Major conference to highlight issues facing international students

Tulane University will welcome more than 1,400 U.S. college admission officials and high school counselors from across the globe July 10-13 for the International Association for College Admission Counseling Conference (IACAC), the largest international admission conference in the world.

Tulane and Loyola University are co-hosting the event which focuses on issues and trends affecting international student admission, recruitment and enrollment. Approximately 1,436 participants from 100 nations are expected to attend this year, breaking an attendance record for the organization.

“This is a critical time for global education given the political climate in the country,” said Satyajit Dattagupta, vice president for enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admission at Tulane. “We’re excited to welcome the 2018 International Association for College Admission Counseling Conference to New Orleans to celebrate its 25th year — and what is expected to be its largest gathering yet.” 

The conference will address the impact of recent Trump administration immigration restrictions and anxieties international students face due to the changing political landscape in America. Last year, the number of new international students in the U.S. declined by 3 percent, the first decrease in more than a decade, according to the Institute of International Education.

The conference will also feature interactive sessions on a range of topics in global education, including college affordability, expanding access to higher education, changes in standardized testing and understanding cultural differences. 

"New Orleans is one of the nation’s oldest and most culturally diverse cities but also one of the most innovative and vibrant," said John Head, vice president of enrollment management at Loyola University New Orleans. "We are thrilled to welcome IACAC participants to our city and are excited for them to experience our diverse and welcoming campus communities."  

The majority of conference attendees work with international students overseas looking to study in the United States. More than a million international students are enrolled at American colleges and universities. The top countries of origin are China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada.

Conference participants will also get to have some fun — and give back to the community — while they’re in New Orleans. The conference will feature a community service project, a golf tournament and a 5K run/walk in Audubon Park. 

More than 200 Tulane University staff members will volunteer on campus next week to make sure the conference runs smoothly.