Archived News | Return to News Center

July 19, 2007

Five Eurasian students to participate in one-year exchange program at ULM; host families needed

Thanks to a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of State, five Eurasian students will spend the 2007-08 school year studying at the University of Louisiana at Monroe in a new exchange program. Now all they need is a “home away from home.”

The Office of International Student Programs and Services at ULM is seeking host families to match the visiting students from Belarus, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Ukraine.

“Although they will be living in the dorms, interaction with an American household, and/or accommodations with a family over the Christmas break, would be a wonderful introduction to our culture and Southern hospitality,” said Mara Loeb, director of International Services and associate professor of communication studies. “Even a weekly or monthly visit - determined by the host family - is a welcome break for a student.”

“These are really top-notch people selected for fellowships through the State Department, and they will be an exciting addition to our campus family for a year. Their English and grades are excellent, and they are very enthusiastic about coming here to study.”

Each student is allowed only a one-year stay under the rules of the Eurasian Undergraduate Exchange Program. Community service is also a part of the program. Each student will fulfill 20 hours at local service organizations in the fall and commit 40 hours to an internship in their respective field of study during the spring semester. They are studying journalism, education and business.

The five Eurasian students will begin arriving in late August. Anyone interested in acting as a host family is encouraged to contact the International Student Programs and Services at international@ulm.edu or by calling Loeb at: (318) 342-5225.

These students will join approximately 35 other international students accepted to ULM for the 2007 fall term.

PLEASE NOTE: Some links and e-mail addresses in these archived news stories may no longer work, and some content may include events which are no longer relevent, or reference individuals and/or organizations no longer associated with ULM.