Steadfast USA

'Our international student registrations increased [by] 25 per cent in 2001/2002 and 10 per cent in 2002/2003,' says Martin Phillips from Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden, NY, who lists the institution's most important student markets as Korea, China, Japan and Spain. 'In our case, [the increase in international numbers is due to] our increased recruitment efforts,' he adds.

At the Naropa Institute in Boulder, CO, Beth Shaw confirms that international student numbers increased by more than 10 per cent in the last year. 'Canada and Europe are our biggest markets,' she says, and highlights the institute's 'improved online exposure' as a possible explanatory factor.

However, for some institutions, an overall increase in international enrolments masks the difficulties experienced in a number of individual markets. 'Our [international student] numbers are up much more [than the IIE figures],' says Lance Masters from Thiel College in Greenville, PA. '[However], it is more difficult than ever to get visas for students from certain places such as China.' Masters adds that while economic prosperity in India and Sri Lanka is helping to increase student numbers from these countries, the opposite is true for Thailand and Indonesia, which have both been experiencing an economic slowdown recently. Meanwhile, Phillips reports falling enrolments from the Middle East and other Muslim countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, 'for obvious reasons'.

Although the Middle East has not been a particularly important student market for the USA in the past, the events of September 11, 2001 and resultant introduction of more stringent visa regulations, which seem to target a small number of nationalities (see Education Travel Magazine, issue 2, 2003, page 2), have sent numbers on a downward spiral. 'I do not think students feel as welcome as before,' says Scott Martin from Anderson University in Anderson, IN. 'The goodwill from other countries no longer exists [and] parents are much more concerned about safety.'

Shaw, however, believes that, overall, international perceptions of the USA as a safe place to study have not been greatly influenced by September 11. 'A lot of international students - influenced by violent US TV shows - have always thought of this as a violent, fairly dangerous country,' she asserts.

Visa issuance has been the most pressing problem for many US institutions since regulations for students were tightened at the end of 2001, and Brad Mylett from Maharishi International University in Fairfield, IA, claims that this has been their 'biggest challenge' over the last year. 'There has been a dramatic [increase] in visa rejections that has hurt our institution,' he says. 'We have been meeting with different consulates and hopefully this will change. China is one example where we receive lots of applications [but have difficulty obtaining] visas.'

Students wanting to study on intensive English programmes in universities in the USA have been particularly badly affected by visa regulations, according to Stephen Thewlis from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, CA. 'In whole countries, visas are systematically denied for prospective students who only have English language programme I-20s,' he reports. 'I do not expect this trend to improve, at least in the short term.'

For university students, however, the Sevis student tracking system, which became operational at the beginning of this year (see Education Travel Magazine, issue 1, 2002, page 2), 'will facilitate visas for deserving students', according to Mylett. While it is too early to tell what effect Sevis will have on international enrolments, many institutions are hopeful that it will not deter genuine students in the long term. 'The system has been flawed and frustrating, but we are managing,' says Sara Schmelzer from Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA. 'We anticipate that enrolments will stay the same or continue to increase.'

When looking to the future, Thewlis acknowledges that a lot may depend on future US action in the Middle East. 'The registration of students from certain countries and the general fallout from the war on terrorism - to say nothing of the war in Iraq - will continue to have a negative impact on enrolments,' he says. However, many institutions remain positive. 'We are aiming for continued steady growth,' says Phillips, citing, 'continued targeting of Asia and possible new recruiting initiatives in Europe and Brazil'.

Mylett too is confident for the future. 'We promote world peace and already have one of the highest percentages of international students on our campus. We are actually investing more resources to international marketing now, in spite of visa challenges.'