"This is the first exchange program of its kind here," said Jim Coffin, director of the Center for International Programs.

It is also the largest African delegation to come at one time to study at Ball State.

The students, all from the National Polytechnical Institute of the Ivory Coast, will stay in campus residence halls while they earn certificates for their studies.

When they are not studying, the students will be visiting classes and taking part in other campus and community cultural exchanges.

The Ivorians are coming thanks to the initiative of doctoral student Pierre Atchade, said Coffin.

Two years ago, Atchade, a native of the West African nation of Benin, approached Coffin with his concerns that Ball State needed more academic representation from Africa.

"We were losing ground at Ball State with the number of African students who were coming to study here," said Atchade.

Coffin suggested Atchade join with a Ball State professor to seek funding for a site visit to the Ivory Coast to discuss a student exchange with educational officials there.

Awarded a grant from the International Programs Endowment Fund, modern languages professor Christine Shea and Atchade visited Yamoussoukro, the Ivory Coast capital, in May to lay the groundwork for this exchange.

The exchange is another way to broaden Ball State students' global perspective, said Atchade.

"The presence of African students can have a great influence on students and help promote multiculturalism," said Atchade. "Their presence will make a difference."

Coffin envisions the program being emulated in other years with other countries.

"We can see it evolving where students don't just come to earn a certificate, but come for a longer period to earn full course credit," Coffin said.

By Nancy Prater, Web Editor

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information or to make arrangements to meet with the Ivory Coast students, contact Jim Coffin at jcoffin@bsu.eduor (765)285-5422, Christine Shea at cshea@bsu.eduor (765)285-1381, or Pierre Atchade at patchade@gw.bsu.edu or (765) 285-8556.)