INTERNATIONAL ENROLLMENt management
Starts at AIRC
Our Members
AIRC (pronounced "air-sea") is a dynamic network of accredited educational institutions, service providers, and student recruitment agencies that seek to promote standards-based international
student recruitment and enrollment practices.
Annual Conference
The AIRC Annual Conference is the only event dedicated solely to international student recruitment and enrollment strategies.
AIRC PROMOTES ETHICAL, STANDARDS-BASED INTERNATIONAL enrollment strategies.
As a leader in the field of international enrollment management, AIRC develops and provides essential resources, services, and programs for its 400+ members to advance their recruitment goals and adhere to standards. AIRC is a 501(c)(3) membership association and a Standards Development Organization (SDO) registered with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.
2025 SPRING SYMPOSIUM
Join us at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California on Monday, May 26
OUR EXPERTISE
- Professional Development
- International Enrollment Management Resources
- Educational Agency Certification
- Conferences and Events
- Advocacy for the Sector
- Networking and Partnerships
Current & Upcoming Events
Latest News
New insights | Rebuilding trust by rethinking priorities in international student recruitment By Riccardo Lanza Studying abroad in the United States has a stellar reputation; it is the most popular destination for international students, hosting over one million students in the last academic year. We all know, however, that recent times have been challenging - the Trump administration cutting research funding, the immigration crackdown on international students and now, competition from emerging markets is intensifying as some of the European Union’s most high-profile leaders gathered to launch the ‘Choose Europe for Science’ initiative early in May. It seems the threats keep coming. It is time for universities in the USA to reassert their leadership by focusing not just on academic excellence, but on delivering the outcomes and experience today’s students value most. Edvoy’s recent research into student preferences and institutions’ perceptions of what students are looking for highlights an essential truth: student priorities are changing in subtle but significant ways. By acting on what they say, we can rebuild trust in the USA as the ultimate destination. A changing market: strategic students, choosing differently Edvoy’s latest data confirms international students are increasingly acting like consumers. Applicants are outcome focused, with value for money and employability standing out as integral to their decision-making. The top three factors for making their final choice on where to study were: Opportunities for industry placements and work experience , especially important to students from Nigeria, Nepal and Pakistan Access to scholarships or financial support , a critical consideration for particularly undergraduates from lower-income countries Cultural alignment and sense of community , where the perceived ease of fitting in and feeling welcomed had a strong influence on their decision. What is noticeable by its absence, compared with previous insights, is the university’s ranking. Over 60% of institutions ranked university reputation among their top three assets in marketing their university, whereas only 38% of students said it had a decisive impact , particularly those in Saudi Arabia, India and Bangladesh. One Indian student commented, “I knew what country I wanted, but the university came down to job links and cost. I actually ruled out a higher-ranked school because it didn’t have paid internship options.” In contrast, more than half of the students surveyed listed scholarships in their top criteria, whereas fewer than one in three institutions viewed them as a major attractor. This is a major challenge for USA universities that expect the highest tuition fees for international students, globally, with an average of $20,000-$50,000, going up to an average yearly cost of $45,000-$70,000 including accommodation and living expenses. For most, studying abroad is more than an academic pursuit - it's a major investment, often funded through family resources or loans. A degree alone is no longer the end goal; it's a gateway to better career opportunities, higher earning potential, and, for some, a path to long-term residency or international work experience. This is why features like post-study work opportunities, industry partnerships, and robust career support are playing an increasingly pivotal role in where students choose to study. Their perceived value comes with the promise of greater return on investment from the initial outlay. Changing the narrative: aligning student priorities with international student recruitment strategy The USA is renowned for its academic excellence, boasting some of the world’s top universities that consistently dominate global rankings. To compete with emerging markets, offering lower costs, it’s important to talk about more than these credentials. And you won’t have to do it on your own. While 32% of students listed university websites among their top three research tools - placing them ahead of social media (25%) - the most trusted source of guidance was clear: 44% of students said they rely on recruitment agents or study abroad consultants to help them decide what and where to study. The impact of these conversations is significant. Globally, 38% of students change their original choice of course or destination after speaking with an advisor - a figure that rises to over 60% in South Asia and East Africa . Working with, and training, partners and agents on how to talk differently about your university is vital. Here are some key areas to focus on to help them be successful: Circulate latest scholarship information for agents to promote to their student networks, updated visa and admissions guidance ensures transparency and reflects ease to apply. Showcase career opportunities , such as paid-for internships during study, mentorships or graduate employment rates . Successful alumni may even be open to talk to your agents as well. Celebrate diversity ! Many campuses offer cultural celebrations on their campuses but seldom talk about it during the application process. Share photographs with your recruitment network, and talk about how you welcome international students and help immerse them in their new country. Finally, adapt partner training based on regional priorities . For instance, students from Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia focus more on rankings; those from Nigeria, Pakistan and Nepal care more about affordability and post-study work opportunities. A student-centred strategy will win! To remain a top destination for international students, USA universities must move beyond traditional markers of prestige and also focus on what students truly value today: affordability, employability, and a sense of belonging. Rebuilding trust means listening more closely and aligning recruitment strategies with students’ evolving priorities. By highlighting practical outcomes, strengthening agent partnerships, and tailoring messaging by region, institutions can better meet the needs of a new generation of globally minded learners - and ensure the United States remains a compelling and competitive choice in a shifting global education landscape.
