The Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Student Census reports that across the U.S., international student numbers rose to an all-time high in 2008–2009, and JWU’s student population mirrored the trend. More than 1,500 international students representing 98 countries attend JWU. Ken DiSaia ’87, ’92 MBA, vice president of enrollment management, pinpoints Asia as the region of significant growth. “Approximately 60 percent of our international students come from this region, mostly from China.”

In 2006, JWU had 11 undergraduate students from China. By 2009, there were 297. Today, JWU’s undergraduate and graduate Chinese students total 497. “These students are determined to study in the U.S. and are supported by families willing to invest in an international education,” adds Manny Tavares, dean of international recruitment and training.

International recruitment’s robust results have allowed JWU to exceed its five-year goal of increasing international undergraduate enrollment from 535 (in 2006) to 850, an entire year ahead of plan. It also resulted in a student body with a higher probability of success since, historically, international students have high retention and graduation rates.

IIE ranks JWU 106 overall and sixth in graduate international enrollment, among the thousands of U.S. colleges. “We’re honored to be such an influence internationally, but our job isn’t just to recruit international scholars; it’s also to educate, retain and help them feel at home here,” says DiSaia. “It starts with Admissions and spans faculty, staff, alumni, students and communities.”

The International Center at the Providence Campus recently employed Barnga, a card game, to foster intercultural awareness. Participants began the game with seemingly shared rules. Conflicts arose as they moved between groups and realized group rules differed. Participants struggled to effectively navigate the game as they could only gesture or draw, not speak. “Adjusting to the new game, new people and new rules without even basic information was challenging, frustrating and sometimes funny,” notes Providence Campus School of Arts & Sciences instructor, Erin Wynn. But it fueled brainstorming around the challenges of cross-cultural encounters, languages, cultural assumptions and academic differences that international students face.

JWU constantly shapes services, programs and activities to integrate international students. Groups like I-Club, run for and by students, help bridge communication and cultural gaps. The Chinese Student Association in Providence and the International Community in North Miami, help students meet others from their native countries. The Friendship Family Program matches international students with local families, allowing both to gain perspective on unfamiliar cultures and leading to lifelong friendships.