BOT needs to look toward the future of the international student population

Wan Kamal Wan Napi
president, International Student Council

Based upon a proposal presented at the Sept. 11, 2003, SIU Board of Trustees meeting, the non-resident student tuition multiplier was to be increased from 2 to 2.5 percent beginning next academic year. Coupled with increases in the resident student tuition base, all non-resident students (primarily international) would have been paying $12,300 for an academic year, up from the $8,490 rate for this year (a 45-percent increase).

Recently, I have learned this proposal has been modified, such that the multiplier increase will apply only to new non-resident students. I would like to thank the Undergraduate Student Government, the members of the International Student Council General Assembly and all of the students, faculty and staff members and members of the Carbondale community who have expressed concern about this significant cost burden on many students.

I would also like to thank the SIU system and SIUC campus administrations for their response to these concerns. While international students currently in attendance at SIUC will have to pay more next year, it will be proportionately no more than that of resident students.

Yet I still have concerns about the future of international students at this great institution. I was a student here a few years ago when the board reduced the multiplier from 3 to 2 percent, citing the importance of SIUC maintaining its status as a leading international university campus.

Under the revised plan, all new international students will be paying the above-described rate (45 percent over this year). I believe this could have a negative impact upon prospective international students considering coming here. SIUC could lose its status as an international university campus, and by the time Southern is 150 it may be rare to find an international student walking this campus. We have already seen international student enrollment decrease from its high of 3,000 in the early 1990s to the current 1,500. In my meetings with various international student organizations, I have found many students with the belief that the University exploits them as a source of revenue rather than viewing them as important members of the campus community. The proposed significant increase will only add to that. SIUC President Walker has noted, "SIUC had been a leader in providing a high-quality education to students at an affordable price."

Let's make every attempt to maintain this status. International students create an atmosphere of cultural diversity which is surely of vital importance to an educational institution. I am writing this because I love SIUC, and I do not want to see prospective international students refusing to come to this campus because of cost burdens.

Once again, thanks so much for the consideration of the international students already here. However, let's also keep an eye on the future and consider reducing the impact of increases on those students yet to come.

Wan Kamal Wan Napi
president, International Student Council

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