ENROLLMENT ON DECLINE

By Dana Lee Harms

The number of UH-Clear Lake international students is steadily declining; however, the Office of International Initiatives is working to increase this enrollment. In Spring 2002, 647 international students were enrolled, compared to 544 for Fall 2005. "After 9/11 there were fences blocking visa entry," said Ingeborg Hayes-van Zanten, international and cultural programs director. "The government was making it hard for students to come here, but it is important to have international students." Intercultural and International Student Services Coordinator Sameer Pande and Linda Contreras Bullock, assistant dean of student diversity in IISS, agree the drop is not just due to 9/11 or the number of visas being approved. "It's because of a number of reasons," Pande said. "Students are shopping around. They are looking for what an institution has to offer and better financial packages." Despite the ongoing drop in international students, UH-Clear Lake has a strong lead over other Houston area universities. "Eight percent of our enrollment is international students," said Jerry Rhodeback, executive director for the office of international initiatives. "The national average is less than three percent. We are far ahead of other universities." Recruiting and traveling to various countries takes place two to three times in an academic year. Faculty and community members are involved in the process of building relationships with foreign universities and their staff. "Recruiting is expensive," said Kathryn Dickerson, international student adviser. "It takes $3,000 to $5,000 to set up a table in countries holding education fairs. So students are coming by word of mouth." In addition, the application process for international students can be time consuming and an influence over students' academic choices. Students sign an affidavit of support, ensuring their educational expenses will be covered, as well as a Statement of Understanding and Agreement form. The process also includes the Test of English as a Foreign Language exam, an I-20 form and a visa. "I [only] had to apply for my visa one time," said Nguyen Tran, undergraduate finance major. "One of my friends had to apply two or three times and then decided to stay in Vietnam." The federal government's regulation of visas is adding to the difficult process of getting the proper paper work completed. Students in India often have to travel 800 to 1,000 miles to interview for their visa. "[The student] pays $100 and if anything goes wrong, they may have to wait another three months just to get on a waiting list for another interview," Rhodeback said. "It makes us look unfriendly, bureaucratic and like a police-state. But [the university] is warm and friendly; it is the process of getting here that is difficult." Once international students arrive, the experience can be overwhelming. Often, students do not have transportation or furniture after moving to the United States. The staff of the IISS is hoping to start a program to alleviate the need for furniture with donations. "They end up renting, but it is so costly," Bullock said. "So we need a place to store furniture and a way to transport it to students." Making the transition to an American university involves numerous adjustments for international students. "I am homesick," Tran said. "I have not been home since last summer. I have joined activities and play tennis. I wrote my mother, and she is planning to come in December to attend my graduation." The IISS offers a variety of programs to help students adjust. Strictly Speaking focuses on emerging students in American culture, and the Friendship Family Program provides a look at the home, lifestyle and food of American families. The IISS is not only a place for international students, but caters to all UH-Clear Lake students and organizations. "We want to make sure all groups feel involved in the university, and our programs are inclusive of everyone," Pande said. "There is such a richness here," Bullock said. "Fifty-eight countries are represented. From Nigeria, Korea, Zimbabwe... where else can [students] get the opportunity to learn and expand [their] knowledge base."