FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3/4/05

Greenville College Joins International Consortium to Welcome Japanese Students

GREENVILLE , ILL. – Greenville College welcomed Dr. Hishashi Kitanaka and Kumi Sunada from the Trinity Foundation Programme in Bangor , North Wales to celebrate the formation of a partnership that will allow Japanese students to attend the college. During this visit, the college hosted a signing ceremony in which Greenville College officially joined a consortium of four other internationally known universities from the British Isles , including Trinity College of Dublin, St. Andrews University (where Prince William attends), Bangor and Aberwystwyth.

Dr. Ivan Filby , Greenville College's newest faculty member and head of the Management Department (left), and Dr. Karen Longman , vice president for Academic Affairs (right), welcomed Kumi Sunada and Dr. Hishashi Kitanaka from the Trinity Foundation Programme in Bangor, North Wales, to campus to celebrate a new partnership that will draw Japanese students to Greenville College.

The first Japanese students will arrive at Greenville College in the fall of 2006. Japanese students must first take foundation courses from Trinity College where they study English for academics, learn note-taking, gain complex vocabulary and take other courses related to their college interests. The foundational courses currently require two semesters to complete but will eventually be combined into one semester.

This partnership came about through Greenville College 's newest faculty member, Dr. Ivan Filby and his eight-year relationship with Dr. Kitanaka. Before coming to Greenville , Dr. Filby worked at Trinity College as director of international student affairs.

“We are always comfortable sending students to Dr. Filby,” said Dr. Kitanaka. According to Dr. Filby, Greenville College will draw Japanese students through the security of its environment. “Japanese parents are very concerned for the safety of their children,” said Dr. Filby.

Dr. Kitanaka was also impressed by the individual attention and concern given students by the faculty and staff. “With a small school students aren't lost in the numbers,” said Dr. Filby.

During Dr. Kitanaka's visit, he met with department heads at the college to learn about different college programs and distinctives. According to Dr. Kitanaka, 60% of students currently participating in the program seek to study in the sciences.

Dr. Filby recognizes the importance of international students at Greenville College . “The world is global,” said Dr. Filby. “This partnership will help American students to gain an international perspective.”

Greenville College is a four-year accredited Christian liberal arts school with more than 1300 traditional undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree completion students.  Founded in 1892 and affiliated with the Free Methodist Church , the college is located in Greenville, Illinois, 45 miles east of St. Louis .

CONTACT:
Christy Grimes ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Greenville College
(618) 664-6515