How institutions are focusing efforts on international recruitment

Clearly The Chronicle is an avid reader of Academic Oatmeal (flattered, I’m sure). I just posted this article about how much revenue international students brings into the US and on the importance of colleges revisiting their international recruitment strategies. And, bam! Just hours later they post this information about how institutions are focusing their international recruitment efforts. I’m certain I influenced that publication schedule. Certain. Sources: Institute of International Education in Cooperation with American Association of Community Colleges, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, Association of American Universities, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, Council of Graduate Schools, and NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

How much money does the international student population bring to YOUR school?

NAFSA just released its 2010 report on international students and the money they contribute to the US economy. How much of the $18.8 billion (yes, with “B”) is YOUR school getting? Find out here. I was at the NAFSA Region X conference last week, and heard a great discussion topic about the power of education in the international arena. The speaker made the point that education counts as an export. Think about it: a student pays money…and leaves the country with an education.It’s no different that someone buying a television set from China or a Volvo from Sweden. And when you think about it in terms or real US dollars…it kind of puts a new…

The new Purdue marketing campaign does not go unnoticed

Purdue University unveiled a new slogan and it has caused some debate, especially among Alumni.

What are you so scared of?

Nope, not a Halloween related post. It’s a story of inspiration. I was just reading this article about a businessman who started a Pepsi franchise in Romania. OK, I admit. Pepsi-Cola doesn’t exactly tug on the heartstrings. But check it out. January 1991. Only a year after the bloody revolution when the Eastern Bloc that threw off the chains of Communism. Battles in the Gulf War were being fought across the Middle East. And yet, this businessman had a vision to expand his business and strike out in a new direction. And expand he did. He flew to Romania every month during 1991 and many, many times thereafter. And because he took risks, he not…

The state of college admissions

The new NACAC report has been released that proves what we’ve known for a while now…the economic downturn has affected the way students approach the admissions process. Students apply to more colleges and, even with a record number of high school grads in 2009, college yield rates declined to an average of 43%. The report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, released on Wednesday, documents changes in student and college behavior in the 2009 admissions cycle. Read it and let me know if their findings are in line with your personal experiences.

The power of a network

They say you learn something new everyday. And while I actually knew about how powerful a network can be, I got a good reminder yesterday here at HighEdWeb 10. Cincinnati has never before seen a more dedicated, knowledgeable group of people who just “get it”, you know? Very much looking forward to day two of the conference. Wonder what I will learn today?

Unique on-campus housing options for single mothers and their children

Academia is not known for proactively changing to adapt to the outside world. (Hope you were sitting down for that revelation). So it’s good to see stories of colleges that are getting with the times and shifting their ways of thinking to be more in tune with the real world. In this case, the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska has started a unique learning community for single mothers and their children. Single mothers can live on-campus, with their children, and take classes full time. They live in traditional residence halls…but with a twist. Each floor has a dedicated play area for the children and a separate area for Mom to study in peace….

Academia and advertising…snifffff! Smells good!

I know you’ve head me say it before, but it bears repeating. Sure, your college is more revered than, say, Chips Ahoy cookies. And, yes, your degree offerings are worthy of way more respect than a Sham-Wow towel. And it doesn’t matter. The same kids that you are trying to attract with your images, writing and web experience are the same kids who are seeing ads for used cars, flat-screen TVs and, yes, even deodorant. Need proof? BYU (can you say conservative?) is parodying the ubiquitous Old Spice commercial. And it’s BYU’s library, for crying out loud. Face it, The Ivory Tower isn’t protecting anything at your college any longer. Live in the real world….

Commission for recruiting int’l students

Just read this article on “Inside Higher Ed” about schools using agents to recruit international students. Although illegal under US law, the debate is heating up over using agencies, located in foreign countries, and paying commissions on a per-student basis. With the current economic situation, competition for recruitment is higher than it ever has been before. So, it’s natural that schools would look outside the US borders for new, untapped markets. However, international recruiting is difficult and carries no guarantees of success. Agents can help navigate the tricky waters and help increase the ROI of dollars spent on international recruiting. Plus, they are a common occurrence in many other countries around the world. What do…

Scholarships for illegal immigrants? Yea or nay?

A public community college in California has  set up a scholarship fund for immigrant students — including illegal  immigrants. The $2,500 scholarship has sparked anger by some, including  at least one lawmaker who is threatening to cut off federal funding to  the school. Orange County’s Santa Ana College says the  controversial new memorial scholarship will be funded by private  donations and honors former student Tan Ngoc Tran, a student leader and  immigrant-rights activist who transferred to Brown University before she  was killed by a drunk driver on May 15. Students eligible for the new scholarship  must have a 3.0 or higher grade point average, demonstrate a financial  need and must also be trying to become…