Tech International Student Population Down, Study Abroad Postponed

Tennessee Tech’s enrollment of international students has dropped just over 20 percent due to COVID.

Senior Associate Provost Mark Stephens said the majority of the 250 international students currently on campus are returning students.

“It has depressed our enrollment of international students largely because of the difficult in making travel arrangements,” Stephens said. “And also, in terms of students getting a VISA.”

Stephans said U.S. Embassies across the world are only taking essential requests for travel VISAS. Tech saw about 45 new international students enroll this semester. Stephens said majority of the students will remain on campus.

“Some of our students did go home from last spring. Some were able to return and some were not,” Stephens said. “It is really fairly risky for them to go home right now, because they may not be able to get a return VISA.”

At the same time, all study abroad programs were cancelled for the fall semester. Stephens said the university is exploring virtual ideas to allow students to explore different cultures.

“We are looking at some virtual study abroad activities, now where we have a facility member with a specific class, and one of our partner schools overseas,” Stephens said. “They are interacting with the same course here at Tech, so that our students interact virtually with their students and facility.”

Stephens said the university has not ruled out studying abroad for the spring semester at this time.