Colleges experience increased global enrollment

Many American universities are experiencing a record number of incoming international freshmen this semester. The surge in global enrollment may be due in part to an increased effort from a number of schools to accommodate international students.

Schools such as the University of Iowa have a larger growth of global learners than in previous years, The Des Moines Register reports. This year, the school is expecting a 54 percent increase in students from China, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Iraq and Turkey as a result of improved recruiting efforts in these countries.

In order to assist these learners with their move to the U.S., many universities are holding extended orientations. These programs are designed to provide international students with information about financial aid, campus safety, athletics and English as a Second Language courses.

These initiatives may be encouraging more global scholars to enroll in U.S. higher education, as the number of international students on American campuses grew by 7.7 percent during the 2008-2009 academic year, according to the Institute of International Education.