Dive Brief:
- Green River College in Washington state aggressively recruits international students, in most cases through proxies, and it has come to rely on their tuition dollars — but faculty take issue with the school’s priorities.
- Inside Higher Ed reports faculty members have voted “no confidence” in President Eileen Ely and the Board of Trustees, and they have spoken out against the affect so many international students have on classrooms, especially in business or STEM-related courses that often are dominated by these students.
- While Ely argues international students provide a global experience for local students who might not have the opportunity to travel abroad, many faculty worry their needs outweigh those of students from local high schools because they are paying more to be there.
Dive Insight:
Community colleges have generally played a hyperlocal role, responding to the workforce needs in a concentrated area and offering open enrollment to achieve high access. The mission of Green River College, however, does not distinguish between international and domestic students, and supporters of the college’s large international student population argue they pay for the extra cost of their services. Their tuition dollars have even funded capital building projects the college would not otherwise be able to fund.
As colleges across the country struggle to work with tight budgets, international student tuition is becoming increasingly important at the undergraduate level. While they bring diverse cultural perspectives and money to local economies, Green River is not the only place where their presence prompts concern as well.