New data is indicating Maryland public universities saw sharp declines in international student enrollment for 2025. Out of 11 schools, eight reported the loss of 569 enrollees, when compared against past years.
Maryland’s public universities lost at least 449 international students in the past year, likely more, as Trump administration travel bans, visa interview pauses and revocations, and a lack of support have those students considering other options, experts said.
Eight of the 11 universities in the state that responded to a request for data reported declines in the number of international students in fall 2025, compared to fall 2024, losing a total of 569 students over the year. That number was offset by the three campuses that gained a total of 120 students.
The University of Maryland, College Park lost the largest number of students, going from about 4,260 in Fall 2024 to about 3,980 in Fall 2025 — a loss of nearly 300 students, or 6.7%. Campus Counts, the university’s enrollment map report, does not provide data from countries with less than five students, meaning the decrease could be larger.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland had the largest decrease of 80% — but that reflected a drop from just five international students in fall 2024 and one in fall 2025.
Maryland Matters reached out to 16 Maryland universities early in the semester. Eleven provided data on the number of international students enrolled at their university, and five were either not traditional campuses, such as the University of Maryland Global Campus, or did not respond with data.
Total international student enrollment fell from 7,608 to 7,159, out of a total of more than 118,000 students on the 11 campuses this fall.
The declines follow the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown and revocation of thousands of student visas in spring. Though many of these visas have been restored, tensions remain high as international students grapple with potential challenges concerning their access to education.
Travel bans, visa interview pauses and a lack of support from the Trump administration, in addition to visa terminations, deter students from choosing to study in the United States and increase global competition, said Rachel Banks, the senior director of public policy and legislative strategy at NAFSA, an international educators association.
“We’re in this sort of fraught, anxious, uncertain period — you have students considering other options, especially in the English language space,” Banks said. “They’re high-quality, and welcoming.”
Banks also cited the Trump administration’s proposals to end duration of status by limiting international students’ studies to four years, while the original duration of status policy allows international students to stay in the United States until their studies are complete. Students — especially those in a Ph.D. program — may choose other countries to study due to concerns that they will not finish their program before their duration of status expires, Banks said.
“If there’s that uncertainty hanging over a student’s head, they’re going to think twice — you know — ‘I’m better off going to Canada, or the UK, or even countries that are non-English speaking,’” Banks said.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County lost more than 200 international students from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025, leaving them with a 23% decrease. While the number of international undergraduate students increased by 22, the number of incoming international graduate students decreased by 234 at UMBC.
“While the decline in incoming international graduate students is concerning, we are optimistic that we will be able to work with international students to navigate the changing environment and continue to be a thriving community of international learners, researchers and teachers,” Yvette Mozie-Ross, the university’s vice provost for enrollment management and planning, said in a statement.
Frostburg State University saw a 15.2% decrease in international students on campus. This does not account for its partnership with the Hunan University of Technology and Business in Changsha, China, which saw a 24.3% increase in enrollment.
Salisbury University’s international student enrollment dropped by 11% — a decrease of 10 students. Fall 2025 numbers are the university’s estimate from late September.
Bowie State University, Towson University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore all faced decreases of less than 10% — losing 19, 11 and 12 students, respectively.
“International students are experiencing increased uncertainty in the past year from new federal proposals and policies that have targeted them,” Michael Sandler, the University System of Maryland’s vice chancellor for communications and marketing, said in a statement. “These actions will constrict the pipeline of international talent that contributes to our academic strength and scientific innovation.”
Three universities — the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University and Coppin State University — saw increases in international student enrollment. Coppin State University had the largest increase of international students, at 25%, with 16 extra studens. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Morgan State University increased their international student enrollment by 8.1% and 9.2%, or 9 and 95 more students, respectively.
Banks emphasized the importance of international talent at universities, especially at large research institutions, such as those that contribute to research in the health care field or make technological advances.
She also noted that international students bring culture to domestic students who may not be able to have their own international experience, and presented worries about culture-focused small businesses that were inspired by international student’s presence.
“International students play an essential role in Maryland’s campus communities, bringing cultural diversity, global perspectives and research talent,” Sanjay Rai, the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s secretary, said in a statement. “While some institutions have seen short-term decreases, Maryland remains committed to being a welcoming destination for students around the world.”
President Donald Trump wasted no time targeting higher education reform in his second term, kicking off a fight that often seemed personal.
Education in recent years has been the battleground for culture war disputes from immigration to transgender rights along with political posturing on issues like student loan forgiveness, admissions practices and free speech on campus.
Republicans have long been skeptical of higher education and accuse academics of indoctrinating youth with progressive ideologies, and Trump claimed that college campuses have been “infested with radicalism like never before.” Trump’s efforts revolve around curbing what he calls a “woke” agenda, with many of his steps aimed at reversing diversity, equity and inclusion policies that he says unfairly benefit some students over others.
As president, Trump has leveraged the power of the federal government to threaten funding and restrict foreign student status, demanding an unprecedented role in university admissions, curriculum and operations. In many cases, he has used accusations of antisemitism or the credo of law and order as wedges to force broader scrutiny of higher education administrators and employed civil rights laws aimed at providing fair access and equal protection to recast the definition of discrimination and roll back safeguards for historically disadvantaged populations.
The battle – which, at times, has escalated into an all-out war – has seen Trump focus on individual universities that refused to bend to his will, perhaps most prominently Harvard University.
Here’s a look at the key areas of Trump’s agenda and some of the noteworthy moves he has made when it comes to higher education:
The administration has filed lawsuits and cut or threatened to limit billions of dollars in funding in an attempt to influence policy at universities nationwide on issues ranging from DEI and LGBTQ+ interests to immigration policy and even university leadership and the academic curriculum. The funding freezes were taken by agencies across the administration, from the National Institutes of Health to the Department of Defense to NASA and others. They have been met with varying levels of resistance by administrators.
The Trump administration in March sent letters to 60 universities – among them many of the nation’s most elite institutions – warning them of “potential enforcement actions” for violations of Title VI, the federal statute prohibiting discrimination, relating to antisemitic discrimination and harassment. It empowered a Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism to investigate and report violations.
The White House in March cut $400 million in funding to Columbia University, a focal point of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campuses across the country, after demanding that administrators change policies regarding student protests and discipline and reorganize the leadership of the school’s Middle East studies department. Federal officials warned other universities that they could face similar actions. Columbia University in July said it reached a deal with the Trump administration to resolve several federal probes into the school. The agreement, which does not include Columbia University admitting to any wrongdoing, involves the school paying the government a $200 million settlement over three years. “Under today’s agreement, a vast majority of the federal grants which were terminated or paused in March 2025 will be reinstated, and Columbia’s access to billions of dollars in current and future grants will be restored,” the school said in a statement.
