Of those 462 students, 176 are new to Ball State, a 23 percent increase over last year's record of new international students. The students represent 80 countries, including for the first time Belarus and Uzbekistan.

"This record can be attributed to Ball State's appeal to students, an intensified recruitment campaign, rapid processing of admission applications and the availability of a new English-language program for students whose language test scores previously would not have been high enough to be eligible for admission," said Jim Coffin, director of International Programs.

The American Language Academy (ALA) administers the program. Founded in 1970, the ALA works with colleges throughout the United States to teach English and American culture to foreign students.

The ALA program supplements the existing Intensive English Institute in the Department of English and will offer instruction to students whose incoming proficiency scores are below the eligibility level for the institute.

The ALA program allows students to take up to six eight-week English language courses. At any time, the Ball State international student can retake the TOEFL exam. Once students score at least 550, they can be admitted to a full academic program at the university.

"This program is a boon to our efforts to recruit international students because it has enabled us to compete for this population," Coffin said. "Already 19 students are on campus for the ALA program, which when completed will enable them to pursue their academic studies."

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Coffin by e-mail at jcoffin@bsu.eduor by phone at (765) 285-5422. For more information about the American Language Academy, go to www.ala-usa.com.)