AIRC Addresses Student Document Authenticity and AI in Institutional Admission Applications
As a member of the U.S. for Success Coalition’s Advisory Council, we are pleased to share the following updates from the U.S. for Success with the AIRC community. With so much happening, we wanted to provide an update on some of the biggest developments impacting the ability of international students from all parts of the globe to study and contribute their talents in the United States. Our strategy remains to communicate, collaborate and coordinate our coalition members’ in order to Remind key policymakers (especially in Congress) that welcoming and retaining international students should remain a national priority, as a way to apply pressure on the Administration to refrain from harmful policies. Pursue litigation when needed to protect rights and due process. Support higher education institutions and their students in facilitating international student success at every part of their journey to study and live in the United States. Shape the public narrative about the overwhelmingly positive contributions of international students . When international students choose the United States to study, live and work, everyone wins. Update on SEVIS Terminations Since mid-March, NAFSA has been collecting reports of SEVIS terminations and other actions targeting international students, and in April, released initial analysis showing several important findings showing that all levels of study, every region of the world, and all types of institutions in all regions of the United States were affected. On April 9th, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration , a member of the Coalition’s Executive Committee, joined in support by eighty-six institutions and associations, submitted an amicus brief in AAUP v. Rubio , a case challenging the administration’s revocation of visas and detentions of non-citizen students and scholars. The Presidents’ Alliance also filed a lawsuit together with several impacted international students, challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) unlawful mass termination of SEVIS records for F-1 students and participants in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. Amidst more than 100 court cases and 50 restraining orders issued from federal judges, on April 22, a federal judge in Georgia ordered the Trump administration to reinstate the legal statuses of 133 international students after their F-1 student visas were suddenly terminated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security (DHS). Read more: Federal judge orders ICE to reinstate legal status of 133 foreign students: The students argued that their visas were revoked without prior notice and proper explanation (Fox News) and International students stripped of legal status in the U.S. are piling up wins in court (PBS News) Then, starting around April 24, 2025, DSOs and attorneys began reporting that some SEVIS records previously terminated by DHS were being restored to Active SEVIS status. Politico reported on April 25 that the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in court that recent SEVIS terminations would be reversed. During an April 25 court hearing in a lawsuit challenging the legality of the terminations, a DOJ attorney stated: “ICE is developing a policy that will provide a framework for SEVIS record terminations. Until such a policy is issued, the SEVIS records for plaintiff(s) in this case (and other similarly situated plaintiffs) will remain active or shall be reactivated if not currently active." While encouraging, caution is warranted. As Heather Stewart and Erica Stewart of NAFSA, a U.S. for Success Executive Committee member, note in a new NAFSA blog post , “we have not seen the end of ICE-generated SEVIS record terminations.” Miriam Felblum, Executive Director of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, noted that activations highlight the impact of legal and collective action, but they do not undo the harm already done to students or institutions, nor do they clarify the origins of the policy. Continued careful monitoring of the reality on the ground, collective advocacy, and legal challenges remain essential to seek full relief, prevent future harm, and protect not only students’ rights but also the wellbeing of our communities and our nation. Making a Case for What’s at Stake On March 24, NAFSA hosted a LinkedIn Live Town Hall entitled, Seismic Changes in the United States: Implications for IE. Watch it here . The media continues to report on the negative impact that policies are having not only on international students but also on U.S. communities. We are working daily to remind decision-makers about the overwhelmingly positive contributions of international students. Many thanks to U.S. for Success members for sharing stories and data with the media to keep this story in the headlines while we work with the courts and Congress. Just a few highlights of the kind of stories we are collectively generating: Efforts to Halt Student Deportations Risk Trump Retaliation: Institutions are scrambling to quell panic caused by visa revocations, while seeking to avoid incurring wrath of regime intent on cutting fundin g , Inside Higher Ed, April 11, 2025 (quotes Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration) International students are being told by email that their visas are revoked and that they must ‘self-deport.’ What to know , CNN, April 19 2025 (quotes NAFSA) Losing International Students Could Devastate Many College s, New York Times, April 19, 2025. If the Goal Is Jobs and Trade, Make it About Jobs and Trad , LinkedIn, Tom Dretler, Executive Director of Shorelight, Coalition Executive Committee member eAlso of note a new NBC Poll found that Gen Z opposes Trump’s hard-line immigration tactics on college campuses, though there are differences by party identification and gender. A full 92% of Gen Z adults believe it is important that people in the United States who hold student visas, work visas and green cards are given due process protections when facing criminal or civil charges. A majority of nearly every demographic said those due process protections are important — including Republicans and those who identify with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. Thank you for everything each of you are doing to stay informed and provide support to international students, and take strategic action. Take Strategic Action : We need everyone to send letters to Congress to urge them to impress upon top Administration officials that welcoming international students should remain a priority if we are to be able to compete globally and benefit from the innovation and cross-cultural perspectives of these talented students. Our Coalition launched a campaign to ensure welcoming and retaining international students remains a national priority, and sent this joint Coalition letter to Congressional leadership. Your Voice is Needed Now. As a member of the Coalition, we invite you to: Join NAFSA and the Coalition in sharing this Action Alert widely with your networks to urge individuals (colleagues, students, family members) to amplify our collective voice to ensure the United States remains open to talent from around the world. Share this Higher Education Institution Template Letter to Support International Students and Scholars in the U.S. Amid Recent Immigration Actions. The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration developed this template institutional letter in partnership with the U.S. for Success coalition for colleges and universities to use to communicate with their Senate and House delegations about the positive impacts of international students and scholars in the United States and the adverse consequences of the recent immigration actions. The letter could easily be adapted for businesses as well. Use these talking points from the Coalition and new infographic produced by NAFSA to make the case for what’s at stake. If you have questions or have resources that can help support other coalition members in their work to facilitate international student success, please don’t hesitate to email us at info@usforsuccess.org .
