|
Over 100 years ago, cowboys roamed the
plains in the old wild, wild west. Today, the plains of Kansas
are 'wired', with the latest fiber optics networks creating a
fast paced learning environment for international students.
Kansas is located in the heart of the United States, with
neighboring states of Colorado to the west and Missouri to the
east. The state has easy access by air and highway to both
coasts.
 International
students come from all over the world to study in Kansas. The
state offers a friendly Midwestern hospitality, where higher
education is economically priced within high tech campus
environments rich in research and internship opportunities .
Living in Kansas is also fairly inexpensive. Kansans enjoy a
high quality of life, and has one of the lowest cost of living
indexes in the U.S. According to the Kansas Department of
Commerce & Housing 1999 statistics, Kansas has a 93 cost of
living index, compared to the national average of 100.
 Kansas
offers a research and teaching environment that supports and
cultivates new technologies. Coordinator of International
Affairs at Fort Hays State University Noppadon Moapichai
believes that Kansas is an ideal location for international
study. "Kansas colleges and universities are a very safe and
affordable place to study. I have recruited students from all
over the world and they enjoy the small class sizes, quality
instruction, friendly atmosphere and high tech environment."
Kansas offers international students a variety of choices,
with six public institutions along with Kansas's nineteen
community colleges, eleven technical schools, and one municipal
university. Kansas ranks third in the U.S. for percent of
population enrolled in public higher education. Many of the
Kansas community colleges and Universities have fully wired
residence halls, allowing students to complete their school
assignments by computers connected to the internet without ever
leaving their housing facility.
 The
University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, and enrolls
students from more than 100 countries. Kansas State University
is a major research university with a total student body of over
18,000, with its main campus in Manhattan. Fort Hays State
University offers over 200 courses to international students
on-line through their virtual college, and has one of the best
on-campus graphic design programs in the United States. Wichita
State University is a comprehensive metropolitan university,
which houses the National Institute for Avionics Research. The
Center for Design, Development & Production at Pittsburg State
University is known world-wide; and Emporia, State University
houses the nation's only Community Analysis Research Institute.
But there is more to do than just study in Kansas! Kansas is
home to many museums and attractions. The Hutchinson's
Cosmophere has one of the world's largest collections of USA
space program artifacts, and gives a spectacular look at space
with the IMAX dome theater. The air capital of the world is
located in Wichita, and visitors travel from all over the world
to see the Kansas Aviation Museum. The Sternberg Museum of
Natural History in Hays house three million specimens, along
with animated large scale dinosaurs that bring the past back to
life. From sporting events, theatre, blues to ballet you'll find
a rich cultural experience in Kansas.
With the growth of online and distance learning, Kansas
universities and community colleges also offer educational
opportunities to international students at a distance.
Edukan.org is an alliance of six community colleges in western
Kansas. Edukan Director Matt Gotchall said the alliance is a
great way for international students to take courses
economically and conveniently to create general studies
requirements.
 The
Heartland Alliance is an alliance of over 17 institutions in
Kansas that offer courses on-line. Dean of the Virtual College
Cindy Elliott at Fort Hays State University said that distance
learning courses offered through the Heartland Alliance are very
affordable for international students. "Our University offers
undergraduate credit for around $80 per credit hour and $108 per
hour for graduate credit. It's not all that uncommon for
students to take some classes on-line and some course on
campus". Many degree programs are available completely on-line
from several Kansas Universities.
Whether students study on-line or on-campus, they are sure to
find academic excellence with Kansas higher education offerings.
Discover the advantages of higher education in Kansas.
Quality programs at two and four-year institutions of higher
education are located across the state.
On-line information
For information on the heartland alliance, which offers on-line
courses from several Kansas colleges and Universities visit the
website at:
http://web.jccc.net/edtech/heartland
On-campus information
The Kansas Board of Regents is a nine-member body that governs
the six public universities, supervises and coordinates nineteen
community colleges, eleven technical schools and colleges, and
one municipal university. To view the homepages of all of these
institutions visit
www.kansasregents.org and click on the university or
community college link.
In Kansa, there are six state universities, and 19 community
colleges, five technical colleges, six technical schools and a
municipal university. |
