University recognized for int’l doctorates

While this university's number of international doctoral students is among the top 50 in the country, officials said they are increasing efforts to attract more undergraduates from other countries and enrich their experiences on the campus.

With 3,514 international students enrolled for the 2010-2011 academic year, the university recently ranked 34th in the nation among doctoral institutions with international studentsThe Chronicle of Higher Education. However, only 632 of those students are undergraduates, according to Barbara Varsa, interim director of the university's Office of International Services. Officials said they'd like to see that number increase.

She said international students comprise 8.2 percent of the overall student population, while undergraduate international students only make up 2.3 percent.

"The University of Maryland indeed is world renowned and highly respected, and the international graduate students really look at the rankings, faculty resources and proximity to D.C. and Baltimore, so it is a popular destination, but the bulk of them are graduates," Varsa said.

As the university's Strategic Plan calls for increased recruitment of international undergraduates, Vice President for Student Affairs Linda Clement charged a task force at the start of the semester with exploring not only how to raise the numbers but also how to enhance the resources available to international students to improve their experience on the campus.

"While it is important for our students to get experience going out and studying abroad, it is also important they get experience meeting people from all over the world here on campus," Clement said.

The 19-member committee — which included representatives from 13 university departments including the admissions office, resident life and international services — is now finalizing its report to submit to Clement. It includes several recommendations for making the university more accommodating to international students.

Although task force member and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Mary Hummel declined to offer details on the committee's findings at this stage, she said the recommendations will focus on the services students received prior to their arrival in the U.S. — including finding a place to stay — as well as initial transition into the university and ongoing support in both the academic and social spheres.

To garner student input, Hummel said the committee sent out an online survey to all international students, held several focus groups and had a panel of international students speak before the committee.

"Most of the respondents said they felt prepared for their arrival on the campus and that they had enough information prior to coming here," Hummel said. "But many said that we could do more with supporting them after they have arrived and getting adjusted to the campus."

Varsa said one of the chief reasons for the disparity in recruitment is the limited scholarships the university offers to international undergraduates compared to other institutions — especially private colleges — an issue Hummel said the committee discussed.

Yajuan Zhou, an international student from China, said more financial aid opportunities would be her first choice for the university to its resources for international students.

"We seldom have opportunities to apply for scholarships," said Zhou, a senior economics major. "Most scholarships require citizenship before you can apply."

Several international students said while they were generally happy with the services the university provides, creating more job opportunities on the campus exclusively for international students would help them earn a steady income. Additionally, some suggested hosting more activities to bring international students together.

However, both officials and students noted because of their citizenship status, it is often difficult for international students to navigate through university offices or sort through necessary paperwork.

"It's not a problem of the school, but it's the whole system of how international students are treated in all the United States," said junior electrical engineering major Iason Papanikolaou, an international student from Greece. "We do have to go through a lot of bureaucracy to get our work done."

Varsa added that bringing more international undergraduates to the campus and fostering their success will create a well-rounded university experience for all students.

"International students should not just be seen only in numbers, but in their value in diversifying and enriching the campus," Varsa said. "In this global world it is really important to have an international exchange, and that is something they bring to campus."

villanueva@umdbk.com