UWM International Committee Approves South Korea Exchange during a Nationwide International Enrollment Decline

The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee International Committee approved a new student exchange agreement with a South Korean university on Dec. 4, as members discussed how the campus is addressing the nationwide decline in international student enrollment.

The committee met on Thursday at 9 a.m. in Garland 104 and on Microsoft Teams to review a proposed bilateral exchange agreement with Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea. The agreement allows one student from each institution to study abroad each academic year.

Committee members said the partnership comes at a time when international enrollment at U.S. universities is falling. National reports indicate that international student enrollment declined by approximately 17% for the fall 2025 semester, a trend that raises concerns about campus diversity, funding, and global engagement.

Administrators described the exchange as a step toward strengthening UWM’s international presence and creating new opportunities for students interested in studying abroad.

“This has a lot of potential beyond just the bilateral exchange,” said Nadine Kozak, who was elected chair for the 2025–26 academic year. She said the partnership could expand into future research collaboration and faculty engagement.

Committee members also pointed to Sungkyunkwan University’s location in central Seoul as an advantage for students. The university has connections to major South Korean companies, including Samsung, and is in an area that is substantial for students academically and culturally.

Under the agreement, UWM students will apply through the Center for International Education, receive a nomination by the university, and then apply to Sungkyunkwan University. Students would participate in the exchange for a semester or academic year, depending on availability.

Students coming from South Korea will study at UWM on J-1 visas, which short-term exchange programs require. Sharon Gosz, a representative from the Center for International Education, explained that exchange students use a different visa than degree-seeking international students.

“Exchange students come on a J-1 visa because they’re not degree-seeking,” Gosz said. “There are additional requirements for exchange programs, including making sure students are engaging on campus and participating in programming.”

Committee members asked whether participating in an official exchange program makes the visa process easier, especially as visa delays and Trump’s increase in travel bans have affected students from some countries. Administrators said UWM has not experienced major issues with exchange students coming from South Korea.

“As of now, we haven’t had students report problems getting visas,” Gosz said. She added that UWM already has two exchange programs in South Korea, and students are currently enrolled through those partnerships.

South Korea has not faced the same level of visa scrutiny as some other countries, administrators said, though they noted that immigration policies can change.

Some committee members asked whether starting with only one student in each direction was common. Staff responded that small, balanced exchanges are common when launching new bilateral agreements.

“That’s absolutely typical,” Gosz said. “We need to keep the exchange balanced and consider student interest and capacity on both sides.”

The committee also reviewed its charter, appointed five voting members to the Subcommittee on International Travel Safety and discussed a Study Abroad Policy rubric that will be scheduled for approval by the end of the fall 2025 semester.

Committee members later discussed the need for more variety in study abroad programs. Administrators encouraged faculty to think beyond Western Europe when proposing faculty-led programs and to consider how destinations connect to academic goals and career outcomes.

“Students often see Western Europe as more comfortable,” Gosz said. “But there are other places that can be just as meaningful, if not more.”

Asia was mentioned as a region with strong academic and professional relevance, especially in fields like business and technology, though administrators said student participation has not always matched expectations.

The committee also discussed staffing and administrative capacity for faculty-led programs, estimating UWM could support up to 15 programs in a summer term, depending on resources.

During “Other business,” committee members were updated on a campus-level initiative led by Professor of Information Technology Management Kaushal Chari that focused on increasing UWM’s global brand recognition to help attract more international students.

Concluding the meeting, the committee approved the exchange agreement by consent with no objections raised.