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 Resources for International Student Recruitment 

Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Janice L. Jacobs Remarks to the Community Colleges for International Development Summer Institute 2009

Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Janice L. Jacobs, presented a brief speech at the CCID Summer Institute 2009. She spoke about the importance of higher education and her commitment to enhancing and promoting educational exchange through a streamlined visa process. She believes that the personal touch and student support supplied by community colleges helps international students adjust and succeed, and their experiences at community colleges will factor into how they view America years into the future. She reiterated the U.S. open door policy and dispelled common myths about the visa process.

  • Click here to view the full remarks. 
  • Click here to view the April 2010 cable message to consulate posts regarding visas and community colleges

U.S. Department of State - EducationUSA

EducationUSA is a network of over 450 advising centers in 170 countries, affiliated with the U.S. Department of State. EducationUSA advisers are supported by Regional Educational Advising Coordinators (REACs) that focus on training, providing resources, and mentoring the advising community. The U.S. Department of State has recently expanded the REAC team in various regions of the world.

*This is a network to promote U.S. higher education to foreign students who want to study in the U.S. It is a great place to publicize what your college has to offer foreign students. 

Contact:
Dorothy Mora, Senior Program Officer
Educational Information and Resources Branch
Office of Global Educational Programs
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Department of State
Phone: (202) 453-8868
Email: moradd@state.gov

EducationUSA Higher Education Institution e-news for representatives of accredited U.S. colleges and universities provides information on EducationUSA services and opportunities to recruit prospective international students. To receive EducationUSA-HEI e-news or for questions, contributions or requests, send an email to educationusa@state.gov along with your name, title, and the name of your institution.

EducationUSA Connections Journal is a quarterly, online publication produced by IIE and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is produced for EducationUSA overseas advisers and includes information about higher education in the United States, scholarship opportunities, specific fields of study, best practices in advising, and other topics.

EducationUSA's Weekly Update Service, part of a weekly newsletter that is circulated globally to all 450 EducationUSA advising centers free of charge, features the scholarships and new programs of 5-7 accredited U.S. institutions. Send two paragraphs of content about your institution's scholarships or new programs to educationUSA@state.gov. Pictures and links to YouTube videos are also welcome. Include "EducationUSA Weekly Update content" in the subject line of your email.

Hong Kong EducationUSA online advising service, using MSN Instant Messenger, can assist your current and prospective international students in Hong Kong and China with understanding the U.S. higher education system, the application process, admission requirements, and visas. Students can access this service by adding EducationUSA to their MSN contact list by sending an email to EducationUSA_HK@live.com.

U.S. Department of Commerce

In recent years, the Department of Commerce has been active in helping U.S. institutions of higher education "export" their services and recruit foreign students to their campuses. Through more than 100 Export Assistance Centers located around the U.S. and through the Department of Commerce's commercial service officers located at U.S. embassies abroad, the department provides, at no cost, reports on opportunities for activities with foreign institutions and companies. For a fee, centers will help identify international education fairs, facilitate college presences and exhibits at these fairs, identify potential educational partners, and set up overseas appointments with educators in specific countries. 

Resources to Distribute to International Students:

Articles of Interest:

Community Colleges— A Unique Opportunity to Study in the United States 

U.S. community colleges are the “Gateway to Higher Education in the United States” for international students.  They provide the first two years of post-secondary education (undergraduate courses) leading to an associate degree. Students with associate degrees can transfer their course credits to a 4-year college or university where they can complete years 3 and 4 to obtain a bachelor’s degree.  Most U.S. community colleges have have articulation agreements with 4-year institutions to facilitate the transfer of course credits.  This ability to transfer is often called “2+2”, in reference to the two years students spend at each institution.  

There are close to 1,200 regionally accredited community colleges located throughout the United States, serving more than 11 million students, 6 million of whom are seeking an associate degree in hundreds of fields.

U.S. community colleges, four-year colleges and major universities are all accredited by the same regional accrediting agencies throughout the United States.  Community college programs must meet the same stringent criteria as four-year colleges and universities to attain accreditation status.  This is the reason why universities will accept course credits obtained at community colleges.

In 2008, over 86,000 international students choose to begin their college education at U.S. community colleges.  The top 10 reasons are listed below.
 