Federal officials in April froze $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard University after warning the school it was in violation of federal civil rights law. Harvard University ultimately rejected the administration’s wide-ranging demands that it reform its hiring and admissions practices, restructure the university’s governance and end DEI programs among a host of other stipulations. That led to an escalating dispute that has seen all additional federal funding withdrawn, new civil rights investigations initiated over hiring practices, threats to end the university’s tax-exempt status and a presidential proclamation banning foreign students from studying at Harvard, among other actions. In a major win for Harvard, a federal judge in early September ruled that the Trump administration broke the law when it terminated the $2.2 billion in grants, calling the administration’s actions part of a “targeted, ideologically-motivated assault.” It barred the White House from ending or freezing any additional funds to the school.
The Trump administration, embroiled in an ongoing dispute with the state of Maine over its allowance of transgender high school athletes competing in girls sports, suspended millions in funding for the University of Maine’s floating offshore wind program. In a letter to the university in April, a Department of Energy official said the funding was suspended for 90 days because the university failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the grant – which includes Title IX antidiscrimination language the Trump administration recently revised to revoke LGBTQ+ protections. In March, the Agriculture Department suspended funding to the university over Title IX concerns, but it was quickly restored after an investigation determined the school was in compliance.
Cornell University, Northwestern University, the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University were among schools that saw billions of dollars cut, frozen or suspended. The government has given several reasons for the moves, most prominently accusing the schools of tolerating antisemitism but also including race-based policies in admissions and hiring. In some cases, no clear reason was provided.
The Department of Justice in June filed separate lawsuits against Texas, Kentucky and Minnesota over policies granting in-state college tuition to residents who were in the country illegally. Texas, which had the policy in place for two decades, quickly settled. The moves were foreshadowed in an April executive order on immigration.
Brown University announced a settlement with Trump in late July that would see the school’s federal research funding resume and an end to the investigations into alleged discrimination. The university agreed to adopt the Trump administration’s definition of “male” and “female” as well as remove race as a consideration in its admissions. “Woke is officially DEAD at Brown,” Trump said in a social media post announcing the deal.
The Trump administration in October sent nine universities a proposal: priority access to federal funding if they follow a wide-ranging list of demands. The schools would have to take several steps to change their policies, like nixing consideration of race or sex in hiring and admissions and limiting foreign student enrollment. The University of Texas expressed interest in the deal, though most of the other schools would not give an answer at the time. California Gov. Gavin Newsom hit back at the controversial proposal, saying any California schools that sign it would lose “billions” in state funding.
Sign Up for U.S. News Decision Points
Your trusted source for breaking down the latest news from Washington and beyond, delivered weekdays.
Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S. News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy.
Republicans have called for the elimination of the agency almost since its inception in 1980, seeing it as a symbol of government bloat, waste and federal overreach. But in recent years the issue has taken on new momentum among hard-line conservatives who bristled at pandemic-era school shutdowns and what was seen as the undermining of parental rights to implement policies that advanced DEI and LGBTQ+ interests.
Trump on March 20 signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.” In July, the Supreme Court allowed Trump to move ahead with plans to fire about 1,200 Education Department workers. Experts say the reduced workforce could result in delays, particularly in processing FAFSA forms and efficiently distributing aid.
Combining the administration’s goals of restricting immigration as well as curbing protests critical of U.S. policy, universities have reported seeing student visas revoked for things like participation in demonstrations as well as criminal violations, some of them as minor as traffic infractions. Collectively, the moves have led to some students being detained or deported, including in several high-profile arrests nationwide.
After pledging to “quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses” during his opening days in office, Trump’s State Department in March revoked visas for more than 300 foreign-born students at schools in the U.S. who were said to have taken part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Federal officials terminated the status of thousands of students in a database used by universities and government officials to account for their movements in the U.S., a step that jeopardized their ability to remain enrolled and could lead to their visas being revoked. However, in April, it reversed, abruptly restoring thousands of international students’ ability to study across the country. But the Trump administration made clear it was not abandoning its effort. Instead, it began working on a new system to review their records.
As a part of Trump’s effort to pressure Harvard University to conform with Trump administration policies, the Department of Homeland Security withdrew the university’s certification to host foreign students and issue paperwork for their visas in May. A federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s effort in June. Trump switched strategies in June, signing a memo to “safeguard national security by suspending the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard University.” Harvard University, again, sued, and a federal judge, again, put a temporary block on the effort.
Student loan reform was a priority for many Republicans critical of former President Joe Biden’s moves toward student loan debt forgiveness. Biden and his administration erased some $190 billion in borrowed funds – moves that Republicans insisted were in defiance of court orders and were politically motivated to bolster the Democratic base.
Trump in March signed an executive order to restrict who is eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, a program for people who work in public service to get their remaining student loans forgiven after making 10 years of minimum payments. Trump’s plan is to exclude people who work for organizations “that engage in activities that have a substantial illegal purpose.” But the broad language could be used to target a number of activities that might even extend to activism and the constitutionally protected exercise of free speech. However, the change must go through the rulemaking process at the Education Department.
The Education Department in April announced it would resume collections on student loans that were in default after not pursuing the outstanding payments since March 2020. The Biden administration began collecting student loan repayments in October 2023 after a pause during the pandemic but instituted a one-year grace period in which borrowers faced no consequences. The Trump administration said it would begin withholding tax refunds and garnishing the wages of borrowers who were in default and had not taken the appropriate steps to resume repayment.
In July, the Education Department announced that roughly 8 million federal student loan borrowers would start to see interest resume on their debt balances in August after the Biden-era grace period exempted them for about a year.
Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” will bring sweeping changes to federal student loans in July 2026, including setting a total lifetime borrowing limit of $257,500 for all federal student loans.
Federal agencies, including the Education Department, have targeted what the Trump administration is calling “woke” spending, consistent with the views of many conservatives that higher education is biased and its research is used by academics to validate a Democratic agenda.
The Transportation Department in May terminated seven university grants that totaled $54 million, saying the grants were used to “advance a radical DEI and green agenda that were both wasteful and ran counter to the transportation priorities of the American people.” The department cited as examples a $6 million grant to New York University for research into providing “e-bikes to low-income travelers in transit deserts” and a $6 million grant to the University of New Orleans to study “how neighborhood stabilization efforts support environmental justice.”
The Department of Commerce in April announced it was cutting $4 million in research funding for Princeton University to study climate change. The administration said the research promoted “exaggerated and implausible climate threats, contributing to a phenomenon known as ‘climate anxiety,’ which has increased significantly among America’s youth. Its focus on alarming climate scenarios fosters fear rather than rational, balanced discussion.” The University of Washington similarly saw a $1 million grant into climate research canceled.
The National Science Foundation canceled hundreds of grants that “are not aligned with program goals or agency priorities,” including university researchers studying DEI, environmental justice and misinformation or disinformation.
