President Bush announced his support last week for more stringent visa requirements for foreign students seeking to enter the United States. The decision has some in the University community worried that fewer international students will enroll next year.
Citing evidence that some of the Sept. 11 attackers came into the country on student visas, the president suggested that more careful evaluation of international students is necessary to prevent potential terrorists from entering the country.
Though tougher visa rules have not yet been enacted, evidence already exists that fewer international students may enter the University next year.
"We have noticed a drop-off in the number of foreign students requesting applications," said William Quandt, vice provost for international affairs.
University officials acknowledge the increased need for security following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but they hope new laws will not discourage international students from coming to the University.
"Nobody knows what the ramifications of this new directive will be," International Studies Student Adviser Richard Tanson said. "It would be absolutely disastrous if the number of international students was curtailed."
Tanson expressed hope that any new visa rules would not affect international students already attending the University. He noted, however, that current students who travel home to visit their families potentially could face difficulties when trying to reenter the country.
One measure under consideration by Congress and Bush's administration is a national tracking system for foreign students. Students would have their fingerprints or palm prints checked at all airports and national borders.
Last month Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) proposed farther-reaching legislation that would create a six-month moratorium on issuing new student visas while a student tracking system is established. This proposal was withdrawn after criticism from university presidents.
One goal of the Bush administration is to ensure that foreigners who come to the United States on student visas actually attend school. Hani Hanjour, the alleged suicide pilot of the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, entered the country on a student visa to Holy Names College but never attended the school.
Quandt said the University's bureaucratic responsibilities likely will increase to ensure international students actually are attending school.
"We are probably going to be more assiduous about documentation of students who are here on student visas," Quandt said.
In recent years the number of foreign students entering the University has increased. The University enrolled 162 undergraduate international students this year, up from 140 last year. Close to 1,500 international graduate and undergraduate students now attend the University.
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