Increase in number of students slows due to tightened visa regulations, reflecting national trend

SAN FRANCISCO, November 6, 2003 -- San Francisco State University remains an increasingly hot destination for students from more than 100 countries across the globe, despite the tightened regulations for obtaining student visas established after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Figures released Monday by the Institute of International Education illustrate that SFSU has more international students than any other master's degree-granting institution in the United States except City University of New York-Baruch College, according to 2002-03 figures. It is the third consecutive year that SFSU is ranked No. 2.

The number of matriculated international students at SFSU increased by 1.6 percent over last fall to reach 2,267. The University's international student population has grown for eight consecutive years and more than doubled since 1994.

The 1.6 percent increase, however, is SFSU's smallest in years, as the international student population jumped by more than 10 percent as recently as 2000-2001. The smaller increase reflects a national trend as reported in the Institute of International Education report, which states an overall increase of less than 1 percent at colleges and universities nationwide in 2002-03.

Yenbo Wu, SFSU director of international programs, attributes the smaller increase at SFSU to the new regulations and delays in obtaining student visas. This has caused many students to not receive their visas in time to enter an American college or university this fall. As a result, more foreign students are seeking to study abroad in other English speaking countries such as England or Australia.

"I have no doubt in my mind that the measures taken by the U.S. government to fight terrorism have affected international student enrollment negatively," Wu said. "More international students are finding San Francisco State to be a welcoming, wonderful university in a wonderful city. We hope to continue to accommodate as many of them as possible."

A welcome reception for international students will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, in the Vista Room, located on the fourth floor of Burk Hall on the SFSU campus, as part of the University's celebration of International Education Week. SFSU President Robert A. Corrigan and the SFSU Office of International Programs will host the reception. Reporters are welcome to attend the reception, which is expected to draw a large crowd of international students.