USU to host 50 more students from the Dominican Republic
Next fall, USU will be hosting 50 additional students from the Dominican Republic thanks to an agreement signed between the university and the Dominincan Republic government on Jan. 25.
Thirty-two Dominican students first came to USU in 2000 after President Leonel Fernandez set aside funds for international scholarships, said Shelley Hernandez, who works with these students. Then, when President Fernadez wasn’t re-elected, those international scholarships were no longer provided.
Yet in the fall of 2005, 56 more students came after Fernandez was elected back into office and put the funds into use once more. While most of the initial students have graduated, there will be a total of about 100 students from the Dominican Republic at USU next year.
“(These students) always bring diversity and opportunities for our Utah and other American students to interact with many other students from countries all over the world,” said Steven Hanks, vice provost of International Affairs.
Hernandez often sees these students socially interacting with all kinds of people on campus and said while it may just be a part of their outgoing and generous personality, it helps enrich the culture of USU. Knowing how to enjoy life in a healthy way and being fun-loving is what Hanks said he feels is the best thing these students share with others.
The Dominican Student Association hosts activities to help others learn about their culture. President of the DSA, Ariel Rosario, said they have had numerous parties all over campus, teaching people to salsa dance and bringing everyone together. There is even an event set for tonight at the Newman Center where dancing and food will be plentiful.
The current students help the new students that come each year by showing them how to set up their Webmail accounts, use Banner and get around campus. Rosario refers to other Dominican students as “brothers and sisters.”
“I’m looking forward to the new group,” Rosario said, “even though it will be hard work for me.”
Hosting Dominican students didn’t happen overnight, Hanks said. In the 1980s, USU began doing water resource and agriculture projects in the Dominican Republic. This helped the government, the people and those from the university learn about each other.
“A relationship we built over a period of time” is what Hanks attributes to the opportunity to be one of two schools in the United States to host these students.
Upon graduating from USU, these students are required to return to the Dominican Republic for two years to help teach others what they have learned and give back to the country that provided the scholarship for them to attend school here.
-albaugh@cc.usu.edu