Recruiting Students Overseas to Fill Seats, Not to Meet Standards

Responding to budget cuts from state legislatures, US public colleges increasingly rely on international students who pay higher tuition fees. Some universities rely on recruiting agencies to target international students, some of whom may be poorly prepared. Reporting for the New York Times, Stephanie Saul describes Western Kentucky University’s deal with Global Tree Overseas, paying commissions for students, “a type of arrangement that is becoming more common as a thriving international educational consultancy industry casts a wide net in India and other countries, luring international students to United States colleges struggling to fill seats.” Saul explains that federal law prohibits US recruiters, but not those overseas. The National Association for College Admission Counseling has suggested that bonuses, commissions and similar recruiting tactics based on student numbers can lead to conflicts of interest. High-pressure sales tactics combined with severe budget cuts and unqualified admissions reduce academic standards, undermining the reputation and value of US higher education. – YaleGlobal