Olympic College is considering starting a full foreign exchange program, based on an annual 150 percent enrollment increase and a 200 percent annual increase in tuition-based revenue from international students.
The 50 international students at OC this year come from six of the world’s continents and represent 18 countries.
“It should help us,” said Dean of Enrollment Services Diana Larsen, referring to the larger chunk of tuition going into college coffers from international students.
The unduplicated head count for international students this school year stands at 50, up from 33 in 2008 - 2009. An unduplicated head count means that whether a student continues at OC for three quarters or only stays for one, they are only counted once.
"The goal is to double the number of international students in two years," said Larsen.
The International Student Program is opening its doors this summer to students from Bremerton’s sister city Kure, Japan in what could be the first step in a regular student exchange program.
Jennifer Fyllingness, director of Admissions and Outreach and OC’s recruiter for ISP, said the students would be coming to OC to enroll in an intensive four-week English language program.
While on her tri-yearly trips to recruit international students in East Asian countries for OC, Fyllingness said she is often approached by foreign students who inquire about short-term programs. These prospective students don’t want to earn a full degree, only specific programs of study.
A big factor in their desire for short-term programs is cost.
During summer quarter, OC will host three Japanese students interested in the program; the first of what Fyllingness hopes will be many exchanges with schools in Kure.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to come over this summer and learn English,” said Fyllingness. “Some of them might decide to stay, and some will go back to continue their school over there.”
Akiko Bates, program coordinator for International Student Programs, said one of the biggest hindrances in recruiting international students to OC is there aren’t any dormitories or school-owned places for them to live.
The ISP offers international students a choice between homestay, where the student lives with an American host family, and finding their own apartment in the Bremerton area.
“When I went to Norway a couple of years ago, I had to go somewhere that provided accommodations, because I couldn’t have enough time to find an apartment,” said Fyllingness. “Just being able to sign up through the school for accommodation is a big plus for an international student.”
She said homestay programs like OC’s aren’t a first choice for international students.
During April’s Board of Trustees meeting, ISP made a presentation, part of which was documenting the need for a new full-time employee to manage the program’s Facebook account used communicate with current international students. A new full-time position is required to communicate efficiently.
“I send e-mails, but they don’t respond,” Bates said about her communications with current international students. “But somehow they respond to Facebook pretty quickly.”
Once they begin to court prospective international students using Facebook, they have to continue communication at a consistent level or risk these foreign students losing interest and going to another school, Bates said.
Since the account communicates the official position of OC to prospective students, she said it would be inappropriate to use a student employee to manage it.
If the number of international students continues to grow at the current rate, a full-time Facebook position will pay for itself. Bates and Fyllingness both said this is a market OC has only begun to tap and that it will grow.
“We go three times a year to the Pacific Rim countries,” said Larsen, referring to OC’s efforts to recruit new international students.
Other schools recruit abroad six months out of the year. OC recruits abroad six weeks out of the year.
“Since we’re bringing so many students here, I think that we should also be sending them out,” Fyllingness said.
While she hopes to see a full exchange student program at OC in the next couple of years, the college does have referral program available now for students interested in studying abroad.
“Having been an international student myself twice, I think that it’s just as important for us to go abroad,” Fyllingness said, speaking about her experience as an exchange student while earning her doctorate. “It gives you an outsider’s perspective on your own culture.”
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