The Trump administration has made efforts to rollback diversity, equity and inclusion programs embraced by the Biden administration. On his second day in office, he signed an executive order to terminate “to the maximum extent allowed by law” DEI offices and positions.
The DEI executive order also mandated an end to such programs at universities that receive federal funding. Schools that don’t comply risk losing federal money. The move, according to the Trump administration, is meant to correct recent discrimination “against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds and low-income families.”
A February memo from the Education Department instructed schools to stop using “racial preferences” as a factor in admissions, financial aid and hiring. It stated that personal essays for college admissions cannot be used to predict a student’s race. “Institutions that fail to comply with federal civil rights law may, consistent with applicable law, face potential loss of federal funding,” it said. But a federal judge in August blocked the memo, along with another one from April that requested state education agencies certify they were not using “illegal DEI practices,” saying the policy changes did not follow procedural requirements.
The Trump administration has launched investigations into dozens of institutions for their DEI practices. In one high-profile case, the University of Virginia president announced in June he would resign rather than “fight the federal government.” In another case, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights accused George Mason University of violating Title VI by using race and other protected characteristics in its hiring and promotion practices. The department demanded that Gregory Washington, the university’s president, apologize. In a letter, Washington’s attorney said the university president would not apologize.
Trump on Aug. 7 signed a presidential memorandum aimed at “ensuring transparency in higher education admissions.” The memo requires colleges and universities to submit additional admissions data to the Education Department in an effort to “ensure race-based preferences are not used in university admissions processes.” McMahon said in a statement that the Trump administration “will not allow institutions to blight the dreams of students by presuming that their skin color matters more than their hard work and accomplishments.”
The Education Department in September announced plans to end discretionary grant funding for several minority-serving institutions programs. It said the projects “discriminate by conferring government benefits exclusively to institutions that meet racial or ethnic quotas.” The agency said it would cut about $350 million from seven programs, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions and predominantly Black institutions. “These funds will be reprogrammed into programs that do not include discriminatory racial and ethnic quotas and that advance Administration priorities,” it said. A few days later, the agency announced a $495 million investment in historically Black colleges and tribal universities with funds it redirected from other programs “that the Department determined are not in the best interest of students and families.”
Republicans have long expressed concern with foreign funding flowing into U.S. colleges and universities. They say the money raises questions about foreign influences over research as well as national security issues relating to potential espionage and theft of sensitive information.
Trump in April signed an executive order to require the “full and timely disclosure of foreign funding by higher education institutions.” The order asks for stricter enforcement of a federal law that requires colleges to disclose financial ties with foreign sources. “We believe that certain universities, including, for example, Harvard, have routinely violated this law, and this law has not been effectively enforced,” White House staff secretary Will Scharf said at the executive order’s signing ceremony.
The Trump administration opened investigations into Harvard University; the University of Pennsylvania; the University of California, Berkeley; and, most recently, the University of Michigan over foreign funds.
Accreditation is a process colleges and universities are required to go through to gain access to federal financial aid. Using the accreditation process to target institutions that the Trump administration deems “low-quality” could lead to major financial fallouts for the institutions that rely heavily on federal financial aid and could give conservatives a greater say over higher education standards.
Trump in April signed an executive order to “overhaul the higher education accreditation system, ensuring colleges and universities deliver high-quality, high-value education free from unlawful discrimination and ideological overreach.” The Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions, a group of some of the largest federally recognized college accreditors, pushed back on Trump’s claims, adding that “ultimately, concerns about accreditor recognition can be escalated to federal court.”
A May letter from the Education Department detailed guidance to quicken the process of switching accreditors in an effort to “remove unnecessary requirements and barriers to institutional innovation.” McMahon said the new policy as well as the executive order will “ensure this Department no longer stands as a gatekeeper to block aspiring innovators from becoming new accreditors nor will this Department unnecessarily micromanage an institution’s choice of accreditor.”
The Education Department took steps to notify accreditors of violations its Office for Civil Rights found at certain institutions, including Harvard University and Columbia University. It accused both schools of violating federal antidiscrimination laws, saying, in turn, that the schools no longer appear to meet their accreditor’s standards. The agency noted in its press releases that “if a university fails to come into compliance within a specified period, an accreditor must take appropriate action against its member institution.”
Trump has put a strong focus on banning transgender people from participating in sports, including at colleges and universities. He signed an executive order that declared the federal government recognizes two sexes: male and female. “These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality,” Trump’s executive order states. “Under my direction, the Executive Branch will enforce all sex-protective laws to promote this reality, and the following definitions shall govern all Executive interpretation of and application of Federal law and administration policy.”
As part of the executive order declaring that the federal government recognizes two sexes, the Trump administration rescinded Title IX protections prohibiting discrimination that were extended to the LGBTQ+ community during the previous administration.
Trump in February signed an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” to “rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy.”
The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights launched investigations into several universities, including the University of Pennsylvania over a transgender woman’s participation on the women’s swim team three years ago. The Ivy league school announced in July that it reached a deal with the Trump administration to limit transgender people’s participation in its athletic programs. McMahon called the agreement a “great victory for women and girls not only at the University of Pennsylvania, but all across our nation.”
Colleges and universities across the United States are preparing for a significant drop in international student enrollment this fall as President Donald Trump aims to overhaul the vetting and admission process for foreign students.Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA), said, “In terms of tuition dollars to universities, that will certainly be an impact, but in addition to universities, they contribute to the local economy.”The Association of International Educators says the drop in foreign enrollment could be as high as 15% this fall, which could deprive the U.S. economy of about $7 billion in spending, result in more than 60,000 fewer jobs, and strain school budgets across the country.Trump acknowledged the importance of international students last week, saying, “I like that other country students come here. And you know what would happen if they didn’t? Our college system would go to hell very quickly.” However, he has also argued that foreign students take slots from Americans and only wants those who “can love our country.”Critics claim that the administration’s policies are contributing to the decline by pressuring colleges to limit enrollment, tightening visa screening, and revoking thousands of visas, arguing that those students broke the law or supported terrorism. Trump stated, “We don’t want troublemakers here.”The administration maintains that these measures are about security, but experts like Aw argue, “This idea that international students are a national security threat is one that there is no evidence to support that at all.”Trump last week suggested doubling the number of Chinese students in American universities, a move that contrasts with his previous crackdown and has sparked criticism from conservatives.
WASHINGTON —
Colleges and universities across the United States are preparing for a significant drop in international student enrollment this fall as President Donald Trump aims to overhaul the vetting and admission process for foreign students.
Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA), said, “In terms of tuition dollars to universities, that will certainly be an impact, but in addition to universities, they contribute to the local economy.”
