Section A·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, July 7, 1999
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Saudi Arabia exporting students to KU for college preparation
By Katie Burford
Kansan campus editor
Thamer S. Al-Humayyd, 18, said that his first choice was the University of California, Los Angeles, but he thought he would be sent to the University of Colorado, Boulder. Not a bad place to be either, he said, because he enjoys skiing.
Al-Humayyd said that 2,400 students applied for Saudi Aramco's program. Students are chosen before their final year of high school. Of the 190 that were accepted, 50 dropped out because their grades were inadequate. Al-Humayyd said.
Fatal O. Ismail, 18, Thamer S. Al-Humayyd, 18, Hussam S. Al-Madani, 19, and Abdullah M. Al-Zahrami, 19, work on a computer project. The students from Saudi Arabia are here for the summer preparing to attend enroll at American universities. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
The University of Kansas is doing its part to prepare 15 of Saudi Arabia's best and brightest future computer scientists for university life in the United States.
Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Aramco) selected 15 men, ages 18 to 20, to participate in an acculturation program at the University. The company also pays for the students to receive college educations in the United States after the program, said Christa Hansen, a coordinator with the University's Applied English Center.
Abdullah M. Al-Zahrami, 19, said that he was partial to Lawrence.
This is the first year the University has provided the acculturation program, which is offered by the Applied English Center and the School of Engineering. Vanderbilt University and Louisiana State University also offer a similar service to students in the Saudi Aramco program.
After completing the University's acculturation program, a few students will stay in Lawrence for college and the rest will transfer to other universities.
While here, the students take a variety of preparatory classes, including computer programming; introduction to U.S. technology education; and English for engineering. Classes started June 4 and will continue through the end of July.
Saudi Aramco primarily decides where students will attend college, but depending on their English proficiency, a few will have input on the decision.
"I think the people are very kind," he said. "I want to stay."
Saudi Aramco's program is competitive, and the students' time at the University reflects their challenges. Students have classes every morning and afternoon during the week and study ball each week night except Friday.
But the program is not all work and no play. On weekends, students go to the lake, to the movies — like The Matrix, Big Daddy and Instinct
or to other events in 1942.
Several students said they were looking forward to seeing the movie South Park.
"We get the tapes in Saudi Arabia" Al-Humavd said.
While many of the students are savvy and well-traveled, the transition to life in the United States does not come without adjustments. Food is one example.
hacket very well.
"At first, it was good," he said. "But now it's the same thing every night."
"The remedy? Pizza Shuttle."
Talal O. Ismail, 18, said that the food in Ekkdahl Dining Commons lacked variety.
The university not unlike many U.S. college students, the Saudi students call for pizza delivery on nearly a nightly basis.
In their native country, they are accustomed to eating dinner late, Ismail said.
"Sometimes, dinner is breakfast," be said.
The weather is another adjustment.
"It's always changing. One minute it's raining; the next it's sunny." AlHumayyd said.
Because many in the group attended boarding schools, they were accustomed to being away from their families before arriving at the University. However, a few lived at home, such as Abdullah M. Al-Zahrami, 19, who is away from his family for the first time.
He said that it was too soon to tell how he feels about being away.
Tom Mulnazzi, associate dean of the School of Engineering, said he worked to bring the program to the University because enrollment in the petroleum engineering program has been declining. By developing a relationship with Saudi Aramco, Mulnazzi said he hoped to reverse the trend.
Mulinazzi is teaching the course an U.S. technology education.
"I'm teaching them what the expectations are in terms of quality of work and what is considered ethical behavior in the United States so they don't inadvertently get themselves into trouble." Mullnazzi said.
He said that he hoped this year would mark the beginning of a long life for the program at the University.
After finishing their degrees, the students will return to Saudi Arabia.
- Edited by Chad Bettes
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