Jacksonville, AL – According to Buffy Lockette, Director of Strategic Communications for JSU, Buffy Lockette, Exciting Surge in International Student enrollment at JSU
Jacksonville State University (JSU) is the subject of headlines this fall because of its astounding growth of international students. As the world slowly recovers from the pandemic and the United States is experiencing an increase in the number of international students which is why JSU is riding the trend.
The Institute of International Education reported the decline of 40% in the number of international students attending American universities and colleges between the years 2020-2021. However, the trend began to improve in 2022 with the growth of 6 percent in the number of international students enrolled. While official statistics for 2023 are being counted across the country, JSU has reason to rejoice in the early outcomes.
In the autumn of 2023, JSU witnessed an impressive rise of 300 percent in applications submitted by foreign freshmen who were first-time students. The number of applications jumped between 313 and 1,297 and 109 highly skilled students enrolled at JSU. The increase in international students isn’t restricted to freshman; the total number of international students both at undergraduate and graduate levels grew by 140 students in the fall which amounted to 251 students, which is a staggering 39 percent increase.
Lauren Findley, Director of Admissions at JSU credits this achievement to the efforts they have made in centralizing application processing as well as improving the communication process and supporting both students and recruiters throughout the admissions process. These changes have played a significant roles at attracting foreign students into JSU.
The most popular source of the JSU international student population is Nepal. This is probably due to the arduous effort of Chandni Khadka-Walsh who was the former Director of the International House and Programs, who is from Nepal. In the wake of this effort, JSU is now home to 79 students from Nepal This is the reason for creation of the Nepalese Student Association.
Sudeep Joshi who is the president of the Nepalese Student Association, expressed the appreciation of students for JSU’s friendly campus and strong international programs. He also praised JSU’s lively campus events, welcoming staff and accommodating professors. The warm climate of Alabama that is reminiscent of Nepal is a further reason for the appeal of JSU.
Then, in April Ingrid Galinat joined JSU as Director for International House and Programs, overseeing the department’s international recruitment efforts for the fall of this year. With international recruiting partners that have been approved from the US Department of State, JSU actively takes part in international fairs for recruitment at accredited universities abroad. Galinat’s trip to a fair for recruiters held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which more than 1,500 potential students were present.
Byron Nichols, Assistant Director of the International House and Programs, was also involved in the recruiting efforts. He attended a fair to recruit at Nassau, Bahamas, where over 1,600 students signed up during the 3-day fair. Particularly, Bahamian JSU alumni Quentin Percenti and Marvin Henfield joined the recruitment event, which highlighted the strong JSU alumni association.
In the coming year, JSU plans to focus on attracting pupils who are from Vietnam, Latin and South America and establish alliances in France in France and Argentina. JSU’s student population that is international includes 50 countries and the university is determined to increase its international student population.
In in addition to the recruitment of international students, JSU is working to increase the number of study abroad opportunities available to students. The university is active in exchange programs with partners universities from Sweden, Japan, South Korea as well as South Korea, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. JSU offers two faculties-led programmes in the pipeline for 2024 in the early part of 2024. One will be that is located between London and Paris and a second one that is in Mexico City.
Students who are who are interested in studying abroad, the possibility to apply for the Gilman Scholarship offered by the US Department of State is accessible. The scholarship will provide financial aid for US undergraduates to go abroad for a semester for a minimal cost.
With increasing international travel, JSU is once again hosting international reunions of alumni. Alumni are invited to the campus on October 20-21, to commemorate its 75th birthday celebration of The International House. Because of the pandemic this event was delayed however, the time is right to celebrate this significant milestone. In addition, a reunion for the entire world is scheduled to take place in Paris at the end of summer 2023. It will be in conjunction in conjunction with Marching Southerners’ trip to France to take place between June 12 and 13. Details on how to register will be announced in the near future.
