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International Membership

Connect to the world of higher education

With AACRAO membership you'll be connected to more than 11,000 members from institutions around the world. Facilitate your professional development by attending discounted meetings, gaining complimentary subscriptions to our College & University journal and more.

Why should you join? From professional development opportunities to forging connections that will help you in setting down career stones, there's more than one reason. 

Apply for International Membership

Is your institution already a member? Apply to join the roster.
Want to join independently? Apply without an institution.

 

Annual Membership Price: Starting at $302

Requirements: YOU MUST BE AT A POSTSECONDARY DEGREE-GRANTING INSTITUTION OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZED BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OR APPROPRIATE MINISTRY IN YOUR COUNTRY AND AUTHORIZED TO GRANT DEGREES.

Develop Professionally

International Membership - Professional Development


AACRAO Edge

When education standards change, new credentials are awarded, or foreign education systems are reorganized, AACRAO EDGE utilizes the expertise of the International Education Standards Council (IESC) to review and update our database.

Professional Competencies

Work on your skills like diversity and inclusion, interpretation and application of institutional and external data, and leadership. We have the tools for you.

Online Learning

From free webinars to self-paced on-demand learning, AACRAO's online learning covers a variety of subjects—technology, strategic enrollment management, admissions, FERPA, transfer, credential evaluation, and international education—and allow you to engage with the presenters and instructors.

Take the next step in your career

AACRAO's Career Navigator is a wealth of job postings and resources for training. 

Gain Recognition

Intl Students - Recognition


Get Published

AACRAO's professional journals College & University and SEM Quarterly are always accepting articles and have a wide circulation base.

Research Opportunities

Leverage the expertise of our over 11,000 members and contribute to one of the premier sources of practice related research within the global higher education community. 

Join a committee

Do work you're passionate about, with support and mentoring from fellow members. From Caucuses to specialized topics, it's all one community, no matter where in the world your institution is located. 


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AACRAO's bi-weekly professional development e-newsletter

COVID-19 creates international student enrollment uncertainty

May 19, 2020, 09:49 AM
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Summary : Report offers insight into drastic recruitment changes.
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As institutions adapted to serve their current students in light of the COVID-19 crisis, international student recruitment and outreach also changed. International recruiters often travel much of the spring to meet with accepted students and their families, visit schools with high acceptance rates and meet with counselors in regions that they wish to grow their populations. Spring yield travel, as it is known, supports student decision-making in the crucial months before deposit deadlines.  The restrictions that have resulted from the global pandemic were a huge disruption to typical recruitment practices and wisdom. An IIE survey released last week reported that of the 599 respondents, more than 63% of institutions indicated their recruitment travel was canceled, and 57% of institutions canceled recruitment events. Many colleges and universities (78%) quickly pivoted to virtual means to reach international students. Virtual tours, online recruitment and yield events and increased digital outreach via email and agent networks became the primary means of maintaining contact and converting acceptances to enrollments.

To support institutions, the EducationUSA network of over 400 educational advising centers in 180 countries also pivoted. The network shifted their activities to on-line through virtual one-on-one and group advising sessions, webinars, virtual college fairs, and an enhanced on-line and social media presence. 

In addition to changing their spring yield travel and events, 84% of institutions enacted new measures to assist in international student recruitment. New measures reported in the IIE survey mostly aligned with AACRAO Guidance on admissions practices, like flexibility in testing, accepting unofficial documents, and extending deadlines. 

The majority (88%) of respondent institutions in the IIE survey anticipate that international student enrollment will decrease for the 2020-2021 academic year. This is not a surprise. 

Just as institutions are questioning their overall fall enrollments, international student enrollments are at even greater risk. Will the institutional adaptations be enough to mitigate the social, economic and political factors that are obstructing international enrollments?  As of today, travel remains restricted globally, US Embassies and Consulates are not open for issuing visas, and the global economy is uncertain. 

And yet, commitment to international education remains strong. 

Rather than lose their recruited students entirely, 52% of reported institutions indicate that they plan to offer students online enrollment in the fall, and 42% indicate that they will offer online instruction until the student can come to campus in-person. This is a new model of international enrollment for US institutions, who generally do little to recruit an international student cohort for their online programs. Enrollment numbers for non-US citizens in online programs are not currently captured in any longitudinal or comprehensive data collection efforts. The impacts of COVID-19 have already piqued the interest of the Department of State, and may eventually find their way into future Open Doors reports. It's clear that the paradigm is shifting. What’s less clear is the long-lasting impact of the pandemic on institutional international enrollment strategies and goals. 

 
Categories :
  • International Admissions
  • International Admissions and Credential Evaluation
  • Research
Tags :
78 percent of institutions have conducted virtual outready to future students globally
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Build Connections

International Membership - Build Connections


Attend a event

Our meetings, workshops, and international institutes are designed instruct, educate and foster collaboration between professionals and institutions. Find one that works for you.

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Become an Advocate

Give community college a bigger voice in politics. Advocate for higher education policies that you're passionate about on Capitol Hill. Meet your Congressional reps and state peers while exercising your political voice.

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Member Only Benefits

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AACRAO's weekly e-newsletter delivering policy and industry news

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Questions? Contact us at membership@aacrao.org or (202) 355-1040