Santa Rosa Junior College plans to expand its International Students Program to attract more students.

International students, though small in numbers, are big in interest to SRJC. Compared to other community colleges, SRJC has a small number of international students. Currently, around 80 international students are enrolled at the college, down from about 120 a few years ago. Of the 80, about one third are from China and the rest come from as many as 29 different countries.

The college plans to expand the program to attract students and create a friendly, diverse atmosphere. Plans to expand the program begin with strengthening ties to the countries SRJC already hosts like Sweden and Denmark.

SRJC President Dr. Frank Chong expressed deep interest in growing the program. “International students enhance diversity. It’s value added, a win-win,” Chong said.

Some students have expressed concern over putting local students first, but Chong explained that the college doesn’t get to keep student fees, a point Mary Kay Rudolph, vice president of Academic Affairs, made clear. The college must first send its fees to Sacramento before they are recycled back to the college. With international students, however, the college keeps their full tuition, which can aid the current classes, programs and maybe add some activities to the college.

Chong and Vice President of Student Services Ricardo Navarette expressed interest in making the college an even more interesting and welcoming place for both domestic and foreign students. Chong and Navarette also said they don’t have plans to create a separate international student center because they feel new international students can integrate on a much greater scale when they aren’t isolated from American students.

Since the college doesn’t have international student dorms, Rudolph also said she doesn’t want to put students in jeopardy of displacement. Making students feel like they are different is counterintuitive.

International students are more than welcome on campus, but Chong feels the college can do a better job. At other campuses domestic students feel a sense of pride that international students chose their campus. College officials hope SRJC can grow into a place international students seek out.