Lone Star College System reported 2,514 international students during the 2010 academic year, which placed it third among all U.S. community colleges. The list was part of an Almanac of Higher Education 2012 edition published by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The data came from an Institute of International Education report based on 2009-2010 numbers.
“International students are welcome at Lone Star College System and we work hard to make them feel included and at home,” said Dr. Richard Carpenter, LSCS chancellor. “Having international students on our campuses enriches our classrooms, campuses and communities with worldwide perspectives.”
The population of international students who attend LSCS has grown significantly. In the fall of 2004, the system had 1,496 international students compared to fall 2010 when 2,514 students at LSCS were from other countries.
The country most represented is Mexico – more than 900 students attended LSCS in fall 2010. The other top 15 countries represented with students at LSCS other than Mexico include: Vietnam, Nepal, Venezuela, El Salvador, Colombia, Korea, India, Pakistan, Honduras, Nigeria, Philippines, Kenya, Canada and Guatemala.
Nationally, China sends more students to study in the U.S. than any other country with more than 150,000 attending colleges throughout the nation in 2010.
According to the Institute of International Education report, international students contributed more than $21.2 billion to the U.S. economy in 2010, with more than $1.3 billion of that being spent in Texas.
The report also notes that international students attending LSCS spend more than $50 million annually, helping to boost the local and regional economy.
LSCS has student advisors throughout its six colleges who are designated to assist international students. Other services offered by LSCS for international students include mentoring and academic counseling.
LSCS also offers its students seamless transfer opportunities to four-year universities through one of its two University Centers, where partnership agreements are in place with the four-year colleges.
Recent international partnerships at LSCS include:
· LSCS agreed to a five-year memorandum of understanding with PANGEA – Houston Supply Chain and Logistics Institute to develop workforce curriculum for workers in Brazil. Lone Star Corporate College will develop the curriculum. With the agreement, LSCS will partner with Texas A&M University, Rice University, the University of Houston, and San Jacinto College to provide education and training specific to the oil and gas industry, for skilled workers of U.S. Houston-based companies with operations in Brazil.
· LSCS and the Shanghai Oriental Chinese Education Development Center (SOCEDC) executed a memorandum of understanding this summer to form the Texas Center for Sino-U.S. Education and Cultural Exchange. The center will be called the “Texas Center” and be housed at the LSC-University Park campus. Students will be able to come to the US and complete a high school diploma from iSchool High, associate degree from Lone Star College and them transfer seamlessly to a four-year university through one of the university partners on site.
With 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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