Chinese students are attending regional U.S. universities in increasing numbers

Pennsylvania's regional universities are among many in America that are looking to China, recruiting students to offset declines in domestic enrollment, reports Bill Schackner for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The rural Indiana University of Pennsylvania tripled enrollment of Chinese students, from 32 students three years ago to 106 this year. (Nick Gao, student at IUP, posed for Lake Fong of the Post-Gazette.)

According to a report from Institute of International Education, 128,000 Chinese students attended school in the U.S. in 2009. Experts say the flow of students from China is not only to the major cities and campuses, but to a swath of schools, reports Schackner. The surge also reflects intensifying efforts by American schools at recruiting Chinese students, including IUP which has formed relationships with several universities in that country.

Some Western Pennsylvania campuses see international students as one way to offset projected declines in the region's high school graduates. Families of international students qualify for far less financial help to attend American schools, and in many cases, must pay their own way. IUP said the influx is beneficial to students from both countries. "Our students need to know more about China for the 21st century," said Dr. Michele Petrucci, IUP's assistant vice president for international education and global engagement. "Chinese students are looking to differentiate themselves back home. An American degree is one way to do that." (Read more)