The UR welcomed its largest ever class of international students as nearly 450 from 76 nations Monday.

Ivy Ding will study economics. She arrived from Shanghai, China with her family and laid eyes on the River Campus during International Move-In Day Monday. Ivy also begins her U of R career as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reversed policy and will again allow international science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students to be placed at customer work sites for 12 months of optional practical training.  

"In the U.S. educational system, you're able to express yourself. You're able to speak up," Ding said.

Her parents Yvonne and Danial are excited for their daughter and proud of the choice she made after applying to a dozen different U.S. colleges.

"American higher education is very well and you still have more freedom and have more personal feel," said Danial Ding.

The U of R says nearly 40 percent of it class of international students came from China.