UMT Designated as An Institutional Sponsor for J-1 Students/Visitors

ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 12, 2005 - UMT has been designated, effected 30 March 2005, one of institutional sponsors of an Exchange Visitor Programs (i.e., J-1 Program) in accordance with the administrative regulations issued under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (also know as the Fulbright-Hay Act).

This designation is another important milestone for the UMT’s international student programs after the Immigration and Naturalization Services, currently as Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, authorized the UMT as one of F-1 student program sponsors in October 2000.

Under Dr. Eric Kirkland’s leadership in launching J-1 program, UMT studied US governmental regulations and prepared and submitted application and supporting documents by the end of last year. This designation adds one more credential to the UMT’s reputation as a truly international university. The designation meets the demand from international students who wish to study but don’t plan to stay in the United States after their graduations. It also provides an alternative to currently tightly controlled F-1 student program to admit qualified international students who meet the criterion as a J-1 student.

UMT is expecting to have a cohort of international students come to the UMT to study soon in academic year of 2005-2006.