By Jacqueline DuMont, Managing Editor

Universities across the nation continue to face a steady decline in international students since the efforts of President Trump’s administration to ban travelers from certain majority-Muslim countries were implemented last year.

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Ever since the change in the political climate, higher education leaders have been researching the impact Trump’s travel ban policy has had on universities across the country and how international students have become deterred from the global academic market since President Trump took office.

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The Washington Post included a study done by Allan E. Goodman, president and chief executive of the Institute of International Education, that the total foreign enrollment at U.S. institutions reached a record high of 1.08 million in 2016 due to the longer enrollment period than in years past.

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However, recent studies from the Institute of International Education have shown a seven percent drop in international students nationally, with 45 percent of college campuses facing a drop in international enrollment since Fall 2017.

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Aside from the political climate revolving around President Trump’s policies, several other factors have caused experts to question the decrease in international enrollment, including student safety concerns and competition among other countries like Canada, Britain and Australia.

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“It’s a mix of factors,” said Rajika Bhandari, head of research for the institute, which collects data on international students in cooperation with the State Department. “Concerns around the travel ban had a lot to do with concerns around personal safety based on a few incidents involving international students, and a generalized concern about whether they’re safe.”

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Despite the unsteady flow of international students at university-wide campuses, Andy Herrera, Director of Education Equity and Diversity Programs, oversees an optimistic view with the growing amount of diversity at Behrend.

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“International students play a big role in our growth,” he said. “The college is looking into increasing its growth to 5,000 students and perhaps even 7,500 students and international students play a big role in that.”

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In the last few years, the student enrollment at Behrend has consisted of mostly students from countries that have not been banned, with the exception of students from countries like Iran, said Herrera. However, Herrera did see a slight decline in international students at Penn State in Fall 2017, but this was done as a strategic move to diversify the international student numbers in efforts to target certain regions and countries. However, according to Herrera, Penn State’s numbers have increased by 300 percent in the last five years.

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Assistant Director of Educational Equity and Diversity Programs, Walaa Ahmad, advises the student-run organizations at Behrend, where students set their primary focus on hosting cultural events on diversity and cultural appreciation.

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“They are using these events to spread the message of diversity inclusion and how we can come together and learn from one another,” Ahmad said. “They don’t focus directly on immigration or Trump’s policies, but instead, focus on programs that promote peace and educating others about their backgrounds and what they do here on campus.”

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Ahmad also facilitates the series, “S.P.E.A.C. Up,” at Behrend, which stands for Students Powerfully Express Any Concerns. The forum allows students from different cultural backgrounds to ask questions and discuss academic issues, world issues, politics and the college environment. The first series of this semester kicks off this Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Reed 113.

Among the international students at Behrend, senior chemistry major, Alexandra Alfonso Castro, shared her concerns for the future of diverse students across U.S. universities.

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The Puerto Rico native had a smooth transition to Penn State four years go when the nation was under a different administration. However, the next few years to come has Alfonso fearful of factors discouraging international students to attend U.S. universities.

“I am fearful for my own people, who are American citizens but aren’t treated as such,” Alfonso said. “I am fearful for international students not having the opportunity to study in the U.S., and I am fearful of our domestic students who might not enjoy a diverse and enriched community in the future.”

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Sophomore finance and economics major, Andrea Asbun, born in Florida and raised in Bolivia, believes this decline in international students will have a long-lasting effect on college campuses nationwide.

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“Affording college is expensive and without financial aid, many students would not be able to study abroad, where, in an ideal world, education should be a right and not a privilege,” Asbun said. “One of the biggest impacts of not living in that ideal world, is its effect on diversifying education. I have personally grown from diversity and wish the same for those who are familiar with its effect and those who haven’t yet got the opportunity to experience it.”

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Sophomore industrial engineering and economics major, Safinaz Elhadary, who was born in Egypt and raised in Dubai, also issued her concerns with future international students coming to the U.S. for college education.

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“The day after Trump won the election, me and the other international students were worried,” Elhadary said. “We were all wondering, ‘What would happen to us?’ and ‘Is my country going to be involved in the travel ban?’”

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Ehadary added that since the travel ban, the concern parents have with sending their children to the U.S. has increased.

“What if your child is not very welcomed in the country?” added Elhadary. “I think this decrease might continue to affect college campuses in the future.”

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With additions to the campus such as the new residence hall, Trippe Hall, opening to students Fall 2018, Herrera plans to hold the program, “Global Boarders,” which will be held on the first floor of Trippe and allow half international students and half domestic students to participate in activities revolving around different countries and cultures.  

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“Our policies talk about providing a welcoming campus environment,” Herrera said. “So we hope to have a welcoming country.”

“We are trying to build bridges instead of walls,” Ahmad added.

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Although the decline in international students hasn’t affected Behrend’s diversity, it is still a growing concern for several other universities nationwide due to the ever-changing social and political climate.