1. Community colleges provide quality education at a lower cost
U.S. community colleges are funded by state and local taxes to ensure that all students can afford to attend college.  As a result, tuition costs average $6,500 annually as compared to approximately $13,000 for a four-year public institution and $25,000 for a four-year private institution.


2. Students can easily transfer to a four-year college or university
The “2+2” system in the United States refers to an efficient system of “articulation” between a two-year college and a four-year college or university.  Articulation is the process by which one institution matches its courses or requirements to course work completed at another institution.  Most community colleges have articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities, ensuring that credits earned at the two-year institution will count toward the four-year degree program. 

3. Intensive English Programs Allow Flexible TOEFL Requirements  
Community colleges offer English as a Second Language classes for students whose TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score is too low to begin an academic program in the U.S.  Intensive English programs, either on or off campus, are provided to help students enhance their English abilities prior to enrolling in college level studies.

4. Focus on Teaching 
Faculty at U.S. community colleges focus on teaching (versus research) and provide personal attention to students.  Students attending community colleges often gain a real-world perspective because faculty members usually have practical work experience in the subjects they teach. 

5. Smaller Class Sizes    
Smaller class sizes provide an atmosphere in which students can easily ask questions, dialogue with their instructors and classmates to grasp concepts and build relationships.  Smaller classes also help international students adjust to the pace of academic life and provide additional opportunities to practice English language skills.

6. Wide Variety of Programs    
Community colleges have hundreds of majors from which to choose. Many international students pursue programs in business management, computer science, computer graphics, engineering, health sciences, hospitality and multimedia.  In addition, they can study everything from art to zoology.  

7. State-of-the-Art Technology  
Most U.S. community colleges use state-of-the-art technologies and instructional facilities. Traditional universities often focus on basic education and research, while community colleges not only focus on education, but also provide professional certificate training and workforce development. Because of their close ties with high-tech industries, community colleges necessarily have cutting edge technologies. 

8. Excellent Student Support Services    
Community colleges offer a variety of support services including tutoring, study skills workshops, academic advising, counseling, and career planning--many of which are designed specifically for international students.  

9. Expanded OPT Opportunities
Students are entitled to one year of Optional Practical Training (OPT) upon completion of an Associate degree—and another year upon completion of a Bachelor’s degree.  Optional Practical Training refers to paid employment related to the student’s field and level of study used to round out the educational program in the United States.  This work can be done on- or off-campus.

10. Opportunities to Experience U.S. Culture 
Community colleges enrich the lives of international students through their diverse sutudent bodies and by providing a wide range of cultural, recreational, and social activities--art exhibits, concerts, community forums, health fairs, sporting events, and theatrical productions.

***

Community colleges, like other educational institutions in the United States, differ widely.  Some are large, multi-campus institutions located in big cities, while others are much smaller schools located in rural settings and serving smaller student populations.  Housing opportunities at community colleges range from living in campus dormitories or nearby apartments, to renting rooms or arranging home stays with host families.

International students thinking of studying in the U.S. may choose an institution based on its prestige or the caliber of its alumni.  For them, it is important to know that many distinguished leaders and notable persons began their postsecondary education at a U.S. community college.  Some well known alumni include: Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of California; Eileen Collins, NASA space shuttle commander; George Lucas, producer/director of the “Star Wars” movie series; Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood, film actors; Walt Disney, founder of Disney studios and Disney World; Calvin Klein, designer; Craig Ventnor, genome scientist; Richard Carmona, M.D., U.S. Surgeon General.  Other alumni include U.S. Congressional representatives and other high-level U.S. government officials, as well as chief executive officers of Fortune 500 corporations.

In conclusion, community colleges provide international students with an opportunity to begin their U.S. higher education experience at a high quality, accredited institution with an affordable tuition, an efficient system of articulation, a supportive learning environment with opportunities to build and enhance English skills, and the chance to connect with U.S. community and culture.

For more information about studying at a U.S. community college, visit www.communitycollegeusa.com  or read A Guide to Studying at U.S. Community Colleges, available online at http://dbtext.aacc.nche.edu/dbtw-wpd/data/GuideToStudyingCommunityCollegesUSA2006.pdf, or at your local EducationUSA advising center

 

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