While overall freshman applications have declined 5 percent from last year's record high, Ohio University has received 73 more international student applications than this time last year, a 58 percent increase.
OU has received 213 international student applications as of Jan. 12, compared to 140 at that point last year, said T. David Garcia, director of Admissions.
We're not talking huge numbers - we're just up 73 applications from this time last year
Garcia said, noting that international student enrollment has increased each of the last four years.
Josep Rota, associate provost for International Affairs, credits the four-year international recruitment strategic plan for the spike in applicants.
The plan, which has exceeded its goal of doubling international student enrollment in 10 years, focuses on utilizing international recruiters and college fairs to reach potential students and providing services to aid students' transition to OU, Rota said.
Rather than sitting here in Athens waiting for international students to come we are going abroad and recruiting them Rota said, adding that OU faculty have attended college fairs in Egypt, Turkey, India, Malaysia, South Korea and China.
We have had focused efforts on boosting our international enrollment for a number of years
said Becky Watts, chief of staff to President Roderick McDavis.
There were 1,451 international students enrolled at OU this fall quarter, 195 more than last year. Of those students, 419 were undergraduates, up from 251 last year.
The key is amassing a large enough population of international students where they don't feel isolated and alone
Watts said.
Rota said OU currently enrolls students from over 100 countries, but the majority of them hail from China and India.
Nationally
the two largest countries of origin are China and India
and the same is true here at OU
Rota said, adding that the school also receives many students from Japan, South Korea and Indonesia.
International students pay $17,871 in tuition and fees this school year.
OU has 151 students from African countries, which Rota attributes to OU's strong African Studies program.
We have one of the best African Studies departments in the country
Rota said. It draws students from all over the world.
Seventy-two of those students are from Ghana, the third largest number of international students from any given country.
Rota added that the increasing number of international students benefits the university as a whole.
Eighty percent of our students can't participate in a study abroad program
so we're bringing the world to Athens
Rota said.
