If most of the Administration building were condensed into one department, it would sum up the Office of International Programs.

Located in 144 Gooch Hall, this department helps international students get admitted to UTM and adjust to life in Martin. With students from Taiwan, Korea, Japan, China and many other places across the globe, the office consists of about 50 to 60 students for this academic year.

The tuition that international students pay to attend UTM is what funds this department. Depending on the number of students attending each semester, they pay for professors and the office from the tuition. There are no grants for this program and no donations except for those who donate specifically to the international program. This program is a soft money operation meaning the department must generate all funds itself in order to keep the program afloat.

Students enrolled in the intensive English program at UTM attend eight week terms. Each term’s tuition is $2,000. There are two terms in a fall semester, two terms in a spring semester and one term in a summer semester. They pay the same amount for housing, student fees and meal plans as other students.

The program’s enrollees were up prior to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 but have since decreased due in part to the economic status of the United States. These changes were mostly brought about by changes in the federal government and the immigration department. To study at UTM, a student qualifying to enroll in the International Program is issued a conditional I-20 that depends on the length of time a student will be at UTM. The student is then issued a F-1 visa to allow them to stay and study in the United States. This is not to be confused with a tourist visa. If the student leaves to go back home for any reason, the student must reapply for another I-20 and F-1 visa.

“We help bring cultural diversity to the campus and allow students from other countries to come to UTM to study,” said Gary Wilson, academic coordinator and assistant director of International Programs.

Classes are decided based upon what courses a student has left to take and based on test scores from other classes. For more information on this program, contact the office of International Programs at 587-7340 or online at http://www.utm.edu/departments/acadpro/intprog/intprog.htm.