WUSTL Brings Global Resources to St. Louis

The McDonnell International Scholars Academy, launched in October 2005, brings together recent graduates from 24 premier research universities across Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East, to pursue advanced academic work at Washington University in St. Louis. This first group of scholars began their individual graduate studies at Washington University in fall 2006. The Academy, which began with 16 academic partners, will eventually grow to 35 partner universities worldwide.

The Academy seeks to strengthen ties between top research universities around the world to address global challenges, such as energy and the environment, infectious diseases, and economic and social development. Scholars are chosen for their potential to become future leaders in society, government, academics, and business.

The goals of the Academy are to:

• Provide an opportunity for talented international graduate and professional students to join the             Washington University community

• Provide an on-campus experience that assists scholars in understanding U.S. culture, history, and   politics, as well as international issues

• Build stronger ties between Washington University and leading research universities around the world

• Strengthen relationships between Washington University and alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and governments of the scholars’ countries.

The McDonnell Academy organizes special seminars, retreats, and other events. At these events distinguished scholars, politicians, and other analysts lead discussions on political, cultural, and economic issues in the United States and the broader world. Last spring the participants traveled to Washington, D.C., to learn firsthand about U.S. politics, culture, history, and government.

The McDonnell Academy Scholars receive funding for full tuition at Washington University, living expenses, and travel to and from their home countries. To help McDonnell Academy Scholars develop a sense of community, the students live together in two University-owned apartment buildings in the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood.

Funding is provided through a sustaining endowment gift from John F. McDonnell, vice chairman of the Washington University Board of Trustees and retired chairman of the board of McDonnell Douglas Corporation, additional endowment pledges, and 11 multinational corporate and foundation sponsors.

For more information about the scholars, their home institutions, and the Academy visit mcdonnell.wustl.edu.

Ziyan Zhang and Yanjiao Xie, both of Peking University, visit outside the two furnished apartment buildings

 at Pershing Avenue and Skinker Boulevard where   most of the McDonnell Academy scholars reside.   

Students travel to St. Louis for school and some stay for a lifetime

The Class of 2011 traveled across town and across oceans to attend Washington University. Approximately 1,340 first-year students from all over the world — 20 countries, 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico — joined the campus community in August 2007. The first-year students were chosen from more than 22,000 applicants.

The incoming freshman class is about 100 fewer than the incoming class in 2006. This was an intentional reduction, based on a decision that the University could better serve undergraduate students with a slightly smaller total population. The total undergraduate population will be reduced from 6,300 to 5,800 over the next five years. This number is a better fit for the infrastructure in place at the university including housing, food service, parking, teacher-student ratio, and classroom space.

It is well known that many students come from all over the country and the world to attend Washington University. However, it is less well known how many Washington University graduates remain in St. Louis. According to M. Fredric Volkmann, vice chancellor for public affairs at Washington University, “on average, about 30 percent of our undergraduates remain in the St. Louis region after earning their degrees, yet less than 10 percent come from the metro area.”

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