EVERY TIME I hear someone around Grounds speaking an unfamiliar language, I'm thankful that the University truly is an international institution. Although the student body currently represents a diverse array of students from all around the world, this legacy is being threatened by overly-restrictive visa laws that are driving away international applicants from institutions across the country. Because of this, the administration must make retention of the University's international student body a major priority.
The drop in international students at schools across the country will provide a backdrop for any policies dealing with maintaining the international student population at the University. Indeed, restrictive visa regulations, issued by the government in the wake of Sept. 11, have already taken a major toll on enrollment of international students at many other institutions.
According to a report issued by the Institute of International Education, international enrollment in American universities fell by 2.4 percent in 2004 while international graduate school applications fell by 5 percent in 2004 and 28 percent in 2003. While the University has managed to maintain its international undergraduate enrollment at around 5 percent of the student body, it must make stronger efforts if it is to maintain current level of international enrollment even as it falls across the nation.
Although maintaining the current level of international enrollment will be difficult, the significance of this task is undeniable. Indeed, policies which make the University attractive to international students raise the academic standards of the entering student bodies by providing the University with a larger, more diverse pool of applicants. In addition to this, because the University heavily relies on international graduate students to fill teaching assistant positions, it will become increasingly difficult to maintain the quality of discussion sessions if the level of international enrollment declines.
With this in mind, the University should be commended on the steps it has already taken to maintain international enrollment. Indeed, the International Studies Office already provides information and consultation on issues regarding visas and other concerns through its Web site and its offices in Minor Hall. While the International Studies Office currently provides important services to international students, however, the University must maintain its commitment to retaining qualified international students and try to find creative new ways of making the University a more appealing choice for international applicants.
One of the first steps the University could take toward this end would be to help strengthen student organizations that advocatefor the concerns of international students. According to Student Council's "CIO Central" there is currently no student organization that advocates for the concerns of international students. In the absence of such an organization, it is very difficult for international students to voice their concerns to the administration and the student body. An organization such as this would be a good conduit for international students to voice their concerns to leaders in the administration and the student government would be in a position to address international student's concerns. Moreover, an international students' advocacy organization could also help to notify the administration of newly developing issues more quickly.
While this step would help to make the University more attractive to international applicants, it will become increasingly difficult to maintain the level of international enrollment as it continues to fall around the country. Because of this, the University should partner up with other institutions around the country to create a petition that would urge the government to adopt a visa policy that makes it easier for international students to study in America. Such a move would constitute a dramatic show of support for reform and could force the government to ease restrictions on student visas that not only hurt higher education, but also cause the Department of Homeland Security to allocate resources that could be better used elsewhere.
With all of this in mind, it is clear that the University must make maintaining the level of international enrollment an important priority. If we ever stop hearing unfamiliar languages around Grounds, we will know that we have failed in this endeavor and that the quality of education on Grounds will suffer as a result.
Adam Keith is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. He can be reached at akeith@cavalierdaily.com.
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