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Influx
of international students in America slows
to a trickle
By
Amanda Ansell
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
Enrollment
levels of international students in American
undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral
programs have fallen for the first time
in 30 years.
The
Web site for the Institute of International
Education, www.iie.org, wrote that in 2004,
a five percent decline was reported in the
enrollment of international undergraduate
students. A speculated cause for the decrease
is post-9/11 paranoia, which often leads
to trouble obtaining a student visa. Also,
an increase in tuition costs and aggressive
recruitment programs by other English-speaking
countries have been attributed.
Enrollment
patterns vary by countries of origin. India
remains the largest sending country for
the third year in a row, but Asia is the
largest sending region, contributing nearly
57 percent of the United States's international
students. Students from the Middle East
continue to decrease substantially, a pattern
followed since the aftermath of September
11.
California
however, remains the leading state in hosting
international students despite a four percent
decrease. The University of Southern California
claims the largest amount of international
students for the country.
According
to the Department of Commerce, international
students bring over $13 billion dollars
to the U.S. economy each year in money spent
on tuition, living expense, and related
costs.
Close
to 75 percent of international students
reported that their primary source of funding
comes from personal and family sources or
other sources outside of the United States.
These
declines are noted in the findings of Open
Doors, a report on international education
exchange, that is supported by the IIE.
Patricia S. Harrison, Assistant Secretary
of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
reacted to the decline.
"The
United States remains the best place in
the world to seek the benefits of higher
education," Harrison said, "And
we are working in a concerted way at the
Department of State and in related agencies
to convince international students that
they are welcome here. The temporary decline
in student numbers relates to a number of
factors, including the need to make sure
our borders are secure, but I am confident
that both the situation and the numbers
will improve."
"The
decrease in number of international students
this year is explained by a variety of factors
affecting students differently in different
sending countries," said CEO and President
of IIE, Allan Goodman. "[It] includes
a wider range of educational opportunities
at home, stiff competition from other host
countries, rising U.S. tuition costs, and
the complex process of adjustment to tighter
screening of visa applicants."
Last
fall 1,368 international students were enrolled
at CSULB. Director of International Student
Services Donald Delgado explained that CSULB
has also experienced a decline in international
student enrollment.
"We
attribute the decline to the same reasons
and trends experienced throughout the U.S,"
Delgado said.
In
the wake of the Southeast Asia tsunami disaster,
CSULB and other universities across the
country have made efforts to assist students
whose home countries were affected by the
wave. On December 27, the Center for International
Education sent an e-mail to students from
the affected countries.
"That
e-mail expressed concern for our students
and their families and offered assistance
with the U.S. immigrations procedures required
of international students when they travel,"
Delgado said. "Quite a few students
responded to that e-mail, indicating that
they and their families were safe, though
a couple of students indicated that friends
and/or neighbors have been lost. To date,
we know of no CSULB international students
who were injured or lost."
Students
are encouraged to contact the Center for
International Education with new information.
The New York-based Institute for International
Education is offering an assistance program
to affected students. There is a link on
the CIE Beachboard site at www.csulb.edu/cie.
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