Who knew?
Q. Of the 40,610 students enrolled at UW–Madison this year, how many are from other countries?
A. International student enrollment took an interesting jump this fall, increasing 12 percent over last year’s enrollment of 3,349 students from foreign lands. This is particularly surprising because international student enrollment has been flat or on the decline for most of the 1990s.
The increase appears to be mostly split between graduate and undergraduate students. An increase of 10 percent – or 199 more students – entered UW–Madison to pursue graduate studies this fall, raising the international graduate student enrollment to 2,210.
“I think that overall the biggest reason that we saw an increase is that students who were affected by the Asian economic crisis last year or the previous year were able to come this year,” says Joanne Nagy, associate dean in the Graduate School. “The incentive is a lot higher for international students to get a degree from a U.S. institution right now than it is for U.S. students.”
International students can earn more in their home countries with a U.S. degree – and they’ll earn more respect, too, she notes.
Among undergraduates, international students have numbered below 1,150 since 1992-93. But this year, 1,257 international students attend undergraduate programs.
“I think, in the world, it’s becoming more and more the norm for people to have international experience,” says Catherine Sheskey of the International Student and Scholar Services office.
“Wisconsin still has a lot of attraction as well as a lot of connections,” she says. Many international students who choose UW–Madison have parents or professors who are alums, Sheskey says. “And the reputation is another part of it.”
Q. Where’s the Bucky Wagon?
A. It broke down, and an imposter from McFarland has been filling in.
The Spirit Squad is awaiting parts from Pennsylvania so the 1932 La France fire engine can be repaired.
“The McFarland Fire Department is just helping us out by letting the cheerleaders and Bucky use their wagon before the game to ride around on to all our appearances and then ride in on it at the beginning of the game,” says Jessica Almazar, administrative assistant to the Spirit Squad. The old red McFarland engine came to the Spirit Squad’s rescue for the last two home games.
“We kind of miss the old fire wagon,” Almazar says. And the squad hopes repairs can be made in time for the last home game of the season Saturday, Nov. 13, against Iowa. Send your question to Who Knew? c/o Wisconsin Week, 19 Bascom Hall; or e-mail: wisweek@news.wisc.edu.