DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire's new partnership with an Australian firm that recruits and supports international students will not only result in increased revenue and a more diverse student body, but also provide the university with a bigger applicant pool at a time when the number of high school graduates is on the decline.

"This exciting partnership with Navitas will not only make UNH a more global and diverse institution with the students it will bring to our campuses, but it will broaden our revenue stream even as it opens new doors to the world for our students and programs," said UNH President Mark W. Huddleston.

Beginning in May 2011 with approximately two dozen students, Navitas will manage an International University Transfer Program (IUTP) on UNH's Durham campus. The IUTP provides opportunities for academically qualified students from other countries to increase their fluency in English while they complete the first year of a baccalaureate degree program. Students will be enrolled in the IUTP for 12-18 months and take a combination of ESL and academic classes.

This partnership will not change the percentage of in-state students accepted at UNH and will not change the overall size of the student body. The number of high school graduates in the United States is expected to fall over the next decade resulting in a smaller applicant pool of out-of-state students. Navitas will address this issue while at the same time helping the university meet its goal of internationalizing the campus, eventually resulting in 10-12 percent of the student body coming from other countries.

Navitas has nearly 30 partnerships in Australia, the UK, Singapore, and Canada. UNH is the company's fifth U.S. partner. Students who successfully complete the Navitas IUTP will be eligible to continue their studies in baccalaureate courses approved by the university.

"Navitas has more than 15 years of experience," said Lisa MacFarlane, senior vice provost for academic affairs at UNH. "The company has an excellent reputation for integrity and quality, and we are confident that this partnership will benefit the international students who participate and our entire campus community. UNH sets admissions criteria, reviews applications and issues letters of conditional admission. All of the classes taught through the IUTP program are overseen by the appropriate UNH academic department."

MacFarlane said that over the past 15 years an average of 90 percent of all Navitas students have transferred into baccalaureate programs at their host institutions, and their retention rates, graduation rates and final GPAs are comparable to those of the regularly admitted student body.

"We are delighted to be partnering with such a highly regarded academic institution to offer an outstanding educational opportunity to international students in the USA," said Rod Jones, CEO of Navitas. "The University of New Hampshire has built strong foundations from its rich history but has also committed to ensuring a successful future via increased diversification and internationalization. We look forward to working closely with the university to assist it achieve these goals."

Navitas currently operates four other colleges in the United States, signing agreements with Western Kentucky University, University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Massachusetts Lowell and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, in the last 12 months.  

For more information about Navitas visit www.navitas.com.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling more than 12,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.

-30-