Jacksonville, AL – Per the Director of Strategic Communications for JSU, Buffy Lockette, Exciting Surge in International Student Enrollment at JSU
Jacksonville State University (JSU) is making headlines this fall for its remarkable rise in international student enrollment. As the world steadily recovers from the pandemic, the United States is experiencing an upturn in international student enrollment, and JSU is riding that wave.
The Institute of International Education reported a 40 percent decline in international students studying at American colleges and universities during 2020 and 2021. Fortunately, this trend took a positive turn in 2022, with a six percent growth in international student enrollment. While the official figures for 2023 are still being tallied across the nation, JSU has reason to celebrate its early results.
For the fall of 2023, JSU witnessed an impressive increase of over 300 percent in applications from international first-time freshmen. The number of applicants surged from 313 to 1,297, with 109 of these talented individuals successfully enrolling at the university. This boost in international students is not limited to freshmen; the overall count of international students at both undergraduate and graduate levels increased by 140 students this fall, totaling 251 students, marking a significant 39 percent growth.
Lauren Findley, Director of Admissions at JSU, attributes this success to their efforts in centralizing application processing and enhancing communication and support for students and recruitment agents throughout the admission process. These positive changes have played a crucial role in attracting international students to the university.
Currently, the top country of origin for JSU’s international students is Nepal. This is likely due to the dedicated recruitment efforts of Chandni Khadka-Walsh, the former director of the International House and Programs, who hails from Nepal. As a result of this initiative, JSU is now home to 79 students from Nepal, and this has led to the establishment of a Nepalese Student Association.
Sudeep Joshi, president of the Nepalese Student Association, expressed the students’ appreciation for JSU’s welcoming campus environment, strong international programs, engaging campus events, friendly staff, and accommodating professors. The pleasant climate in Alabama, reminiscent of Nepal, further adds to the university’s appeal.
In April, Ingrid Galinat joined JSU as the Director of International House and Programs, leading the department’s international recruitment efforts this fall. Working with international recruiting partners approved by the US Department of State, JSU actively participates in international recruitment fairs at accredited schools abroad. This includes Galinat’s visit to a recruitment fair in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where over 1,500 prospective students attended.
Byron Nichols, Assistant Director of the International House and Programs, also contributed to these recruitment efforts. He attended a recruitment fair in Nassau, Bahamas, where more than 1,600 prospective students registered for the three-day event. Notably, Bahamian JSU alumni Quentin Percenti and Marvin Henfield joined the recruitment fair, highlighting the strong JSU alumni network.
Over the next year, JSU plans to focus on recruiting students from Vietnam, Latin and South America, and to establish partnerships in France and Argentina. JSU’s international student population already represents 50 countries, and the university is determined to further enhance its diversity.
In addition to international student recruitment, JSU is working to expand its study abroad opportunities. The university has active exchange programs with partner universities in Sweden, Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. JSU also has two faculty-led programs in the pipeline for early 2024: one in London and Paris, and another in Mexico City.
For students interested in studying abroad, the opportunity to apply for a Gilman Scholarship through the US Department of State is available. This scholarship can provide funding for US undergraduates to study abroad at little to no cost.
With international travel on the rebound, JSU is once again hosting international alumni reunions. This year, alumni are invited to campus on October 20-21 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the International House. Due to the pandemic, the event was postponed, but now the time has come to commemorate this milestone. Additionally, an international reunion is planned for Paris in the summer of 2023, coinciding with the Marching Southerners’ trip to France, which will take place on June 12-13. Registration details will be announced soon.
