Starting in the fall of 2013, the public universities in Maine may start seeing an upswing in international students. The schools that will most likely be the most impacted are the University of Southern Maine and The University of Maine Orono, which will both be installing International Student Study Centers as a part of the University of Maine System’s new program for recruiting international students.
UMaine will be home to the first of these centers, which are an innovation brought about by the UMS’s decision to partner with Study Group International, a group which has been working since 1994 to connect students from all over the world with schools outside their home countries at which they may study. The USM center is expected to be ready and active for the spring of 2014.
Janet Waldron is the UMaine’s senior vice president for administration and finance and the leader of this system-wide initiative. She explained that the study centers are meant to provide a resource for international students, helping them to improve their English and to adjust to living in a foreign country. “They’re there for acculturation as well as English support,” Waldron said.
In the guidelines of the initiative listed in a document from the board of trustees meeting held on Monday, Jan. 28 in Orono, the trustees mandated that no financial aid will be awarded to these new international students. Waldron confirmed this, adding that these students will pay full out-of-state tuition.
The UMS is not the first set of state universities looking to improve its international student programs. In fact, the recent phenomenon is so widespread that the National Association for College Admission Counseling has put together a commission to study the appearance of increased international student recruitment. One of the commission’s main observations, as expressed in the public summary of their meeting in March last year, is that schools are increasing international student recruitment in order to meet their budget deficits. The concern is that the schools might not, as a result, have the resources to support those international students.
While the trustees’ mandate that no financial aid be expended on these students might seem to signal this concern, the tuition they will be charged is no more than the regular out-of-state tuition. Waldron’s description of the purpose of the study centers, as a support system both linguistically and culturally, seems to directly answer the concern that schools might attempt to recruit international students without providing them the necessary resources.
As for the volume of this recruitment, Waldron says the objective is to try to recruit 400 students per year system-wide with the hope of recruiting 1,000 total after four years. However, the admissions decisions will still be entirely in the hands of the individual institutions to which the prospective students will be applying. “The admissions decisions are made by the university,” Waldron said, “We set the admissions criteria.” Study Group’s role is to detail that criteria to prospective students and show them how to apply.
This expanded international program is not meant to replace the means by which international students already attend the UMS, and is, according to Waldron, meant to be complementary to them. The board of trustees’ list of objectives from the board meeting expressed the hope that this program would boost on-campus housing numbers. The project is certainly not free of economic consideration. Said Waldron, “We will be compensated through Study Group.”
An interesting new book/ebook that helps those coming to the US is
“What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z: How to understand
crazy American culture, people, government, business, language and more.” It
paints a revealing picture of America for those who will benefit from a better
understanding, including international students. Endorsed worldwide by
ambassadors, educators, and editors, it also identifies foreigners who became
successful in the US and how they contributed to our society. A chapter on
education explains how to be accepted to an American university and cope with a
new culture, friendship process and classroom differences they will encounter.
Many of our foreign students stay here after
graduation. It has four chapters that explain how US businesses operate and how
to get a job, a must for those who will work for an American firm or with a
foreign firm in the US environment. It also has chapters that identify the most
common English grammar and speech problems foreigners have and tips for easily
overcoming them, the number one stumbling block they say they have to
succeeding here.
Here’s a quote from the book: “Chinese
Americans were asked their thoughts about their experience in America. Most
were graduate students who had to adjust to a new country and who experienced
language and cultural problems. Their answers give general insight to the
overall foreign-student experience in America. Two-thirds ranked these as the
three biggest impediments to their career advancement in the U.S., major topics
that are all addressed in this book.
1.Deficient English as a second language.
2.Lack of know-how to break into American
social circles.
3.Lack of business understanding and training.
“Interestingly, despite problems encountered here, almost six out
of ten wished they had come earlier, and a third wanted to become U.S. citizens
and remain here. Asked to define the biggest reward they received by coming to
the U.S., the top reward, as one might expect, was mastering English and seeing
the world. However, the next reward was “getting to be myself regardless of
other people’s opinions.” This response points out one of the major differences
between our two cultures.”
Being
an international student isn’t easy, given our complex culture and language.
Assistance must come from various sources. A new award-winning worldwide book/ebook
to help anyone coming to the US is “What
Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z: How to Understand Crazy
American Culture, People, Government, Business, Language and More.” It
paints a revealing picture of America for those who will benefit from a better
understanding, including international students. Endorsed worldwide by
ambassadors, educators, and editors, it also identifies “foreigners” who became
successful in the US and how they contributed to our society, including
students.
A chapter on education identifies schools
that are free and explains how to be accepted to an American university and
cope with a new culture, friendship process and classroom differences they will
encounter. Some stay after graduation. It has chapters that explain how US
businesses operate and how to get a job (which differs from most countries), a
must for those who want to work for an American firm here or overseas. It also
has chapters that identify the most common English grammar and speech problems
foreigners have and tips for easily overcoming them, the number one stumbling
block they say they have to succeeding here.
Most struggle in
their efforts and need guidance from schools’ international departments,
immigration protection, host families, concerned neighbors and fellow
students, and books like this to extend a cultural helping hand so we all have
a win-win situation. Good luck to all
wherever you study!