The Association of International Educators says the drop in foreign enrollment could be as high as 15% this fall, which could deprive the U.S. economy of about $7 billion in spending, result in more than 60,000 fewer jobs, and strain school budgets across the country.
Trump acknowledged the importance of international students last week, saying, “I like that other country students come here. And you know what would happen if they didn’t? Our college system would go to hell very quickly.” However, he has also argued that foreign students take slots from Americans and only wants those who “can love our country.”
Critics claim that the administration’s policies are contributing to the decline by pressuring colleges to limit enrollment, tightening visa screening, and revoking thousands of visas, arguing that those students broke the law or supported terrorism. Trump stated, “We don’t want troublemakers here.”
The administration maintains that these measures are about security, but experts like Aw argue, “This idea that international students are a national security threat is one that there is no evidence to support that at all.”
Trump last week suggested doubling the number of Chinese students in American universities, a move that contrasts with his previous crackdown and has sparked criticism from conservatives.
The latest move would create new hurdles for international students, exchange workers, and foreign journalists who would have to apply to extend their stay in the US.
The Trump administration aims to tighten the duration of visas for students, cultural exchange visitors, and members of the media, according to a proposed government regulation issued on Wednesday, part of a broader crackdown on legal immigration.
President Donald Trump, a Republican, kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown after taking office in January. The latest move would create new hurdles for international students, exchange workers, and foreign journalists who would have to apply to extend their stay in the US rather than maintain a more flexible legal status.
The proposed regulation would create a fixed time period for F visas for international students, J visas that allow visitors on cultural exchange programs to work in the US, and I visas for members of the media. Those visas are currently available for the duration of the program or US-based employment.
There were about 1.6 million international students on F visas in the US in 2024, according to US government data. The US granted visas to about 355,000 exchange visitors and 13,000 members of the media in fiscal year 2024, which began on October 1, 2023.
The student and exchange visa periods would be no longer than four years, the proposed regulation said. The visa for journalists – which currently can last years – would be up to 240 days or, in the case of Chinese nationals, 90 days. The visa holders could apply for extensions, the proposal said.
Members of the National Guard patrol the National Mall past a banner of U.S. President Donald Trump hanging on the Department of Labor building, weeks after President Trump ordered National Guard and law enforcement to patrol the nation’s capital to assist in crime prevention, in Washington, D.C. (credit: BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS)
Trump cracks down on student visas
The Trump administration said in the proposed regulation that the change was needed to better “monitor and oversee” the visa holders while they were in the United States.
The public will have 30 days to comment on the measure, which mirrors a proposal put forward in 2020 at the end of Trump’s first term in office.
NAFSA, a non-profit organization representing international educators at more than 4,300 institutions worldwide, opposed the 2020 proposal and called on the Trump administration to scrap it. The Democratic administration of then-President Joe Biden withdrew it in 2021.
The Trump administration has increased scrutiny of legal immigration, revoking student visas and green cards of university students over their ideological views and stripping legal status from hundreds of thousands of migrants.
In an August 22 memo, US Citizenship and Immigration Services said it would resume long-dormant visits to citizenship applicants’ neighborhoods to check what it termed residency, moral character, and commitment to American ideals.
TORONTO, November 19, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– PayMyTuition, a leading provider of cutting-edge payment processing solutions for the higher education sector, today announced the launch of its innovative Sponsored Payments Module. This advanced solution is designed to streamline the management of third-party sponsorship payments for educational institutions by automating billing, payment, and reconciliation processes. By connecting students, sponsors, and institutions, the new module simplifies the handling of sponsored student accounts, enhancing both transparency and operational efficiency.
“As institutions continue to support a growing number of sponsored students, managing these payments manually has become an increasing administrative burden,” said Arif Harji, Chief Market Strategist at MTFX Group. “Our Sponsored Payments Module automates the entire process—from invoicing to reconciliation—allowing schools to focus on providing educational opportunities instead of inserting inefficient and ineffective payment processes that detract the student from focusing on their true mission. We’re thrilled to introduce this solution, which will transform how institutions manage sponsorship payments.
The Sponsored Payments Module integrates directly into existing Student Information Systems (SIS), including popular platforms such as Ellucian Banner, Ellucian Colleague, and PeopleSoft Campus Solutions. This seamless integration eliminates the need for manual processes, ensuring that payments are processed efficiently, accurately, and in real time.
Key Features of PayMyTuition’s Sponsored Payments Module:
Automated billing and reconciliation: The module automates invoice creation and payment reconciliation, reducing administrative workload and minimizing errors.
Self-service portal for sponsors: Sponsors can easily manage their accounts, view detailed billing information, and make payments through a user-friendly self-service portal allowing them to make more timely, and less resource-intensive payments.
Support for multiple payment methods: Institutions can accept payments via credit card, debit, ACH, wire transfer, and other methods, providing sponsors with flexibility and convenience.
Real-time SIS integration: Seamless integration with Student Information Systems keeps all departments updated with real-time data, streamlining communication and enhancing transparency.
Detailed payment tracking: Educational institutions can track payments and outstanding balances at the student level, ensuring accurate and timely allocations.
Benefits for Educational Institutions:
The Sponsored Payments Module revolutionizes how schools manage sponsorship billing. By automating and simplifying these processes, institutions can reduce operational costs, improve the student and sponsor experience, and enhance financial transparency.
Increased Efficiency: Automated invoicing and reconciliation allow institutional resources to focus on more critical tasks.
Enhanced Transparency: Both sponsors and institutions benefit from clear, itemized billing and a breakdown of tuition and fee details, reducing confusion and improving communication.
Improved Sponsor Experience: Sponsors gain full visibility into their account activity and can manage payments, view student schedules, and verify fees with ease, without needing to contact the school.
“The Sponsored Payments Module is designed to reduce the burden on institutions and sponsors alike,” added Harji. “By simplifying the management of sponsored students, educational institutions can grow their sponsorship programs without being held back by administrative hurdles.”
Educational institutions seeking to modernize their management of third-party sponsorship payments can now take advantage of this cutting-edge solution to improve efficiency and enhance the student and sponsor experience.
About PayMyTuition:
PayMyTuition, part of the MTFX Group of Companies, is a leading provider of payment processing solutions tailored to the needs of educational institutions. With over 25 years of experience and more than 8,000 clients across North America, MTFX is a recognized leader in global payments and payment processing. PayMyTuition leverages innovative technology and exceptional customer support to simplify complex financial processes for schools, students, and sponsors. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with offices in Jersey City, NJ, MTFX Group processed over $11 billion in payment processing across 180+ countries last year.
