The number of international students attending Eastern increased after the Undergraduate International Excellence Award was put into effect at the start of the fall 2010 semester.

The award comes in the form of a tuition reduction, reducing about $12,000, for undergraduate international students who earn a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average.

Marilyn Holmes, coordinator of the international students and scholars office, said instead of paying the normal international undergraduate rate of $30,292 the award would allow the students to pay the in-state rate of $18,100.

“We have been wanting to make international education more affordable for students so the initiative of our new reduced tuition for undergraduate students has helped increase our admissions,” Holmes said. “We worked hard for it for many years and President Perry gave us the go ahead to do it.”

Kevin Vicker, the interim director of the international students and scholars office, said the tuition reduction was the number one factor in admission increases, but there were other contributing factors as well.

“The number two factor is that we make sure the communication is there with our students by following up with them and making sure they have everything they need to get here,” Vicker said.

He also said there are about 50 different countries where international students come from.

He said most of the international students at Eastern are from India, Nigeria, China and Nepal, in that order.

Holmes said international student applications have tripled over the past few years.

“Students like that have relatively small classes, usually no more than 20 students per classroom, so they get individualized one-on-one attention,” Holmes said.

According to Vicker’s research, incoming international students attending Eastern increased from 44 in the fall 2009 semester to 81 in the fall 2010 semester.

Vicker said he thinks undergraduate international students are attracted by the tuition rate as well as with the academic programs Eastern has to offer.

“Even our amount of international graduate students has increased,” Vicker said. “Even though they are not eligible for the tuition reduction, I think they like the personalized attention we can offer them.”

The international students and scholars office has hosted events such as “Tastes of the World” and “Sounds of the World.”

Holmes said the international students are surrounded by a friendly atmosphere at Eastern and there is a lot to do and see.

“They have the best of both worlds,” Holmes said. “They have a safe environment here, but also close by, they can go to bigger cities if they want.”

“It is very beneficial for the students to come to Eastern and make relationships and they also have the opportunity for leadership skills by being involved on campus,” Vicker said. “In addition to that, we also benefit from them by becoming more engaged with what is going on in the world.”

Rachel Rodgers can be reached at 581-2812 or rjrodgers@eiu.edu