 |
Red and Black, University of Georgia
Friday, November 07, 2003
Fewer foreign students attending U.S. colleges
By NICOLE GOSS
Americans are not the only people still feeling the aftershocks of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
The number of international students attending U.S. colleges increased by less than 1 percent in the 2002-2003 academic year -- the lowest growth rate in seven years.
The University's numbers have dropped from 1,344 international students in fall 2002 to 1,301 in fall 2003, said Mark Lusk, associate provost of International Affairs.
According to a new study conducted by the Institute of International Education, tightened visa procedures and tough immigration rules are at least partly responsible for the low growth rate.
"We are seeing our international enrollment leveling off as other countries pick the students up," Lusk said.
"The United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand -- in that order -- are seeing their enrollment grow rapidly," he said. "These countries all have universities similar to the universities in the U.S., but they have not imposed the same restrictions and scrutiny on applicants."
Lusk said the paperwork delays deter many students from coming to the United States and encourage them to study in countries with fewer barriers.
Foreign students are subjected to background checks and must present to the consulate a letter of acceptance from the U.S. university they hope to attend. They also must prove they have the financial means to pay for their education, Lusk said.
Fees are another obstacle.
In addition to a $100 visa processing fee paid to the U.S. Department of State and a visa issuance fee, foreign students bear the burden of the implementation and upkeep of SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) requirements.
SEVIS is a tracking system for international students that was instituted following the 2001 terrorist attacks.
International students are now required to pay a $100 one-time SEVIS fee to the federal government to study in the United States as well as the $50 each semester they already pay to the University.
"We spend $170,000 a year on staff, computer programming, software and upkeep of the SEVIS program," Lusk said. "Congress did not appropriate enough money for universities to take on the costs of the system, so the University Cabinet voted to require the $50 per semester payment."
However, the new $100 fee will be paid directly to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, which Lusk said will be used by the federal government to process the students' applications.
The SEVIS system will receive an estimated $30 million for maintenance and additional staffers from the proposed fee.
"This is a federal government decision and will not directly effect or benefit any university in the nation," said Fausto Sarmiento, director of the Office of International Education.
Both Lusk and Sarmiento said they expected the enrollment numbers to level off, but they hope the trend soon will reverse.
"As a result of SEVIS, we will see stagnation," Lusk said. "But the University will remain committed to continuing international recruitment."
"We still have statistics that show there are a lot of applicants waiting to come here," Sarmiento said.
Fewer international students on campus hurts the University's strides toward diversity and global understanding, Lusk said.
"Our students need to be able to communicate with international students because the job market is becoming increasingly global," he said. "It is unfortunate that enrollment has declined, because the way we can build peaceful relationships is through partnerships and education."
-- Contributing: The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://www.redandblack.com
|
|
|
