Marshall University continues to evolve into one of the nation’s most diverse campuses.
Marshall University continues to evolve into one of the nation’s most diverse campuses.Maurice Cooley recalled when he enrolled as a freshman at Marshall University in 1966, the school had “perhaps as many as a dozen” students from foreign countries. Today, Marshall has roughly 500 international students, hailing from 61 countries. In 1966, Cooley was one of 35 African American students residing on Marshall’s campus and most of those were athletes. Today, he said, Marshall has “between 800 and 1,000 African American students.”
As Associate Vice President of Intercultural Affairs and Outreach at Marshall, Cooley is proud of the dramatic increase in those numbers. But he emphasizes Marshall’s efforts to build a more diverse student body go far beyond a matter of numbers.
Marshall is determined, Cooley said, to create “a diverse university of respect, learning, inclusion and engagement.” Marshall’s Office of Intercultural Affairs, he said, was established in 2014 to nurture students and move them towards becoming “citizens of the world.” The role of a university, he said, is not merely to teach students skills and knowledge in their areas of study, but also to prepare them to live in a multicultural and inclusive society.
“When our students graduate, there is a strong likelihood they will be working in settings and businesses with people from all over the world. What we’re trying to do,” he explained, “is to more fully embrace and integrate the many cultures and geographical origins as well as differences and commonalities associated with race, ethnicities, religion, lifestyles, norms and our studies.”
Since 2013, Marshall has partnered with INTO University Partnerships, a private company that works with leading universities around the world to expand opportunities for higher education. At Marshall, one of INTO’s seven U.S. partners, international students join a supportive community designed to help them integrate into American university life.
INTO at Marshall is located in the former community college facility, which was extensively remodeled to provide a place for international students to gather and find the support they need to ensure their success.
INTO’s inaugural enrollment at Marshall in August 2013 included 170 students from 23 countries. In the two years since, the program has recorded steady progress. In August 2014, it enrolled 227 students from 27 countries. In August 2015, it enrolled 298 students from 22 countries.
Rakesh Bangaru first came to Marshall from India in 2014. He has returned to Marshall in pursuit of his master’s degree in computer science. He has also taken on the role of student ambassador for INTO.
Bangaru said when deciding to study abroad he chose the United States for its technological advancements and opportunities. Though Huntington wasn’t quite the American city he envisioned, he has a new perspective on life in the U.S.
“To be frank, I expected the city to be like New York City, but it wasn’t like that,” Bangaru said. “It didn’t reach my expectations, but I’ve been here a while now and I’ve changed my mindset. I found the beauty in Marshall’s campus. Marshall offers a wonderful campus life for every individual. It has wonderful professors, and the staff at INTO is very kind and supportive.”
Ashwin Athrey, an INTO student from India, has just started his first semester at Marshall studying computer science. He said he chose to come to the U.S. for global experience, and Marshall’s computer science program offered the opportunity for a great education.
Athrey said Huntington is the first place he saw when he landed in the U.S., and so far everyone has been welcoming.
“The INTO staff has been really nice and friendly. I’ve also met other students and we’ve exchanged stories about our countries,” Athrey said.
Marshall also offers programs aimed at recruiting minority high school students. “Our annual Intercultural Students Weekend has proven tremendously successful,” Cooley said. Outstanding minority high school students and their parents are invited to the Huntington campus for an in-depth opportunity to learn what Marshall has to offer. This experience has attracted more than 125 Hispanic/Latino, Native American Indians, Pacific Islanders, Asian American and African American students. Cooley cited with pride the national recognition Marshall received in a 2010 report, “Big Gaps: Some Colleges and Universities Do Better Than Others in Graduating African American Students,” published by The Education Trust. The study found Marshall is among the most successful universities in the country at graduating African American students at the same rate as white students.
Once students arrive at Marshall, several programs are available to assist them.
The Center for African American Students, located in the Memorial Student Center on the Huntington campus, is the primary home for the Black United Students social club and a connection site for all black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities.
Founded in 2003 by Cooley, the Society of Black Scholars is a highly select honors program for African Americans. The program has a progressive focus on high academic performance, character development, integrity, professional leadership and service learning. Alumni of the program include a number of physicians, lawyers and other professionals with advanced degrees.
Concerned that too few minority students enter the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, the National Science Foundation established the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation. Marshall’s membership in the alliance means minority students interested in the STEM fields have access to free tutoring, mentoring, advising and even opportunities to participate in research alongside seasoned Marshall faculty scientists.
The Chancellor’s Scholar Program, funded by Marshall and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, seeks to recruit, educate and graduate minority doctoral students. Tuition, stipends and research assistance funds are available for qualified candidates.
Today there’s growing public recognition that diversity involves more than an individual’s skin color or where he or she was born.
Significantly, the website eCollegeFinder has named Marshall the most LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) friendly higher education institution in West Virginia.
“We have worked tremendously hard to embrace students from all backgrounds, including our LGBT community of students,” Cooley said. “Our new programs, which include the LGBT Speaker Series, Safe Zone Training, Lending Library and more, offer new dimensions for our students. Marshall is a great environment for all students to grow, learn and gain acceptance from others, irrespective of our differences.”
James E. Casto is the retired associate editor of The Herald-Dispatch and the author of a number of books on local and regional history.
Photos: (from the second from top) With the renovation of Marshall’s former community college facility, INTO students have a place to gather to meet with faculty and staff and bond with other international students. Maurice Cooley stands in front of the large blackboard in his office decorated with a globe that invites to write down their names and share their home countries. In 2013, Marshall first welcomed 170 INTO students from 23 countries. In August 2015, that number grew to 298 students from 22 countries.Cooley meets with Yecen Zhu, a graduate assistant to the Intercultural Affairs and Outreach office from China, and Lisa Allen, the office’s program manager.