Manny Antonacci, a graduate student from Parma, Italy, is one of 1,000 international students who stays on campus for the summer.
Approximately 2,000 international students attend the U during the academic year, but that number drops by half in the summer.
Many go home, while others travel or stay in Utah and just take the semester off.
“We know how many are enrolled, but we don’t know how many are around,” said Bill Barnhart, director of the International Center.
Antonacci is taking a full load this summer and working on campus at the International Center in the Union.
“I wanted to stay in Utah. I love it,” he said.
Internationalizing the campus is a year-round endeavor that U President Michael Young has been pushing since taking office last summer. Many graduate programs need foreign students to fill empty spaces, Barnhart said.
The U only charges resident tuition rates for summer semester to encourage more international students to stay on campus.
Antonacci said the presence of international students on campus could help resident students.
He said many Americans believe ridiculous stereotypes about other countries.
“Some people have asked me if they have telephones in Europe,” he said.
The presence of foreign students could help dispel those stereotypes and enhance the U’s diversity and multiculturalism.
Despite their value to campus, tighter immigration restrictions imposed by the department of Homeland Security after Sept. 11 have taken a toll on the international student count, Barnhart said. His office has seen a 4 or 5 percent dive because of the restrictions.
Barnhart doesn’t think summer enrollment will change until more upper division and graduate level classes are added to the Summer Semester schedule.
Despite these obstacles, Barnhart said he is optimistic that the international population will grow.
