Lake Land College President Josh Bullock. Photo submitted by Lake Land College.
For Immediate Release – January 16, 2025
The Following is an editorial from President Josh Bullock:
Every year, hundreds of students enroll at Lake Land College to take the first steps toward rewarding futures. No matter a student’s age or background, the college journey is almost certainly a time of exciting new experiences, opportunities and challenges. But there’s a certain group of students that, in addition to meeting new friends and studying for the next test, must learn the ins and outs of a foreign culture. This might sound like an unbelievable task, but it’s a remarkable reality for more than one million college students across the United States: international students.
International students come from all across the globe, seeking educational opportunities that may be limited in their home countries. We at Lake Land College are pleased to welcome international students to campus and contribute to Illinois’ incredible international student enrollment numbers, which rank fifth in the nation.
At Lake Land College, international students can choose from roughly 150 academic majors, which will prepare them to either transfer to a university to complete a bachelor’s degree or immediately enter the workforce with industry-recognized credentials. With universities such as Eastern Illinois University and the University of Illinois nearby, as well as major cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis only a short travel away, Lake Land is conveniently located to help international students maximize their transfer and career opportunities.
Beyond college and career trajectory, Lake Land’s International Studies Program aims to provide wholistic support and help students acclimate to an unfamiliar culture. The College’s Intensive English Language Program (IELP) helps non-native English speakers rapidly advance their English skills to prepare them for their college programs. All Lake Land College international students also enroll in a free course to learn about U.S. culture and government and ensure they are up to speed with American academic expectations, such as citing and formatting. Lake Land also assists international students with housing options and even transportation to and from campus.
Of course, the International Studies Program also offers tremendous benefits to our domestic students and to our community as a whole. For local students attending Lake Land, sharing a class or maybe even an apartment with an international student is an incredible way to broaden horizons. When we surround our students with people of different cultures, backgrounds, beliefs and values, we create a more well-rounded educational experience and better imitate the diversity found throughout our country’s workforce.
At Lake Land, international students enjoy boundless opportunities to integrate into campus and the surrounding communities. It is likely that you’ve seen several of our international students playing on our athletic teams, participating in student clubs, serving in leadership roles and volunteering in the community. Many also secure part-time campus jobs through the new Laker Works Student Service Internship program, which connects them with a wide range of work opportunities across campus and helps them gain relevant career experience.
We are thrilled to report that our own International Studies Program has recently experienced remarkable growth. When Denver Daniels, Coordinator of the International Studies Program, began at Lake Land in 2021, we had 14 international students enrolled at the College. Since then, we’ve seen the program rapidly expand under Denver’s leadership. In fact, in Fall 2024, we saw a record-high 36 international students enrolled, an increase of more than 50% compared to the previous year!
We also recognize that it is vital to celebrate our international students and help them feel at home here at Lake Land. In November, we partnered with the Mattoon Rotary to celebrate international education week with the dedication of two Peace Poles in Podesta Park. Each pole contains inscriptions of the phrase “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in all the languages spoken by past and present international Lake Land students. We hope these poles contribute to a welcoming campus environment to all international students and inspire unity across all backgrounds and cultures.
With the Spring 2025 semester underway, I am excited to see our wonderful international student population again, and I look forward to discussing with you the immeasurable value these students bring to our campus community and beyond.
For more of my thoughts about a range of innovative topics that impact higher education, our communities and our future, be sure to check out the Laker Advantage Podcast: Insights and Sidebars with Dr. B on Spotify.
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