City College will reduce the number of international students accepted in the fall.
As of last semester, City College hada total of 1,600 international students, nearly eight percent of the approximately 20,000 credit students on campus. According to the 2013-14 tentative budget, international student revenue will be decreased by $620,000, roughly the money generated by 100 international students.
At the April 30 College Planning Council meeting, Superintendent-President Dr. Lori Gaskin said that financial cutbacks have made it increasingly difficult to handle the workload generated by international students.
Rather than increasing the number of faculty members to accommodate extra students, Gaskin said the college will need to decrease the number of students.
“It’s really that balancing act,” she said. “We simply don’t have sufficient staff.”
City College has steadily increased how many international students are accepted on campus in recent years, with a growth of more than 200 students in 2012.
Joe Sullivan, vice president of business services, told The Channels last semester that the increase in international students had actually lessened the burden of budget cuts.
“We haven’t had to do significant layoffs like other colleges,” Sullivan said in Fall 2012 interview. “They’re contributing their full share. It’s a benefit to our California students.”
International students are a substantial source for City College revenue, as each pays $258 per unit. An average 12-credit course load for an international student comes out to $3,616.
An in-state student, who pays $46 per unit, would pay $552 for an equivalent course load.
Jack Friedlander, vice president of educational programs, said that the college will look into raising the required GPA for international students to attend City College. This will help decrease the number of students who apply. Additionally, the international student application deadline will be moved up two weeks.
“We don’t have the classrooms or the instructors,” Friedlander said. “We don’t want to bring them over here if we can’t accommodate them.
