Wednesday marks the third annual “I Stand with Immigrants College and University Day of Action.” This is especially profound as I reflect on the hallmark of American higher education: the unique combination of openness to all, promotion of new ideas and emphasis on critical thinking.
These values built the most robust and dynamic system of higher education in the world and made America a leader in an already-established international community. It’s important that we continue to recognize the countless contributions of immigrants and support and advocate for fairness in all of our dealings with those who would be part of the fabric of this country.
Instrumental to this academic achievement has been the inclusion of international students and scholars who come here to learn. These young people add to the collective fabric of our communities with their history, perspectives and dedication to achievement.
Unfortunately, recent anti-immigrant, anti-scientific rhetoric coming from the highest echelons of the U.S. government have caused prospective international students to doubt our commitment to opportunity for all — a key ideal in our nation’s founding.
These negative trends run counter to the truth that just as international students benefit from participating in our academic institutions, so to do our communities, campuses, industries and research institutions benefit from welcoming international students into our classrooms.
International students compose only 5 percent of U.S. college enrollment, yet they contribute nearly $37 billion annually to our economy and support more than 450,000 jobs. Breaking it down even further, the nearly 157,000 international students enrolled in California higher education institutions contribute $6 billion to the state’s economy and support more than 70,000 jobs for Californians.
At University of California at Merced (UC Merced), international students compose 37 percent of our graduate student body. Every day I see and interact with students from around the globe who are inventing, discovering and improving the world we all occupy together. Many of our recent Ph.D. graduates are proof of the contributions international students make to our country and society.
