Published on Academic Senate (https://senate.sfsu.edu)

Home > In Support of Increased International Student Enrollment and Retention as a Goal of Comprehensive Internationalization at San Francisco State University
Resolution Number: RS19-384
April, 2019
Whereas: 
Rationale: University-wide comprehensive internationalization aligns with SF State’s stated mission to “equip students to meet the challenges of the 21St century” and prepare “students to become productive, ethical, active citizens with a global perspective”. A key benefit of comprehensive internationalization includes the diversity of perspectives and interactive experiences international students provide. Combatting a decline in international student enrollments and promoting comprehensive internationalization requires a commitment and action from all parts of the university community that has been lacking in recent years .
Whereas: 
Academic and social interaction with students from around the world provides domestic students with real educational and career benefits, forces domestic students to confront different interpersonal and communication styles making them better active listeners and critical thinkers, and makes our campus more vibrant and diverse; and
Whereas: 
International students help domestic students achieve a better understanding of international issues, foreign affairs, immigration issues, and provide opportunities for unique cross-cultural experiences, more informed opinions and less stereotyping ; and
Whereas: 
85% of non-resident students at SF State are international students whose non-resident tuition and fees cover the full cost of their education; and
Whereas: 
SF State’s 2015 Strategic Plan diverged from previous Plans by excluding international education as an important strategic objective; and
Whereas: 
On December 1, 2015 the President signed a “SF State Plan to Increase International Enrollments, 2016-18” sent jointly by the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management; and
Whereas: 
The aforementioned Plan recommended many operational, structural, and budgetary reforms in order to improve enrollment and retention of international students, with a goal of increasing enrollment by 25% over three years; and
Whereas: 
Most of the recommended reforms were not implemented and international student enrollment has declined significantly since 2015, while many other CSUs have increased their enrollments; and
Whereas: 
The retention rates for international students are consistently lower than for any other category of students, and
Whereas: 
The recently completed SF State International Student Recruitment, Admissions and Enrollment External Review again recommends implementation of many strategic, operational, structural, and budgetary changes in order to improve enrollment and retention of international students, therefore be it
Resolved: 
That SF State’s senior leaders embrace internationalization and make international student enrollment a priority; and be it further
Resolved: 
That comprehensive internationalization, including institution-wide goals and objectives of increasing enrollment and retention of international students, be recognized as a key goal in all of SF State’s future planning efforts, and be it further
Resolved: 
That the University invest resources in efforts to support international education, success of international students, and professional development for faculty members who are actively engaged in the internationalization of SF State; and be it further
Resolved: 
That the President assign responsibility to the Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for coordinating implementation of the strategic, operational, structural, and budgetary changes that support comprehensive internationalization, international student recruitment, enrollment, and retention, and be it further
Resolved: 
That the Academic Senate of San Francisco State University forward this resolution to the offices of the President, Vice Presidents and the Deans of all colleges at San Francisco State University.