TORONTO, October 15, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– PayMyTuition, a leader in payment processing solutions for educational institutions, is excited to announce the launch of Student Manager, an advanced platform designed to centralize and simplify student financial management. By integrating seamlessly with Student Information Systems (SIS) and PayMyTuition solutions, Student Manager offers institutions a powerful dashboard that provides a comprehensive view of each student’s financial profile. This innovative tool empowers campus staff to deliver fast, accurate, and real-time support, ultimately enhancing the student experience.
“With more students making online payments, institutions need a streamlined approach to financial management,” said Arif Harji, Chief Market Strategist at MTFX Group. “Student Manager is a game-changer. It centralizes critical student financial data in one place, allowing institutions to improve service efficiency, reduce administrative burdens, and elevate the student journey.”
Key Features of Student Manager:
Student Account Information: Instant access to student financial details, enabling staff to answer inquiries quickly.
Payment Information: Easily track payment histories and balances in real-time.
Financial Aid: View financial aid status with just a few clicks.
Authorized Users and Permissions: Securely manage user permissions and student account access.
Seamless Integration for Enhanced Efficiency
Student Manager integrates directly with existing SIS and PayMyTuition platforms, allowing institutions to pull together data from various systems. This comprehensive approach ensures that staff can access critical information in one unified view, including:
Account balances, holds, and academic information.
Student consents and agreements.
Demographics and class schedules.
Expanding Functionality with Payments and Departmental Deposits
Student Manager goes beyond standard account management by offering modules for Payments and Departmental Deposits. These features enable staff to accept payments in person, over the phone, or digitally, simplifying financial management across departments and reducing the burden on the business office.
Real-Time Insights and Proactive Solutions
By providing real-time integration with student information systems, Student Manager allows institutions to identify payment trends and manage potential issues before they escalate. Staff can proactively offer solutions, such as setting up payment plans for students who may be falling behind on their payments. This capability not only improves customer service but also fosters greater student engagement and retention.
Key Benefits of Student Manager:
Improved Student Experience: A one-stop platform that resolves most inquiries in a single session, eliminating the need to refer students to other departments.
Quick Staff Onboarding: Easy-to-use interface and common terminology allow new staff to assist students immediately.
Proactive Assistance: Data-driven insights enable staff to identify and address trends, offering tailored support to students.
Increased Efficiency: Centralized access to critical information reduces time spent navigating multiple systems.
Enhanced Productivity: Staff across campus, including non-business office personnel, can securely access and manage the information they need to assist students.
Secure Data Management: Role-based permissions ensure that sensitive student information is protected, granting access only to authorized users.
Expanding Student Manager’s Capabilities
For institutions looking to further streamline their financial operations, Student Manager offers additional modules, including:
Payments Module: Accept payments in person using credit cards, debit cards, checks, cash, or ACH, while staff can handle same-day transaction voids and daily reconciliation.
Departmental Deposits Module: Manage non-student payments, such as facility rentals or parking fines, extending the one-stop platform for campus-wide use.
Conclusion
PayMyTuition’s Student Manager is an all-in-one solution that centralizes financial, academic, and demographic data, empowering institutions to provide faster, more efficient student support. With real-time insights, seamless system integration, and extended functionality, Student Manager ensures that student accounts are managed accurately and efficiently, enhancing the overall student experience.
To learn more about how Student Manager can transform your institution’s student financial management, visit www.paymytuition.com.
About PayMyTuition:
PayMyTuition, part of the MTFX Group of Companies, is a leading provider of payment processing solutions for educational institutions. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with offices in Jersey City, NJ, MTFX Group has over 25 years of experience in global payments and foreign exchange, serving more than 8,000 clients across North America.
Media Contact:
PayMyTuition Media Relations Email: media@paymytuition.com
But starting next fall, prospective students from outside the province may face a steep increase in tuition fees at schools like McGill University, Concordia University and Bishop’s University, thanks to new rule imposed by the Quebec provincial government, designed to promote and protect the French language. If implemented, the change could prompt many out-of-province students to reconsider their education plans. Here’s what’s being proposed and what it means for students.
Current tuition fees for out-of-province and international students studying in Quebec
Out-of-province students who study in Quebec already pay a lot more in tuition fees than Quebec residents. The table below shows the tuition fees for undergraduate students enrolled in a business program for the 2023-24 academic year. (Note that fees may vary by program of study, and the numbers listed exclude administrative, compulsory and other fees.)
As you can see, many out-of-province students currently pay more than three times more than Quebec residents. International students pay the highest fees of all. In general, French-language universities seem to charge international students less than English-language universities.
Proposed Quebec tuition fee changes
In October 2023, the Quebec government outlined plans to raise tuition fees for out-of-province undergraduate students from $8,992 to $17,000 per year. The province is now reportedly reconsidering its initial plan, and it may instead only raise tuition for out-of-province students to $12,000 per year. Either way, students who are currently in the system would be exempt from the tuition hikes (except those who change programs), as would PhD students.
While the new rules would apply to all universities, the province’s three English-language universities—Bishop’s University, Concordia University and McGill University—have been in the news because they would be most directly impacted. Most of Quebec’s out-of-province students study in English.
International students may also be affected, though less than out-of-province students. Keeping with the province’s original plan, international students would pay a minimum of $20,000 per year in tuition. Universities would continue to have the right to impose additional discretionary fees.
There’s no doubt that these changes would impact incoming out-of-province and international students. On top of needing to come up with more money for tuition, the changes could influence the quality of education, particularly at Quebec’s English-language universities. McGill University, for example, says it could lose 60% of its out-of-province students. It projects that this would contribute to a drop of around $42 million in annual revenue, which would have a domino effect on staffing and resources available for students.
So, is studying in Quebec still worthwhile?
Canadian students outside of Quebec who want to study in the province could see tuition costs jump by $3,000 to $8,000 more per year starting in 2024. That would be a financial shock for anyone, let alone students, who often don’t have a consistent or reliable source of income. So, how can you decide if studying in Quebec is still worth it? Start by answering the following questions.
If you’re in school, you most likely have supplemental health and dental insurance. Some educational institutions make this mandatory by including the cost in your tuition fees. However, if you’re a new grad, you may be getting accustomed to managing health insurance on your own (as opposed to through your parents or school). Here’s a quick lesson on what health insurance is, how it works, where you can buy it and the benefits you can receive.
What is health insurance?
A health insurance plan helps to cover the costs of your medical and dental bills. Depending on the provider and type of plan you choose, health insurance can cover a number of health-related expenses. Coverage typically includes prescription drugs, vision care, dental care, medical equipment and visits to medical practitioners (such as physiotherapists, dietitians and registered massage therapists).
How does health insurance work for students?
Depending on your school, you may be automatically enrolled in the health insurance plan that’s offered to students. Once you’re enrolled, you can download a copy of the plan details. You’ll also receive a benefits card that will have your plan identification on it. You will need to present this card to your healthcare provider at every visit when paying for your services (in my experience, most providers will keep this information in your file).
