IRP Information Alert
Volume 1, Issue 1 The Office of Institutional Research and Planning
February 3, 2000 Southern Polytechnic State University
International Students at SPSU The Fall 1999
Enrollment at Southern Polytechnic State University included 542 foreign
students. In Fall 1998, 15% of the student population was international. In
Fall 1999, it had grown to 17%. §
55% were registered at the undergraduate level §
45% were registered at the graduate level §
3% were registered in the School of Architecture §
31% were registered in the College of Technology §
59% were registered in the College of Arts and
Sciences §
54% were registered in Computer Science (97
undergraduate, 185 grad, and 8 certificate) §
6% were registered in the School of Management Satisfaction with SPSU Non US Citizen
respondents to the ACT College Outcomes Survey were more satisfied than US
citizens with: §
Quality of academic advising §
My sense of belonging on this campus §
Student mental health services §
College social activities §
New student orientation and placement in courses §
Financial aid services §
Tutorial services §
Student access to computer facilities and services §
SPSU’s contribution to my personal and social growth They
were more dissatisfied than US citizens with: §
Language development services §
Recreational programs §
Campus atmosphere for ethnic, political and religious understanding 92 Foreign Countries represented Countries that 10 or more students are
citizens of: §
China......................... 103 §
India........................... 101 §
Nigeria......................... 24 §
Canada........................ 16 §
Vietnam....................... 16 §
Jamaica....................... 14 §
Germany...................... 12 §
Kenya........................... 12 §
South Korea................ 11 §
Pakistan...................... 11 §
United Kingdom......... 10 §
Colombia.................... 10 Implications Although SPSU’s strategic plan calls for the promotion
of initiatives to enhance multi-culturalism on campus, the promotion of an
international recruiting effort and plans to address the needs and concerns
of international students is not mentioned in the plan. Given the
unexpected growth of our international student population, juxtaposed with
the decline in our domestic population, the campus needs to consider this
fact in all deliberations about recruitment and retention, the academic
plan, and the setting of budget priorities. SPSU benefits greatly from
these students’ presence and contributions to our multi-cultural campus.
