance learning, or video conferencing. Inevitably, these students will eventually have instructors from the opposite gender.

Vellenga encourages students to come to the Office of International Programs (Wickes 160) if they have any questions about the students coming in, what they can do to help, or any concerns they may have.

"Don't assume they're the same people that got on a plane and blew up the (World) Trade Center," she says.

Vellenga also suggests that native students try to be more forgiving of internationals. Native English speakers, she says, should not assume that when an international student sounds rude or discourteous that it is their true intent to do so.

She explains that students who learn English as a second (or third) language still may not have the extensive vocabulary to convey their exact meaning but will sometimes use words similar that may come across derogatory or as a command.

"Don't be afraid to repeat yourself or ask questions," Vellenga says.

The Office of International Programs is taking several steps to prepare for the arrival of this potentially large group of students.

Recently, the office has been contacting local food distributors and stores about delivering food to the new students over the next few weeks since all of the campus dining areas on campus will be closed when school is not in session.

The newly expanded wing of Living Center South is currently being reserved for the Saudis. The eighty new beds within are now available to accommodate this influx of internationals for the upcoming winter semester.