Health insurance for students in university: How it works
How can students access their benefits?
Some health and dental service providers set up direct billing. This means they bill the insurance company directly, and you will only be required to pay the balance not covered by your plan. If they don’t have direct billing, then you’ll need to pay the full amount out of pocket, and then submit an online claim with your receipt to receive reimbursement. It can take several business days to assess your claim and for the amount to be deposited into your bank account.
Health insurance for international students in Canada
If you’re an international or foreign-exchange student, you’ll need to research the health insurance for the particular province or territory in which you are studying. Some provinces provide health coverage to international students that is either free or for an added cost, and you’ll be required to apply through the province.
For example, international students studying at a university in Ontario must obtain mandatory health care coverage through the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP), a not-for-profit insurance plan created by Ontario’s universities that is comparable to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
In other cases where provincial health insurance is not offered, students need to purchase personal health insurance, typically through their school in Canada. Be sure to check if these health plans are mandatory or optional.
What happens to students when they leave school and no longer have coverage?
If you’re no longer in school and find yourself without any health insurance coverage, you’re not alone. Acquiring your own health insurance plan could be the solution—if you’re concerned about paying for hefty medical bills that may arise due to an injury or illness while finding employment. This can help bridge the gap while you’re looking to get a job offer from an employer that provides health insurance.
Gov. Ron DeSantis holds up two bills related to China he signed on June 07, 2021, in Miami, Florida. … [+] A bill he signed in 2023 is the subject of a new lawsuit. Two H-1B visa holders and an international student are plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging Florida’s new law preventing many Chinese citizens from purchasing real estate in the state is unconstitutional. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Two H-1B visa holders and an international student are plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging Florida’s new law preventing many Chinese citizens from purchasing real estate in the state is unconstitutional. The state will also require U.S. citizens in Florida to attest that the law doesn’t apply to them when buying real estate. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has highlighted the new law while pursuing the Republican nomination for president. Analysis shows the law is likely more restrictive than the plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue due to the use of the term “visa” in the bill rather than “status.”
The Florida Law’s Main Provisions
Starting July 1, 2023, Florida law S.B. 264 prohibits a citizen of China from buying real estate in the state unless certain exceptions apply. The exceptions include that it is only “one residential real property that is up to 2 acres” and the “parcel is not on or within 5 miles of any military installation in the state.” The person must have a “current verified United States Visa that is not limited to authorizing tourist-based travel” or have been granted asylum.
The measure applies to “Any person who is domiciled in the People’s Republic of China and who is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.” A person who is a citizen of China (and not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident) who meets one of the exceptions and already owns property in Florida “may not purchase . . . any additional real property” in the state.
Other provisions apply to citizens of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria unless they qualify for an exception. These include prohibitions on purchasing agricultural land or real estate near a military installation or critical infrastructure.
The law also places new requirements on American citizens in Florida. “At the time of purchase, a buyer of real property in this state must provide an affidavit signed under penalty of perjury attesting that the buyer is” not prevented from buying the real estate due to the new law. This illustrates how immigration-related restrictions often also affect U.S.-born citizens.
The Lawsuit
A lawsuit filed on May 22, 2023, challenges the Florida law, arguing it “imposes discriminatory prohibitions on the ownership and purchase of real property based on race, ethnicity, alienage, and national origin—and imposes especially draconian restrictions on people from China.”
The complaint discusses the impact of the law on the plaintiffs—four Chinese citizens who live in Florida and a real estate brokerage firm that serves Chinese and Chinese American clients.
“They will be forced to cancel purchases of new homes, register their existing properties with the State under threat of severe penalties, and face the loss of significant business,” according to the complaint. “The law stigmatizes them and their communities, and casts a cloud of suspicion over anyone of Chinese descent who seeks to buy property in Florida. Under this discriminatory new law, people who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and whose ‘domicile’ is in China, will be prohibited from purchasing property in Florida.
“A similar but less restrictive rule will apply to people whose permanent home is in Cuba, Venezuela, or other ‘countries of concern.’ The sole exception to these prohibitions is incredibly narrow: people with non-tourist visas or who have been granted asylum may purchase one residential property under two acres that is not within five miles of any military installation in the state. Notably, there are more than a dozen military installations in Florida, many of them within five miles of city centers like Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Pensacola, Panama City, and Key West. Florida’s new law will also impose requirements on people from China and other ‘foreign countries of concern’ to register properties they currently own, at the risk of civil penalties and civil forfeiture. People who own or acquire property in violation of the law are subject to criminal charges, imprisonment, and fines.”
The attorneys for the plaintiffs are the ACLU Foundation of Florida, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, the DeHeng Law Offices and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. The attorneys filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for The Northern District of Florida Tallahassee Division.
“The law may be even more restrictive than the lawsuit indicates,” according to Kevin Miner, a partner at Fragomen. “This is because the statute uses incorrect immigration terminology to describe the exception. The statute appears to try to create an exception for individuals who are in the U.S. on a longer-term nonimmigrant status but does so by referencing a ‘visa’ rather than nonimmigrant status. The exception in the finalized bill, as enacted, exempts someone from the law if ‘the person has a current verified United States Visa that is not limited to authorizing tourist-based travel or official documentation confirming that the person has been granted asylum in the United States and such visa or documentation authorizes the person to be legally present within this state.’
“From a U.S. immigration law perspective, a ‘visa’ has a specific meaning. It is a sticker on a page of someone’s passport issued by a U.S. consulate abroad authorizing travel to the United States. It is different than having nonimmigrant status, like holding H-1B status while living in the U.S. and working for a U.S. employer. Because a visa is only needed for travel, many people in the U.S. are lawfully present holding H-1B, L-1 or F-1 student status and don’t have an unexpired visa stamp in their passport. The Florida statute incorrectly references a ‘visa’ rather than ‘nonimmigrant status.’ This could cause further complications for people who may have been intended to be exempted from the law but will be swept up in its restrictions anyway.”
Two H-1B Visa Holders And An International Student As Plaintiffs
The lawsuit includes two plaintiffs who are H-1B visa holders and one international student on an F-1 visa.
“Plaintiff Yifan Shen is neither a citizen nor a permanent resident of the United States but has permission to stay and live in the United States as the holder of a valid H-1B visa, which is a nonimmigrant worker visa,” according to the complaint. “Ms. Shen has lived in the United States for seven years and has lived in Florida for the past four years. She is not a member of the Chinese government or of the Chinese Communist Party. She has a master’s degree in science and is working as a registered dietitian in Florida.
