Schools struggle to combat foreign student drop

The more critical question, she says, is whether “we can attract the quality that we have attracted in the past and in sufficient numbers.”

Policy-makers appear to be noticing the increased competition for international students. The U.S. government has launched an active PR campaign and launched a redesigned Web site that offers overseas students a one-stop shop to answer visa and admissions-related questions. It links to a global network of more than 450 advising centers and encourages students to connect to their local center while offering an easy-to-navigate site. Many foreign students complained previous Web offerings were perplexing at best.

Then there is the Protecting America’s Competitive Edge Act introduced in January 2006 and aimed at bolstering U.S. competitiveness in science and technology. The proposal, which has backing from senators in both parties, was based on a report by the National Academy of Science. One of the key recommendations of this report is to “develop, recruit and retain top students, scientists and engineers from both the U.S. and abroad.”

Visa processing time has also improved after the post-9/11 slowdown, and the government has boosted staffing in some consulates.

Creative strategy
Some universities are even getting creative in the ways they attract foreign students.

“Earlier the strategy was 'open your mail,' because we had an abundance of talented applicants to choose from, but we’ve realized this doesn’t work anymore,” said Stuart Heiser, manager of government relations & public affairs at the Council of Graduate Schools.

He talks about how many universities have allocated resources in terms of staffing and are pursuing active recruitment policies. Some campuses have dedicated admission counselors who work only with international students and understand the admission and visa process very thoroughly. Others offer overnight staffing to account for global time differences, and yet others have set up call centers that offer international toll-free calls.

“Our colleges and universities have been proactive in reaching out to international students to let them know that they are welcome here,” said Allan E. Goodman, president and chief executive of the Institute of International Education.

He said educators and policy-makers need to continue efforts to get the word out that America’s doors are open to international students.

Goodman suggests colleges actively recruit abroad and not “just depend on students to find you.” He wants deans and provosts to collaborate with foreign universities and harness the power of alumni goodwill. He also advocates using technology to spread the word via message boards, networking sites and e-mails.

“Our students are our best marketers,” agrees Wheeler.

“They go back and talk about our programs and promote it to their countrymen. You may not know this, but most foreign students have this amazing network and sense of connectivity with their culture,” he said.

Wheeler advocates campus cross-collaboration and points to a partnership that was started three years ago between the chemical engineering department at the University of Illinois and the National University of Singapore.

“It has reaped us rich rewards,” he said.

Campus diversity
Kerry Bolognese, vice president of international programs at the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, agrees.

“I have heard from so many students about the benefits of international classmates and how they lower cultural barriers and foster a less parochial understanding of the world, which is so important in this globalized economy,” he said.

"It gives us such a well-rounded perspective, especially if local colleges cannot afford to host exchange programs and send their students abroad for a different cultural experience, at least they can allow for cultural interaction within the college campuses and let students benefit from the interaction.”

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