History
Washington State University has been involved with building relationships with the international community for nearly 100 years. The development of services with global perspectives has matured since the founding of the institution. Today, International Programs works diligently to support an ethnically diverse constituency of students, research scholars and faculty. We also engage in international research projects and foster relationships with partners abroad.
Timeline
The timeline provided below traces the rich heritage of international involvement from the institution's inaugural year up to the present
1890
Washington State College (WSC) established.
1897
A Canadian citizen was the first international student to enroll in WSC.
1907
A Japanese citizen was the first overseas international student to enroll in WSC.
1945
To aid students in war ravaged nations, WA passed legislation establishing reciprocal international exchanges for 100 students.
Based upon existing relationships, WSU faculty were assisting governments and universities in their rebuilding efforts in Japan, Belgium, the Pan American Union, Netherlands, France, Lebanon, and India.
1949
Washington State College President Wilson Compton appointed an alternate delegate to the United Nations (UN) Assembly. While on assignment at the United Nations Assembly, President Compton sent weekly articles about current international events and the UN organizational efforts for publication in the student newspaper, "The Daily Evergreen".
1950
WSC forms the Committee on Area Cooperation to explore how WSC can contribute to the US technical assistance programs to developing nations. The International Technical and Cultural Studies Program was established to train specialists needed in economically underdeveloped nations.
1951
The Foreign Trainee Program was established as a cooperative effort with the US government to provide technical training to international students. The same year WSC becomes involved in the Marshal Plan evaluating technical training films.
1952
150 International students attending WSC.
1952
Ford Foundation supports WSC involvement in establishing a system of higher education in Pakistan modeled after the US land grant university system. The project continued with US funding for twenty years.
1964
Office of International Education (OIE) was formed. OIE advised international students attending WSU, operated the International Student Center , and acted as the campus coordinator of the Pakistan Project. Dr. S.P. Swenson acted as Director.
1971
Dr. Victor N. Bhatia appointed Acting Director of OIE.
1973
Dr. Bhatia appointed Director of OIE. He developed contacts with the United States Department of Agriculture and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
1975
WSU signs a USAID contract to assist the University of Jordan in development of a College of Agriculture. Beginning a relationship between the WSU and the universities of Jordan that exists today. The current Presidents of the two largest universities in Jordan are WSU graduates.
1978
Dr. James B. Henson appointed Director of the newly formed International Program Development Office (IPDO) in the Graduate School. The IPDO became responsible to work with government and private funding sources in developing overseas projects for WSU. The Office of International Education (OIE) continued to have responsibility for international students attending WSU and for WSU students studying abroad.
1977
The first undergraduate degrees in agriculture were granted by the University of Jordan.
1979
WSU signs a USAID contract to assist Indonesia in the development of a university system modeled on the land grant university system.
The International Programs Advisory Committee formed to provide guidance to International Program Development Office (IPDO) in the pursuit of nurturing international development work within WSU. A survey by the committee revealed widespread international relationships among many departments and individual faculty members. The areas deemed most suitable for WSU participation in USAID sponsored development work were educational institution building and agricultural development.
1970s
WSU involved in USAID projects in many nations including, Zimbabwe, the Yemen Arab Republic, Syria, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, Sudan, Lesotho, Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico and Mali. By the end of the 70s WSU had become a recipient of a "strengthening grant" from USAID to assist in institutionalizing international development work within WSU.
1980s
WSU invited to become one of five universities participating in a Memorandum of Understanding with USAID. At that time WSU was the American university most heavily involved, with the highest dollar volume in USAID contracts. Ten WSU departments agreed to supply senior faculty members to USAID projects. WSU agreed to put its major emphasis on projects in Africa .
1982
Dr. Bhatia proposed creation of the Intensive American Language Center (IALC) to provide English language support to WSU international undergraduate and graduate students, and to offer English language instruction to prospective WSU students thereby facilitating WSU recruiting efforts.
1983
The current International Programs Development Cooperation unit (IPDC) was created under IPDO to administer USAID projects.
1984
Intensive American Language Center (IALC) opened as a self-sustaining unit within the Office of International Education . Originally housed in Bryan Hall, IALC moved to McAllister Hall in 1997.
1991
Dr. Bhatia retired. Office of International Education and International Programs Development Cooperation Office were combined into International Programs (IP) under the directorship of Dr. Henson . IP became organized as it is today with the following units: IP Administration, International Students and Scholars, Education Abroad, International Programs Development Cooperation (later renamed International Programs Research and Development), and the Intensive American Language Center. International education and research partnerships were established as an integral part of WSU international education and research activities.
1991
International education and research partnerships were established as an integral part of WSU international education and research activities.
1998
International Student Recruitment and Retention responsibility given to International Programs International Enrollment unit.
2000
Dr. Henson retired. Dr. Robert Harder became director of International Programs. In the same year, International Transcript/Credential evaluation responsibility was given to International Programs.
2000
Advisory Council for International Activities formed.
2002
The Intensive American Language Center accredited by the CEA (The Commission on English Language Accreditation). CEA is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.
2002
Bryan Hall remodeling completed and became the home of all International Programs' units other than Intensive American Language Center (IALC), which is located in McAllister Hall.
2003
SEVIS coordinator position and 1.5 Immigration Counselors added to immigration processing section of the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) unit in response to U.S. government regulations and a three-fold increase in immigration processing workload.
2004
International Programs Development Cooperation changed their name to International Research and Development (IR&D). The International Cougar Connection was established to facilitate and nurture relationships with friends and alumni overseas.
International Education becomes a university benchmarking category.
The Education Abroad unit hires a faculty-led program coordinator to meet the growing demand for faculty-led education abroad programs. In 2004, 13 WSU faculty-led programs took over 175 students for study in 15 countries on 4 continents.
2005
In Fall 2005, Dr. Lance Leloup, became the Associate Vice Provost of International Programs, replacing Dr. Robert Harder. Dr. Harder retired to Director Emeritus status and continues to work on fostering relationships with institutions as well as alumni and friends of WSU world wide.
2006
Global Studies unit formed to increase visibility of the Global Studies minor and bolster competitiveness for receiving prestigious scholarships such as Fulbright, Marshall, and others. Dr. Andrew Appleton charged with leading development of this area.
President Rawlins reviews development work in Malawi, Africa with WSU Regent, Rafael Stone.
2007
Dr. Lance LeLoup named Vice Provost for International Programs in support of WSU's commitment toward internationalizing the campus and expanding the university's global outreach.
International Programs names Scott Garrepy as Director of Development. He is the first full-time person to hold this role within International Programs.
Established 1890
The first building on campus, Thompson Hall, is pictured below.
