Growing enrollment by foreign students at U.S. universities has leveled off in the past two years, predominantly because of visa restrictions instituted since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to a report released early this month.
Enrollment in international programs at Washington State University mirrors that nationwide trend, said Mary Furnari, assistant director of international students and scholars services, and Paul Svaren, international enrollment manager.
The annual survey by the Institute of International Education (IIE), which administers academic exchange programs, reported that the growth rate of foreign student enrollment in the U.S. has dropped in the past two years from 6.4 percent to 0.6 percent. Enrollment from students in Mideastern countries has dropped dramatically.
Svaren reported a corresponding decline in foreign student enrollment at WSU — especially students from the Mideast, Indonesia and some other countries who must undergo more lengthy and thorough background checks by U.S. officials. At the same time, enrollment of students from China, Korea and Taiwan at WSU increased slightly over the last two years, “filling in the gaps a bit for the other losses,” Svaren said.
While numbers held about even for the 2002-2003 year, WSU saw a one-half percent drop in international enrollment for this year, he said. Prior to that, “we had gained 70 students from 2001 to 2002, and there had been a steady increase for the previous two years.”
The increase was due to aggressive marketing in the U.S. and overseas, in person, via e-mail and more, to attract international students.
Despite the downturn in numbers, “WSU continues to recruit,” Svaren said. His office has increased recruitment efforts in Latin America and countries like Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
“We welcome undergraduate, graduate and English language students. We want them to know that WSU has a lot to offer them,” he said.
But the hangup is getting them here to receive it. According to the IIE “Open Doors” report, 59 percent of the campuses surveyed cited visa restrictions as the biggest cause for declining enrollments. Other causes included high costs and competition from other countries.
Furnari concurred: “Visa restrictions are making it very difficult.” Increased federal fees also impede foreign enrollment, she said. And that’s at a time when overseas economies have been hit hard by the same factors that battered the U.S. market, Svaren added.
Meanwhile, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, among others, are aggressively recruiting international students and making it easier than ever for them to study in those countries rather than the U.S., Furnari said.
The immediate future holds little hope of significant change.
“We expect a slight decline next year” in international enrollment, Svaren said.“If we can maintain a level enrollment, we’ll be doing well.”
“The increased tracking of students for national security may seem reasonable,” Furnari said, “but the underlying message is that students feel unwelcome.
“We want them to know that WSU welcomes them. We honor what they bring to our campus and how they contribute to our community.”
