Spring International Language Center Going 'Uptown'

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Spring International Language Center will be among the first campus offices to move into the University of Arkansas’ new Uptown Campus West buildings on North College Avenue. The 10 staff, 26 faculty and 216 current students at Spring International will make the move on May 29 from Hotz Hall to the former Arkansas Western Gas buildings. Hotz Hall is being converted back into a residence hall, and the university bought the Uptown Campus West buildings to house many of the offices currently in Hotz. To serve the students and provide increased mobility, University Transit has added a new red route bus that will run every 20 minutes between Uptown and the main campus. 

Over 6,000 international students from 118 countries have come to the United States to study English at the Spring International Language Center since it partnered with the university in August of 1992. Many Spring International students have gone on to earn bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees at the University of Arkansas.  These students return to their home countries, taking a love of the Razorbacks with them, becoming ambassadors for Arkansas and the U.S.

Many students come to Spring International in groups — such as the 28 graduate students who recently came from two Thai universities to study English while conducting research and studying U.S. education. Spring International worked with the College of Education and Health Professions, a collaboration that culminated in two memoranda of understanding between the college and the Thai universities. Other groups of students have come for special programs with the College of Engineering, the Sam M. Walton College of Business, the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Some students come to Spring International as individuals and study for varying lengths of time. Still others are part of grant programs that are supported by various governments, including the United States, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Ecuador. In addition, over the past six years, Spring International has received an annual grant of over $500,000 to support 60-70 international Ford fellows who come to Fayetteville to study English, social justice and community development. This June, 35 Fulbright scholars will attend a six-week pre-academic program before going to their destination universities around the United States to pursue their graduate degree programs. Since 1994, Spring International has had the honor of training over 350 Fulbright scholars and 450 Ford fellows.

In 2011, Provost Sharon Gaber had the depth of vision to combine several units into the Graduate School and International Education, creating strong synergy across all of the member units of International Students and Scholars, Study Abroad and International Exchanges and the office of graduate and international recruitment and admissions. Spring International became part of that group and has already been a vital partner on many projects and grants. Together with the offices of international admissions and international students and scholars, Spring International is in the process of creating a pathway program for more international students to enter the university.

Leyah Bergman-Lanier has been the director of Spring International since it first opened in 1992 with eight students from six countries. “The foundation of resources for developing our international student population is firmly in place, which puts the University of Arkansas and Spring International in a great position from which to continue to recruit international students. We expect more amazing students and programs to come from our excellent working relationship,” Lanier said.

Lanier hopes that the Spring International Language Center’s close campus ties will remain strong following the move to the Uptown Campus West and that students from across disciplines will continue to volunteer as conversation partners, international student ambassadors and mentors. She said the center will host an open house in September and is inviting the university community to visit, adding, “We’ve got plenty of free parking.”