Iowa universities could benefit from Branstad nomination

IOWA CITY — Chinese nationals account for the largest share of international students attending Iowa's public universities, leaving administrators hopeful about the potential for their campuses of the governor's nomination to be the U.S. ambassador to China.

'I hope it will continue the strong connections,' Downing Thomas, the University of Iowa associate provost for academic affairs and dean of International Programs, said Wednesday. 'Not only for Chinese students to come here, but for all UI students to hopefully benefit from the ties and connections that result.'

Of the 8,590 international students who enrolled this fall at one of the three Iowa public universities, 88.1 percent were from Asia — with 49.3 percent from China, according to Board of Regents documents.

At the UI specifically, 2,642 students from China enrolled this academic year, according to UI International Programs statistics. At least 135 UI students last year studied abroad or took an internship or other educational opportunity in China or Hong Kong, according to Thomas.

And Gov. Terry Branstad's nomination as ambassador could open up new partnerships and opportunities for the state's universities.

'It's possible that it will have an effect on recruitment abroad,' Thomas said, noting, 'There's a huge amount of competition, and it's increasing, for international students.'

The relationship between Iowa and China could especially be helpful in calming fears that flared following heated campaign rhetoric about immigration and diversity. Thomas said the nomination could reassure international students they're welcome here.

'I mean that not only in a financial sense,' he said. 'They create an environment where students from Iowa can learn about the world.'

Thomas, who traveled with Branstad to China in 2012 and saw him interact with Chinese officials, said the ambassadorship seems a good fit for Branstad, for Iowa and for the UI — which has a growing envoy of alumni in China.

'It's extremely large,' Thomas said. 'I would venture to say there are probably more UI alumni in two or three Chinese cities than in most U.S. cities except Chicago — if you just take a given city. There are a lot.'

When former UI President Sally Mason visited China in 2012, about 100 people showed up for an alumni reception in Beijing. Thomas said he hopes to work with Branstad on future alumni events there.

'It would be wonderful if soon-to-be Ambassador Branstad were to allow us to host an event for University of Iowa or the regent universities … That would be tremendous.'

Regents President Bruce Rastetter said he foresees benefits for the state universities, although it's too soon to say just what to expect.

'From a relationship with China on working with them on Chinese students coming to Iowa public universities, I can only see positives,' he said.

The universities in recent years have dialed down to some degree recruitment in China in hopes of diversifying the country-of-origin portfolio of their international populations. Rastetter said he doesn't know if this bond will affect Chinese applications 'in a dynamic way.'

'The good news is we would be able to manage that, and the universities would, on the entrance acceptances and what they think the right balance is,' he said.

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