In keeping with national trends, the University has seen a growth in the number of international students stepping on Grounds.
The number of international students coming to the United States for the 2012-13 year reached a record high of 819,644 — a 7.2 percent increase from last year, according to a recent survey on international enrollment by the Institute of International Education. This general increase is reflected in the University’s student body.
“In 2002 we had 1,400 international students, for the year 2012-2013 we now have 2,399 students” said Adrienne Kim Bird, international student and scholar advisor in the International Studies Office.
The survey attributes the growth of international students partially to the increase in government scholarship programs. But 63.6 percent of international students studying in the United States pay for college out of pocket.
In general, American universities receive the most students from China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada. The University’s top countries of origin correspond closely with the surveys’ results, with most international students hailing from China, India, South Korea, Turkey and Canada.
“Our hope is that international students are getting involved in all the ways domestic students are,” Bird said. “The difference is they have to be aware of certain visa regulations and abide by certain regulations such as not being allowed to work off-Grounds without authorization.”
To ease the transition into life in an American academic environment, the University has created several programs throughout the years focused on aiding international students, such as the Global Café forum, the MIX mentoring program and the Lorna Sundberg International Center.
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