To sustain and cultivate Chinese students’ interest in USF, the university
recently opened a new office in Beijing.
“Now, prospective students, parents, and alumni have an immediate
line of contact in Beijing,” said Stanley Nel, USF vice president of
international relations.
The last seven years have seen more of Nel’s efforts center on
China, including recruiting, fundraising, and establishing
relationships with top Chinese universities, Nel said. It’s a focus
that has seen the number of native Chinese enrolled at USF
rising dramatically to 424 from just 41 in 2005.
Located in Beijing’s Central Business District, USF’s new
office is not far from the U.S. Embassy. Nel is currently hiring
a staff for the office, which will be open six days a week. Staff
will do everything from visit high schools and college fairs to
interview prospective students and respond to the questions
of parents who already have students at USF.
Also in the works are events for members of the USF
community in China and job placement counseling for recent
graduates organized through the new office, Nel said.