“In April 2023, Ms. Shen signed a contract to buy a single-family home in Orlando to serve as her primary residence. The property, which is a new construction, appears to be located within ten miles of a critical infrastructure facility and within five miles of a military installation. The estimated closing date for Ms. Shen’s new property is in December 2023. Because Ms. Shen’s closing date is after July 1, 2023, Florida’s New Alien Land Law will prevent Ms. Shen from acquiring her new home, specifically, by forcing her to cancel the contract for the purchase and construction of her new property. Ms. Shen stands to lose all or part of her $25,000 deposit if the law goes into effect and she is forced to cancel the real estate contract.”
“Plaintiff Yongxin Liu is neither a citizen nor a permanent resident of the United States but has permission to stay and live in the United States as the holder of a valid H-1B visa, which is a nonimmigrant worker visa,” according to the complaint. “Mr. Liu has lived in the United States for five years and in Florida for four years. He is not a member of the Chinese government or of the Chinese Communist Party. He is an assistant professor at a Florida university in the field of data science. He owns a property close to Daytona Beach, which is his primary residence. As an owner of real property in Florida, Mr. Liu will be required under Florida’s New Alien Land Law to register his property with DEO [Department of Economic Opportunity].
“In addition, because Mr. Liu’s property appears to be located within ten miles of a critical infrastructure facility, Mr. Liu is further subject to the law’s registration requirement. This registration requirement is burdensome, discriminatory, and stigmatizing to Mr. Liu. Mr. Liu also has plans to purchase a second property in the vicinity of Pelican Bay, Florida, for his and his parents’ use as a vacation home. However, Mr. Liu will be prohibited from purchasing a second property under the new law. Furthermore, there is a substantial likelihood that the second property would be within ten miles of a military installation or critical infrastructure facility, resulting in an additional prohibition on the purchase under the new law.
“Due to Florida’s New Alien Land Law, Mr. Liu reasonably fears that real estate agents will refuse to represent him because he is Chinese, that he will be disadvantaged when bidding on property because he is Chinese, and that his search for real estate will be more costly, time-consuming, and burdensome as a result.”
“Plaintiff Xinxi Wang is neither a citizen nor a permanent resident of the United States but has permission to stay and live in the United States as the holder of a valid F-1 visa, which is a nonimmigrant visa for international students. Ms. Wang has lived in the United States and in Florida for the past five years. She is not a member of the Chinese government or of the Chinese Communist Party. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. degree in earth systems science at a Florida university.
“Ms. Wang owns a home in Miami, which is her primary residence. Ms. Wang is also devoted Christian who worships with a congregation in the Miami area, about ten minutes from her home. As an owner of real property in Florida, Ms. Wang will be required to register her property . . . In addition, because Ms. Wang’s property appears to be located within ten miles of a critical infrastructure facility, Ms. Wang is further subject to the law’s registration requirement. This registration requirement is burdensome, discriminatory, and stigmatizing to Ms. Wang.”
Why The Law May Be Unconstitutional
The complaint asks the court to find the law unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment because it violates plaintiffs’ rights to equal protection and procedural due process. “The law was enacted with the purpose and intent to discriminate against persons based on race, ethnicity, color, alienage, and national origin, in particular, Chinese persons,” according to the complaint. “The law makes impermissible classifications based on race, ethnicity, color, alienage, and national origin that are not justified by a compelling state interest. . . . The law is impermissibly vague, indefinite, and ambiguous because it fails to clearly define ‘critical infrastructure facility,’ ‘military installation,’ and ‘domicile,’ and therefore fails to provide sufficient notice about which properties and persons are subject to its classifications, prohibitions, penalties, and requirements . . . [and] fails to provide sufficient notice as to where the ten-mile and five-mile exclusion zones tied to the covered critical infrastructure facilities and military installations begin and end.”
The complaint also argues the law violates plaintiffs’ rights under the Fair Housing Act. “The law discriminates against persons based on their race, color, and national origin, particularly Chinese persons, with respect to dwellings and residential real estate-related transactions.”
Finally, the plaintiffs ask that the law be declared unconstitutional under the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and argue it is preempted by federal law. “The governor and legislators have repeatedly emphasized the need to take action ‘to stand against the United States’ greatest geopolitical threat—the Chinese Communist Party,’” write the plaintiffs. “Accordingly, the law violates the Supremacy Clause because it regulates a field exclusively occupied by the federal government, specifically, the intersection between foreign affairs, national security, and foreign investment, including foreign real estate acquisitions. In so doing, the new landownership prohibitions usurp the power vested by the Constitution and by Congress in the federal government to investigate, review, and take actions with respect to foreign investments, including real estate transactions that raise issues of national security.”
The plaintiffs ask the court for an injunction against the state of Florida from implementing and enforcing the law.
The Impact On U.S. Competitiveness In Attracting Talent
The new law is likely to have an impact on attracting talent to the United States. “China remains a vital source of high-skilled talent for the United States, especially in STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] fields where there is a particularly acute shortage of qualified U.S. workers,” said Fragomen’s Kevin Miner. “By making it more difficult for Chinese nationals to purchase property in Florida, employers who rely on foreign national talent from China and other affected countries may rethink plans to expand their operations into Florida, and this would mean that the jobs for American workers from such an expansion would go away as well.”
Perceptions of Chinese nationals toward the United States as a place to work and study could continue to erode in light of the new law. U.S. consular officers are still denying visas for Chinese graduate students based on the Chinese university they attended, as became apparent in this recent case of a Ph.D. student who cannot return to the United States to complete her doctoral research. Fewer international students from China have chosen to attend U.S. universities in recent years.
“The lawsuit makes an excellent point that regardless of what exceptions the statute may try to create, Chinese nationals will still be disadvantaged as buyers,” said Miner. “Real estate agents may be less willing to work with them, and sellers may be scared by the language of the law and choose not to sell property to a Chinese national. This is detrimental to people doing nothing more than trying to build a career and a life in the United States, and ultimately hurts U.S. competitiveness in the global economy.”
SAN FRANCISCO, September 28, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– Many international students applying to study in the United States want more complete information from colleges and universities on financing, employment opportunities, and career outcomes.
This fact was a key finding from research published by Interstride, a technology platform that helps universities and colleges attract and retain international students at over 150 U.S. higher-ed institutions. The survey received responses from 467 international students from 77 countries.
International applicants face unique challenges during the admissions process, especially when choosing the right institution, financing their education, and navigating the immigration landscape. While applicants largely rely on university websites and rankings for support, many are unsatisfied with the information, which would have influenced their choice of institution.
Most U.S. colleges reported increasing numbers of international student applicants for the coming academic year, recovering from COVID despite the overall decline in international enrollment.
“We know that international students face unique challenges as students and new graduates,” Interstride CEO Nitin Agrawal said. “We wanted to know what international students’ admissions experience is like, what can be improved, and how we can help admissions teams better engage them during this crucial time.”
Agrawal said that admissions teams must focus on supporting and engaging prospective international students. Recommendations include:
Understand the challenges international students face and proactively offer guidance throughout the process.
