SPEARFISH - Two years ago, the international program at Black Hills State University had five students. This year, there are 47 in the program.

Ten of the new students are from Chengdu, People's Republic of China, where China's Great Panda Reserve is located.

The students come from Sichuan Normal University, which has more than 40,000 students. Eighty percent of the students there are women, many of whom will become teachers.

"The international situation about the girls from China who are attending BHSU is they are here for two years," John Slate Fleming, international student director, said.

"It's a one, plus two, plus one program. They study one year in China, two years here, and then another in China."

When they graduate, the students get dual degrees - from both universities.

This year, there also are six students from South Korea studying at BHSU -- two men and four women.

There are more than 250 universities in South Korea. The students studying at BHSU are from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, which is in the top 10 universities academically in that country.

"The students that came here from South Korea are all 'hand-selected' to come here. They're the top students," Fleming said.

The South Korean students attend BHSU one semester. They are on a study-abroad program, not degree-seeking programs.

Other first-year BHSU international countries, represented by one student each, are from Nepal, Ethiopia, Lithuania, Vietnam and Sweden. Three new students this year are from Japan.

Returning international students represent Japan, Benin, Canada, the Ivory Coast, Taiwan, Nigeria and Belgium.

"Students attending BHSU from Asia and China are principally interested in business administration, mass communications and English," Fleming said.

BHSU has both inbound and outbound studies. Students from BHSU may study abroad, and international students may study at BHSU.

For the first time in the school's history, one student from Lithuania came here to study, and one from here went to Lithuania. Three BHSU students went to South Korea to study at Kyung Hee University.

John Holst, BHSU international student recruiter, acts as a liaison between Spearfish "friendship families" and the international students. He provides families with an opportunity to meet and converse with the students to expose them to American culture.

"The international program falls within the goals of our strategic planning," Fleming said.

The faculty at BHSU also has the opportunity to participate in exchange programs.

Last spring, two faculty members traveled to Lithuania to give lectures. Two other faculty members went to Kyung Hee University to present research papers.

Other faculty members spent three months in Lithuania, China and South Korea.

"We have the opportunity this year for three undergraduates to teach English in China for one year."