College students from overseas flood U.S. higher education institutions following a turbulent summer.
International Student Enrollment Decline at University at Buffalo
The University at Buffalo, a public research university located in western New York, is experiencing a decline in international student enrollment this fall. According to estimates from Aw's organization, the overall decline is expected to be around 15%.
This decline is attributed to various factors, including visa issues. Scott Weber, the provost at the University at Buffalo, has mentioned that there are more deferrals this year due to visa-related complications. Many students from India, for instance, found themselves unable to secure a visa appointment in time, forcing them to either transfer to the U.K. or wait for the spring semester.
Despite the decline, enrollment at the university overall is up, and there are still approximately 4,000 international students on campus this year. These students bring a rich, diverse cultural experience to the university, according to Provost Weber.
One such student is Shivika Singh, an international student from India who studied at the University at Buffalo in 2021. To ward off homesickness, Shivika uses stuffed animals as comfort, having bought a pink "Lilo & Stitch" soft toy for her dorm.
Another student, Daria Tofan, a first-year international student from Romania, also arrived at the University at Buffalo. Daria did not get her student visa until a week before orientation.
The University at Buffalo is expecting a decline of about 750 international students this fall, with many of these students in graduate programs, especially in the STEM fields. However, Provost Weber asserts that international students do not take spots from other qualified students at the university.
The decline in international student enrollment is a trend being seen at universities across the country, with Fanta Aw, who leads the Association of International Educators, predicting similar drops at institutions nationwide.
Despite these challenges, the University at Buffalo continues to welcome newly arrived international students, with new students getting their campus IDs and starting their academic journey. Students like Francois Humphries, a student from South Africa, and Priyota Nadh, a student from Bangladesh, are among those starting their academic journey at the University at Buffalo this fall.