Leverage students’ reliance on university websites by making them more interactive and informative.
Better facilitate conversations and connections between students and the university’s international community.
Interstride embarked on the research to learn more about international students’ admissions experience, as it is launching a new portal for admissions teams to support international students. Interstride for Admissions will launch in the fall of 2022, which allows admissions teams to engage prospects by connecting them with existing students, offering personalized content, and showing metrics on student engagement.
Read the research here and learn more about Interstride for Admissions here.
About Interstride
Interstride is one of the fastest-growing higher education technology platforms in the U.S. Interstride helps universities and colleges attract and retain international students. Interstride’s end-to-end admissions and career platform for higher-ed institutions guides and empowers international students in their education, career, and immigration journey.
DALLAS, February 25, 2018 (Newswire.com)
– The U.S. is home to over a million international students with almost 300,000 entering every year and 176,000 actively working in the U.S. International students are a big benefit to the U.S., attributing about $39 billion to the economy. Universities around the country actively recruit and market to international students, hoping to bring in even more students to the U.S.
eShipGlobal has been helping international students for many years through the use of their UEMS solution. It helps universities quickly and accurately ship the student’s I-20 and other critical documents that are necessary for them to enter and study in the U.S.
Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.
Pele, Athlete
However, entering the country is just one part of a very long journey. To help international students further, eShipGlobal launched the initiative CollegeThink. CollegeThink is the umbrella initiative for the many student-focused services that eShipGlobal offers international students: from resources through business partnerships to CollegeThink’s online international students’ community UEMSConnect.
The most recent expansion to CollegeThink is the job search site. This job search site is just for international students and is designed to help students on OPT or other work-related programs to find jobs with companies willing to hire international students. It is a free job search site, for both job seekers and employers. Students can search through jobs, upload resumes and apply to jobs through the platform.
The process to apply for OPT is expensive and time-consuming, especially if something unexpected happens. There is a fee of about $400 that the students must include within their I-765/OPT packet that is mailed to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). With all the important documents and money contained in the packet, it is important that the package is delivered successfully.
One way students can have reliable shipping while saving money is to ship their OPT applications through the UEMS solution. In 2017, eShipGlobal added OPT shipping to their UEMS solution, allowing students to easily ship to the USCIS office, using reliable and trusted carriers like UPS and FedEx. Students will also save money with discounted shipping rates and carrier comparison. In addition, eShipGlobal is partnering with recruitment agencies to help international students find jobs. Students who ship through UEMS will have the opportunity, free-of-charge, to have their resume sent out to respective agencies*.
Studying in the U.S. is just the start of an international student’s journey, one that does not always end after graduation. In fact, it could be the start of a new life in the U.S.
Madeleine Golda, Cross-Cultural Training Director of EduBoston, and Executive Director of Bachson Academy, to Present at Toronto Event
Press Release –
updated: Nov 15, 2017
BOSTON, November 15, 2017 (Newswire.com)
– EduBostonis pleased to have been invited to participate in the Professional Development Conference for Homestay Managers in Toronto. For over a decade, EduBoston has been a placement service provider to thousands of International Students interested in receiving a high school education in the United States and knows first hand the importance of placing these students with nurturing and loving Host Families.
Recent studies support the growing trend of International Secondary Students studying in the United States. In fact, the study by the “iie Institute of International Education” in New York reflects that in 2016, there were 81,981 International Secondary Students who studied in the United States. This trend provides evidence that Host Families are needed more than ever, and professional organizations like EduBoston must continue to provide their knowledge and expertise to Host Families and professionals who manage Host Families to be able to stay in line with the growing trends.
The International Student homestay industry has to keep up with trends that affect students, including academics, cultural immersion, expectations, English proficiency challenges and so much more. Continual communication, guidance, and education help bridge the differences between North Americans and students from other cultures. I really appreciate being invited to Doug Ronsom’s conference and look forward to collaborating with him further.
Madeleine Golda, Director of Cross-Cultural Training
The Professional Development Conference for Homestay Managers in Toronto,Ontario, Canada, takes place on Nov. 16-17, gathering professionals in the International Student industry focused on topics in relation to Homestay and Host Family Management for the international students in North America. Panels and sessions invite educators and host management professionals to participate over the two-day conference reviewing topics that discuss the demand for host families as the trend of students studying abroad increases.
Informative topics include:
Recruiting Great Host Families in Competition with Other Programs and Airbnb by Doug Ronson, ESQ Educational Services
Cross-Cultural Communication for Homestay Programs – Ms. Madeleine Golda, EduBoston
Preventing Homestay Coordinator Burnout – Jennifer Wilson, Canada Homestay Network
Mental Health; Changing Marijuana Laws and Concerns about Substance Abuse – Dr. Abby Goldstein, University of Toronto
And many other sessions. A full schedule can be downloaded at homestayguide.com.
The series of conferences that take place throughout North America is organized by visionary Doug Ronson, CEO of ESQ Educational Services. ESQ’s mission is to enhance the international education experience for students, hosts and homestay coordinators. Being in the homestay industry for more than 20 years, having been a Host Parent and homestay coordinator, Ronson knows first-hand the benefits as well as the trials and tribulations of hosting and the homestay industry. He has published many manuals and guidebooks for hosts and students and for the past two years has been organizing professional development workshops for homestay managers and professionals in the international student industry. Ronson states, “We are delighted to have Madeleine Golda speak at the conference. The homestay managers in attendance will benefit from her expert knowledge and vast experience.”
Ms. Madeleine Golda, Cross-Cultural Training director of EduBoston, and executive director of Bachson Academy, states, “The international student homestay industry has to keep up with trends that affect students, including academics, cultural immersion, expectations, English proficiency challenges and so much more.” Golda continues, “Continual communication, guidance and education help bridge the differences between North Americans and students from other cultures. I really appreciate being invited to Doug’s conference and look forward to collaborating with him further.”
About EduBoston Established in 1998, EduBoston is an industry-leading International Education consulting firm based in Boston, Massachusetts. Through the work of highly trained, dedicated local staff and CSIET-certified Host Family program, EduBoston ensures students are positioned to succeed both academically and socially. www.EduBoston.com
About Bachson Academy: Provide International Students and immigrants with effective and engaging English as a Second Language instruction, orientation to U.S. culture and the U.S. education system and improved learning skills, using methods which embrace learners’ diverse backgrounds and goals and promote intercultural understanding, service to others, reflection on experience and individual achievement. www.BachsonAcademy.com
Ms. Madeleine Golda serves as its executive director and recently was nominated and elected to the board of directors of CSIET-The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel. www.csiet.org
Media Contact: Christina Andrianopoulos, Senior Marketing Officer, EduBoston, 857.498.1203, Christina@EduBoston.com
