A new Student Council ad-hoc committee that will address ways to create financial aid for international students was approved at last night's meeting. The committee is charged with raising money to assist international students with their tuition. The University currently does not grant financial assistance to international students.
Batkhuu Dashnyam, a second-year College representative who will be heading the committee, said he hopes the committee will be able to raise money from international alumni and receive donations from the University community.
"The money will come mainly from private donations and will not affect money from tax-payers," Dashnyam said. "Most will be from individual solicitations."
Dashnyam said he is also considering holding University-wide fundraising events similar to such yearly events as Pancakes for Parkinson's.
According to Dashnyam, the lack of financial aid for international students mires the University's efforts to attract and enroll international students and further diversify the student body. He said he hoped the committee would be able to make it possible for more international students to come to the University.
"Offering financial aid to international students will make this a more diverse place that embraces more kinds of people," Dashnyam said.
Director of International Admissions Parke Muth echoed this sentiment and said he hopes the effort improves international diversity at the University.
Muth said most of the University's international students come from wealthier countries such as China, adding that many students also come from India and Turkey. He pointed out that if more resources were available to international students, the University might be able to appeal to a wider range of international students.
"The international students we have are wonderful, but if we offered more opportunities then we would get more applications and more qualified students," Muth said. "We would get more socioeconomic and worldwide diversity."
According to Muth, international students pay out-of-state tuition, which, in addition to necessities like health care, can add up to $40,000.
Between 150 and 200 international students start at the University each year Muth said, adding that most are supported by their parents and families.
A bill to approve space allocations was also introduced at last night's meeting. Space allocations were originally set to be approved last semester but were pulled from Council's consideration to investigate discrepancies in the process.
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