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Diverse student population makes UH stand out

With a population of 40,750 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 137 nations in the world, UH is ranked as the second most ethnically diverse major research university in the United States.

With 3,733 international students attending UH as of 2013, the Houston metro area has the 12th-largest group of international students in America, according to a new study of America’s international student population mentioned in the Houston Chronicle.

“People around the globe have heard about the University of Houston’s outstanding graduate and undergraduate programs, as well as the cutting-edge research happening on campus,” Anna Lauzon Hood, program manager and professor at the UH Language and Culture Center said. “These programs continue to attract international students who want an excellent education in a culturally rich and diverse city.”

The LCC provides intensive English instruction for international students who want to study at universities in the United States or improve their English language skills to meet personal and professional goals.

“Many international students are highly qualified, but need English proficiency to fully participate in academic programs at the University,” Hood said. “It is the Language and Culture Center’s mission to prepare them for academic success at the University.”

In addition to the large population of international students at UH, the student population also includes 62 Native Americans; 90 Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders; 4,232 African Americans; 7,655 Asian Americans; 10,188 Hispanics; and 12,140 white students.

These statistics are more than just numbers: these are students with different ethnicities and backgrounds that make UH historically diverse and give it so much recognition.

“Diversity has always been a curious aspect for me and UH is the best place for it,”  said biology junior Sadia Tasnim, who came to UH from Bangladesh. “The diversity on campus has never let me feel homesick for once.”

Adding weight to that statement, according to the Houston Chronicle, 59 percent of foreign students stuck around Houston after graduation, putting it at eighth on the list of metros that hold onto international students after they graduate.

“There was always something to learn from and share with other cultures,” Tasnim said. “I feel that our diversity is our strength which keeps us going. We learn more from each other than we can through any other means.”

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