Foreign Student Enrollment

The number of newinternational graduate students enrolling in American universities appears tohave rebounded slightly this fall following three years of decline. The figurerose 1 percent compared to a year ago, according to the Council of GraduateSchools. Following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the numbers fell 8 percent in2002, 10 percent in 2003, and 3 percent in 2004.

Experts blamed the suddendrop in interest among international students in attending American graduateprograms after the 2001-02 school year on a range of factors, from visa delaysto anti-Americanism to sharper competition from universities in othercountries. The trend alarmed both university administrators and foreignpolicy-makers because universities depend on foreign students for teaching andresearch — especially in the sciences. The also were concerned becauseeducating international students, who then return home with a positive, firsthandexperience of America, is seen as an important foreign policy tool.  Educators say the State andHomeland Security departments have streamlined visa approvals, and manyuniversities have stepped up recruiting, which has at least leveled off the decline.

Source: Associated Press, Nov. 7, 2005
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