With more than 400 two- and four-year institutions of higher education within the state, California is a top destination for international students who seek to take advantage of our high quality of education.
People commonly think international students set their sights on four-year colleges or universities. However, community college is an excellent planned destination for international students because of its affordability and wide range of programs.
Community colleges began looking beyond our country’s borders in the 1980s and 1990s, according to an American Council on Education report. Nationwide, “community colleges represent approximately 10% of the total international enrollment in degree-granting U.S. higher education institutions,” noted the 2020 report.
More than 12,800 students from around the globe enrolled in the state’s community colleges in fall 2021, according to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Locally, approximately 140 students, from nearly 20 nations, attend Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges through the Ventura County Community College District’s International Student Program. The students come from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.
Districtwide, international students major primarily in business or computer science. However, there is an increased interest in multimedia and film and television classes. We are also seeing interest in the hospitality and hospitality management programs at Oxnard and Moorpark colleges and business and collegiate sports at Ventura College.
The district plans to grow the international student program because it provides learning benefits to both students who live in Ventura County and students from abroad.
Many international students enroll at our colleges because they want to start their degree at a school where they receive more attention, save tuition money and participate in cultural experiences before transferring to a university to pursue a bachelor’s degree. They may want to play competitive sports at the collegiate level. Others may want to meet new people and immerse themselves in the “California lifestyle” that is minutes from a big city and coastal and mountain activities.
As companies and industries become increasingly global, international students also benefit from studying abroad by being exposed to other cultures.
Whatever their reasons, these students will benefit from a college experience offering high-quality education. They will also enhance our campuses by bringing a wide array of customs and diverse perspectives.
Our colleges support international students through a comprehensive program that empowers them to achieve their academic goals. These opportunities put international students on the right path to earning their associate degree and completing their education at a four-year university.
VCCCD offers support services tailored to an international student’s needs. Program experts guide students through the application process and advise them on the forms required to study in the U.S. In addition, students must attend a day-long orientation, where they meet with the program’s staff to learn about registration, how to maintain their visa status and find a job on campus.
The international program also offers tutoring, counseling, mentorship and access to intercollegiate sports and clubs, where international students can establish lifelong ties with their peers and build a network.
VCCCD colleges provide personalized guidance from faculty and staff committed to international students to ensure academic success and help them to become familiar with the American higher education system before they transfer to a university to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Both California State University Channel Islands and California Lutheran University have established transfer agreements with VCCCD colleges. These agreements enable international students to continue their studies at these institutions, oftentimes with scholarships.
Once students complete their associate degree or certificate of achievement, they are eligible to apply for optional practical training (OPT). Through federal law, OPT allows qualified international students to work in the United States for 12 months or more in an industry related to their field of study. This provides international students with hands-on experiences in their major and added value to potential employers back home.
Students from abroad are not the only ones who benefit from the VCCCD International Student Program. American students, faculty, staff and other residents in our community can gain valuable insights and experiences from international students. Meaning that everyone can attain an appreciation of different cultures and grow to understand and respect differences in ideas, behavior and customs that exist worldwide.
Greg Gillespie, Ph.D., is the chancellor of the Ventura County Community College District.
VC Star Article
Original source can be found here.
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