Spike in foreigners asks questions of university services

The number of international students on F-1 and J-1 visas at A&M-Commerce has gone up 84.2 percent since Fall 2009, figures from International Student Services show.

Currently, 886 international students on those student visas are attending A&M-Commerce, up from the population of 481 recorded over two years ago. This is due, in part, to efforts by A&M-Commerce to increase the global exposure of the university, according to Director of International Student Services John Jones. He also said the total amount of foreigners enrolled is even more, topping 1,000.

"I think a lot of it is from those efforts," Jones said. "We have a lot of programs, partnerships that are being worked on by multiple departments. Sometimes it's difficult to keep up with them all. But, in part a lot of it is coming from those efforts of traveling overseas and trying to forge those partnerships."

The increase also brings a greater demand in university services and new requirements to ensure international students are having their educational, social and cultural needs met. Jones admits it has not come without a few struggles.

"Obviously, we've seen a steady increase, and we've gone through growing pains," Jones said. "I've had to sit back and look at what are we providing. The question I've asked over the last few semesters is: what is the nature of our students and the students we're attracting? And what are their needs? We need to make sure we have the infrastructure in place to support that many international students."

The largest increase can be seen in South Korean students, which went from only four in 2009, and five last semester, to 147 this Spring. The direct cause of this increase is easy to spot, as this is the first semester of a partnership between A&M-Commerce and Konkuk University in Seoul.

Overall, Koreans make up only the third-largest bloc of international students at A&M-Commerce. Saudi Arabia is the country of origin for most foreign students, with 246 currently enrolled. That's up from only 19 in 2009. Unlike the Korean students, this spike in enrollment is explained, mostly, by circumstance.

"Over time, the students talked among themselves, and more students would come," Jones said about the influx of Saudi Arabian students. "To me, some of it is most of them are going to be business majors. The fact a lot of them can stay in the Dallas area, they like the larger metro areas, so that's a big attraction for them. Also, some of our administration has visited the cultural mission in D.C. a couple of times to sit down with their leadership and to share a lot about our university."

India is second with 214, actually down 26 percent from the Fall 2009 figure. Jones said in the past Indians made up the bulk of the foreign student population, as much as 63 percent. However, issues with student visas have caused that number to fall in recent years.

"The U.S. consulate is not giving out as many F-1 visas," he said. "That's the trend that I have heard. There has been concern over there about certain testing, requirements and such, so that may have contributed to it as well. Most of it is the decrease in visas. [Students] will try for three or four semesters [to get one]."

Other increases include Nepali students, whose population rose from 18 to 70 in two years. Twenty more Chinese students attend A&M-Commerce now, with a total number of 38. Thai and Taiwanese populations have slightly decreased over the same two-year period.

For the full story - including interviews with international students and a look at specific issues being dealt with - pick up a copy of the March 29 print edition of The East Texan.