The world has an ever-changing global marketplace, and students from EvCC are potentially the next to be leading it, so how better to learn about the globe but from the globe itself.

This fall, 110 international students attended EvCC from 24 different countries, a 38 percent increase from the attendance of international students from fall 2008 and a two-fold increase since fall 2007.

"We can't prepare students to compete in the world unless there is an international presence," said Director of International Education Visakan Ganeson. "Everett Community College recruits international students as a service to its students."

According to EvCC's "Strategic Plan" (a configuration of goals and aspirations for EvCC to achieve in the coming years - created in Fall 2008), the college hopes that international students will make up three percent of the total student population by 2012.

Even with the significant jump in international student population over the past two years, the international student population is just over one percent of the roughly 8,000 students attending EvCC this quarter.

Ganeson was hired in the fall of 2008 to provide EvCC students with the opportunity to learn from international students, and in turn they learn from us.

"I have traveled around the world," Ganeson said. "And my scariest thoughts are that we are not preparing our students to compete in the global marketplace."

In one year of working for EvCC, Ganeson has increased the international student population by 39 students, and in his office sits a plaque reading "2007-2008 EvCC Staff of the Year."

Ganeson was named one of 12 representatives from colleges all over the United States to participate in a recruiting trip to Indonesia this month - the only representative from a community college.

Some other schools represented on this trip include Ohio State University, Marquette University, University of Pittsburgh, Michigan State University and more.

Having been Director of International Programs at Skagit Valley Community College for 18 years, Ganeson said that bringing in the initial international students to EvCC was, "about what I have brought to the table," but future international students will come based on the experiences of other international students before them from EvCC. Many of these students share these experiences through messaging systems like blogs.

Former international students have left comments about their experiences on the EvCC website."EvCC was, is and will always be my home. I got help from everybody, whatever the need. I can see how warm and friendly people are here. I'm never lost in America because I have them," said former Vietnamese International Student Thuy Van Nguyen.

While 110 international students is a big increase for EvCC, that number is far lower than the amount of international students at other community colleges in the area. For instance, Seattle Central CC, Green River CC, Edmonds CC, Bellevue College, Shoreline CC and North Seattle CC all rank in the top 40 schools in the U.S for total amount of international students, each have at least 550 international students.

For EvCC to achieve its goal of three percent of the total student population composed of international students, 200 international students would be attending EvCC. Achieving this goal will take more work in EvCC's infrastructure and domestic students building better relationships with international students in order for more students to come in.

"If we can build true relationships, that is what can make us better than those other schools," Ganeson said. "Me and folks in the international office are not the only people coming in contact with international students."

For example, if Ganeson were to recruit 300 international students without infrastructure such as housing, job opportunities and available activities in place, those students won't leave good comments which would leave the school worse off than before.

The Student Senate has seen an increase in international presence with seven students from around the world serving as senators this quarter.

"We can learn a lot from them," Ganeson said. "Why are they here? It is a great opportunity."