International students and students who have taken part in the university's study-abroad program lead visitors, fellow students, faculty and staff members in a brief lesson on how to say “welcome” in some of the languages spoken by international students at Cal State Fullerton. The students were hosted to an annual luncheon at the President's residence Aug. 21. Photo by Kelly Lacefield

Global Gathering

International Students Feted at El Dorado Ranch

August 25, 2008

By Pamela McLaren

President Milton A. Gordon joined campus administrators, faculty and staff members and community members at an Aug. 21 luncheon honoring the university’s international and study abroad students. More than 400 attended the annual function that was hosted at the President’s residence, El Dorado Ranch.

During the festivities, President Gordon and Lay Tuan Tan, acting director of international education and exchange, stressed the importance of a global perspective and the value of having exchanges of students from around the world.

This fall, there are about 1,200 international students either pursuing a degree or participating in a semester or yearlong exchange program, according to Tan. Last year, more than 200 Cal State Fullerton students participated in study-abroad programs.

There also are programs that bring international scholars to campus for short periods, such as a group of visiting professors that arrived Sunday, Aug. 24, from the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics. The Chinese faculty members will be visiting campus for six months studying how to make class and oral presentations in English and attending courses in their respective business fields.