NAFSA commissioned a national research “Bridging the Gap: Recruitment and Retention to Improve International Student Experiences” to investigate the reasons why international undergraduate students leave their institutions of first enrollment and what are the best practices to avoid attrition? The research was a response to increasing number of international students in American campuses and the widening gap between expectations of students and capacities of institutions to support them.
One of the key take-away of the research was “that poor retention is a function of the mismatch between expectations of students prior to enrollment and the actual experience of students once they are on campus.” Three key implications of the study for institutions improving the experiences and setting proper expectations with international students are: -understanding the diverse needs of the international student body,
-coordinating internationalization efforts across campus, and
-investing in programs and services that improve student experiences.
Here are the related links covering the research:
Download full report from NAFSA website
Improving the Experiences of International Students, Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning
Improving the Experiences of International Students, Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning
Infographic on NAFSA International Student Retention Research
International Students Coming to America for College More Than Ever, But Why Aren’t They Staying?, University Herald
For U.S. Colleges, a Drive to Retain Foreign Students, The New York Times
Why They Stay or Leave, Inside Higher Ed
NAFSA Research Reveals Student Retention Perception Gap, The PIE News
Retention Is a Growing Issue as More International Students Come to U.S., The Chronicle of Higher Education
Dr. Rahul Choudaha