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Orange Coast College-Strategies for Dynamic Growth
By Saeeda Wali Mohammed, Orange Coast College
The International Student Program at Orange Coast College had its genesis in a small operation limited by staffing and financial constraints. In 1984, there were a total of 38 students with 25 countries represented. The program grew to 108 students in spring 1990, and a current (fall, 1997) student population of 700 F-1 students and 116 other visa students from 60 countries. The top three Asian countries represented are Japan, Korea and Taiwan. The top three European countries represented are Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany.
The mission of the International Center of Orange Coast College is to enhance student success by providing services to students to assist them in reaching their educational goals, and lifelong enrichment opportunities. These services include admission, in-country and out-of-country registration, immigration regulation information, passport services, homestay/housing coordination, orientation information and other services such as insurance enrollment, maintenance of legal status and cross-cultural guidance when appropriate. Seeking to develop an outstanding International Student Program, the College initiated serious efforts to transform itself into an internationally oriented and globally diverse entity. Thus, college administration at the highest administrative level made a strong commitment to internationalization.
The philosophical foundation of the program stemmed from a college-wide realization that beyond financial gain, this program provided a unique opportunity to address the cultural realities of a world in which communication and cross-cultural exchange are the pre-eminent features.
With the review and adoption of a five-year strategic plan, Orange Coast College committed itself to internationalism. This plan posited the development and enhancement of a unique campus environment.
The goals of the five-year plan were to expand international student enrollment to 850 by the year 2000, with the idea that the presence of international students would help to facilitate increased knowledge and awareness of the entire student body, faculty and staff toward other peoples and their cultures. Additionally, the plan focused on providing domestic students and faculty the opportunity to study and work with students from other parts of the world. The college determined to maintain the English admissions requirement at a score of 500 on the TOEFL. This has resulted in a high retention rate and successful completion of degrees. Further, it posited a pragmatic base for funding and services with a necessary commitment to increase staffing as the program grew. The plan also supported a flexible approach to allow for changes as the program developed and grew.
The five-year plan made a commitment to diversity and to providing international students with a campus in which both domestic and international students were integrated through activities involving mutual respect and understanding supported by the Associated Student Government and the International Club. Thus, each spring semester a weeklong event highlighting internationalism is presented to the campus community. The plan also supported establishing agreements with recognized English language schools, which emphasize completion of final levels of programs.
Orange Coast College deliberately opted for high-impact, low-cost methods of recruiting international students. Prominent among these was the establishment of an International Center Programs web site and the computerization of Form I-20. The college invested in appropriate technology that allowed us to respond to students within 24 hours of an inquiry. Students presenting us with completed applications who are eligible for admission are also issued an I-20 within 24 hours as well. We also recruit domestically in regions where large intensive English as a Second Language schools operate. Additional funding was requested for courses through joint proposals with individual divisions such as ESL where international student impact was consistently shown.
A recent international student survey informed us that 85% of international students at Orange Coast College rank the program as excellent/very good, and a full 47% discovered us through word of mouth referrals from friends and relatives.
Saeeda Wali Mohammed is the Director of the International Center at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California.
This commentary was previously published in Open Doors 1996/97: Report on International Educational Exchange, 1997. Todd M. Davis, ed. New York: Institute of International Education.
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