A PLUS for Campus

Lewis & Clark welcomed five students from Tunisia, Egypt, India, and Bangladesh last fall as participants in the Partnerships for Learning Undergraduate studies (PLUS), a program funded by the U.S. department of State. The students are serving as unofficial ambassadors for their countries as they participate in college life and hone their English-language skills.

“This program is very effective in bringing to Lewis & Clark students from countries and cultures not often represented on campus,” says Joann Geddes, instructor and director of Academic English Studies. “The students have already contributed to a positive environment of educational and cultural exchange that enriches all involved.”

The PLUS program is designed to reach a broad spectrum of college-age youth from diverse backgrounds and provide them with a greater understanding of U.S. institutions, society, and culture. 

The PLUS students were enrolled in universities in their home countries before coming to Lewis & Clark as junior transfer students. They work toward completing a bachelor’s degree from the College within two years. The PLUS program encourages students to share their American experiences when they return to their home countries after completing their U.S. studies.