Dive Brief:
- Many colleges and universities have been aggressively recruiting international students, in part because of the tuition revenue, but faculty complain the new students are not academically prepared for classes in the United States.
- The New York Times reports Western Kentucky University uses overseas recruiting companies, paying them a share of tuition for students they enroll — and both faculty and domestic students have concerns over the international students’ chances of success in English-language classes.
- While U.S. federal law prohibits recruiters from being paid based on the volume of students they enroll, the practice is legal abroad, and critics worry international students are being pressured to enroll because of a false sense of urgency created by the recruiters.
Dive Insight:
International students have long come to the United States for graduate school. In the last few years, however, colleges have become more reliant on undergraduate students from abroad, especially at public colleges, where these students pay out-of-state tuition and, therefore, bring significant amounts of tuition revenue. Their presence boosts local economies and gives domestic students a chance to learn with a more diverse group of classmates, preparing them to work in a global society. The question of preparedness, especially in English, is one that comes up at schools nationwide.
As institutional budgets continue to rely more heavily on the tuition revenue of international students, some have begun to call for better services to meet the needs of this population. Beyond academic supports, career services tailored to the job prospects of international students is one area in need of improvement.