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A dozen sites
I'm diggin'

*1. StinkyJournalism.org's "Dubious Polling" Awards list is worth a read.

*2. Find out why a six-hour flight now takes seven. Airlines are "baking in" extra time to make up for long delays.

*3. Check out RTDNA's News and Terrorism workshop chat site.

4. BusinessWeek has highlighted big corporations that are pouring millions into Haiti relief.

5. Amazing: how phone apps helped save a man's life after he was buried by the Haiti earthquake.

6. The New York Times explains how cancer-treatment radiation saves lives, and ruins some.

*7. Here are some great databases that newsrooms have created to help connect people with their community.

8. A new study explores the media habits of teens.

9. The pros and cons of evangelizing on Facebook.

10. The FCC investigates the health and future of local news.

11. Brookings assesses Obama's first year in office.

12. Why you better be careful when covering 100th birthdays!

All of my Diggin' sites are saved on Poynter's del.icio.us page.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Al's Morning Meeting is a compendium of ideas, edited story excerpts and other materials from a variety of Web sites, as well as original concepts and analysis. When the information comes directly from another source, it will be attributed and a link will be provided whenever possible. The column is fact-checked, but relies on the accuracy and integrity of the original sources cited. We will correct errors and inaccuracies when we become aware of them.

Record Number of Foreign Students Provides Storytelling Opportunity

Posted by Al Tompkins at 12:05 AM on Nov. 23, 2009

The number of foreign students studying in U.S. colleges and universities is at an all-time high, with India, China, South Korea and Japan sending the most.

The figures come from the Institute of International Education, a not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organization that has surveyed international students in the United States since 1949.

The Commerce Department says international students contribute $17.8 billion to the U.S. economy. How important are these students to the schools near you? What are your schools doing to recruit them? Below I've posted links to tons of data to help you get local. By the way, a holiday week like this is a great time to do stories on foreign students who may be stuck on campus while everybody else goes home.

The Institute for International Education reports increases in foreign student enrollments from seven of the 10 leading places of origin:

"The number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased by 8 percent to an all-time high of 671,616 in the 2008-09 academic year, according to the Open Doors report, which is published annually by the Institute of International Education (IIE) with support from the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This is the largest percentage increase in international student enrollments since 1980-81, and marks the third consecutive year of significant growth (with increases of 7 percent in 2007-08 and 3 percent in 2006-07). The total international student count exceeds by 14.5 percent the prior peak enrollment year (2002-03).

"Open Doors 2009 data also show the number of 'new' international students -- those enrolled for the first time at a U.S. college or university in fall 2008 �- increasing by 16 percent, following two years of 10 percent increases. The largest growth was seen in undergraduate enrollments, which increased by 11 percent, compared to a 2 percent increase in graduate enrollments. This growth was driven largely by increases in undergraduate students from China."

Here are some specifics, distilled from the IIE report.

Where they come from

India, No. 1 for the eighth year in a row, up 9 percent to 103,260 students
China, No. 2, up 21 percent to 98,510
South Korea, No. 3, up 9 percent to 75,065
Canada, No. 4, "the only non-Asian country in the top five," up 2 percent to 29,697
Japan, No. 5, decreased 14 percent to 29,264 (down four years in a row)
Taiwan, No. 6, down 3 percent to 28,065
Mexico, No. 7, 14,850 (no change)
Turkey, No. 8, whose students increased by 10 percent to 13,263.
Vietnam, which jumped into the ninth spot with a dramatic 46 percent increase to 12,823. "Vietnam's 2008-09 growth follows increases of 45 percent in 2007-08 and 31 percent in 2006-07, moving it into the top 10 this year from 20th place only two years ago."
Saudi Arabia, the 10th leading sender, which increased by 28 percent to 12,661, "consistent with its substantial investment in government funded scholarships."
Nepal, No. 11, up 30 percent to 11,581 students.
Germany, No. 12, up 9 percent to 9,679.
Brazil, No. 13, up 16 percent to 8,767 students in the United States.

States and localities

"California hosted the largest number of foreign students with 93,124, up 10 percent."

New York state hosts 74,934 foreign students, up 7 percent.

Texas, with 58,188, is up 12 percent.

"The New York City metropolitan area continues to be the leading city for international students, with 59,322 enrolled in area schools, up 8 percent."

"The Los Angeles metropolitan area is in second place with 42,897 international students, up 11 percent."

The schools

"The University of Southern California hosted the largest number of international students, this year reporting 7,482."

"New York University held in second place with 6,761 international students."

"Columbia University, also holding steady in third place, hosted 6,685."

"Rounding out the top five 2008-09 host institutions are University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (6,570 students) and Purdue University (6,136 students)."

What they study

"Business and Management remains the most popular field of study for international students in the United States, increasing by 12 percent and comprising 21 percent percent of the total."

Engineering is second, "with an 11 percent increase and comprising 18 percent of the total."

"Math and Computer Science also increased significantly in 2008-09, up 10 percent from the prior year."

"After a 15 percent increase in 2007-08, Intensive English Language showed a slight decline in popularity, decreasing by 1 percent."

Extensive data tables to help you get local

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