Plans for international center move forward

Plans for an International Center aimed to assist international students has begun to move forward at the University of South Dakota.

After surveying international students, Senior Assistant Provost Laurie Becvar said it was decided that international student services need to be strengthened.

“The results were worrisome,” Becvar said. “International students are a big part of our future. I did read some student comments, and I want to be able to serve these students well.”

The first step for the International Center is to hire a coordinator who would consolidate sources, put together events, has a fluency Chinese and plan the annual American Visiting Institute for Chinese Entrepreneurs. The hiring process is planned to be a national search.

“Once a coordinator is hired, we will begin the implementation stage,” Becvar said.

The center would help complete the diversity initiative in the university’s strategic plan from 2011 and 2012, which states the university should “become a regional leader in initiatives and outreach for inclusive excellence and diversity.”

“This contributes to the strategic plan,” Becvar said. “It strengthens diversity and our global society.”

Although a location for the International Center has not been chosen, there is a space study being conducted which could help it find a home.

“It needs a place,” Becvar said. “It needs to have presences. Everyone has to be together.”

The International Center will not double as a Confucius Institute, centers set up by the Chinese government that promotes Chinese language and culture, despite initial talks that one could be brought to campus.