Q&A: The Future of International Student Enrollment from the Perspective of Hannah Bakey

International enrollment has been in flux over the past five years due to changing federal policies, the impact of a calamitous black-swan event like the COVID-19 pandemic, and shifting attitudes among younger students regarding the value of a college education. To see what’s actually happening in the international enrollment landscape now, check in with the College’s foremost expert on this intriguing topic. Veteran Designated School Official (DSO) Hannah Bakey sufficiently satisfies that residential expert status for an article like this one.

Hannah, Assistant Director of International Student Compliance, is an experienced recruiter and adviser to international students with over a decade of accumulated knowledge in various facets at the College. Her knowledge of federal regulations regarding international students makes her a calming presence, even in the most stressful moments when working with international students. 

The Financial Aid Office recently spoke with Hannah about the landscape changes for international enrollment at colleges and universities in the U.S., what she enjoys the most about her role at the College, and best practices international students should follow to fund their educational endeavors. An edited version of the conversation follows.

Financial Aid Office: What’s your role at the College? How do you assist international students?

Hannah Bakey: My title is the Assistant Director of International Student Compliance. I work in both Admissions and Advising, with prospective and current international students across both the undergraduate and graduate levels. I assist the international students at Goldey-Beacom with their course scheduling and degree completion and serve as a point person should they have any questions about navigating their time with the College. Additionally, my team and I provide supporting documentation to students for any immigration-related petitions they may file with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or responding to any requests from the Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and/or USCIS. Beyond just meeting their academic requirements, we assist students with remaining compliant with the applicable regulations tied to their visa class.

What are the challenges undergraduate international students are facing in 2026?

Things feel so uncertain right now. There are clear challenges that can be tied to tangible events, such as the current proposal from Department of Homeland Security related to an F-1 student’s duration of status. However, until DHS releases the final version of this proposal along with a time for implementation, it’s hard to articulate exactly what these obstacles will be. For undergraduate students, this policy could restrict a student’s ability to change their academic program or transfer to another institution after their first year. This would shift some of the decision-making for students, making them commit earlier on to programs and institutions. As we well know, what we think we want to do changes as we grow, learn, and have different experiences; a student may think they love something until they try it. These proposed restrictions could force students into programs to which they’ve had no exposure until it’s too late for them to change tracks.

There are also challenges that are more abstract and amorphous. How do you quantify the effects of the “current climate”? How do you assess the impact of ideology? What challenges arise when there is a significant change in attitude and approach from DHS? Luckily, GBC is an institution that values our international students and understands the importance of what they bring to the College’s learning environment. However, while we can promote community on our campus, students may experience challenges outside of our campus related to different public sentiments. More than ever, F-1 students are getting more mainstream attention from the news, bringing this type of visa class more and more into public discussion.

What are the challenges graduate international students are facing in 2026?

The landscape is similar for them as for undergraduate international students. However, the proposed policy stands to have a larger impact on what graduate students holding an F-1 visa are able to do. As a result, graduate students are struggling now to make the best choice for their futures. Seeing as the proposal would limit an F-1 student to one master-level degree, students are now facing a tough decision. While the policy has not been enacted yet, many graduate international students feel that they should just start acting like it has been approved. Other students feel unsure how to proceed at this time, not knowing if this policy could potentially impact their ability to remain in the United States after completion of one graduate degree. This has created a general atmosphere of anxiety and anticipation as students are uncertain how to proceed in the immediate without knowing what the final version of this policy from DHS will ultimately be.

Why should an international student select GBC for their studies?

First and foremost, international students should select Goldey-Beacom because we want them here and value what they bring to our campus. International students bring their unique perspectives and experiences with them; they add nuance and richness to the ways in which students learn from one another.

Additionally, we provide sound, compliant advice to students. Maintaining a visa status is complicated and there are many factors that each visa holder needs to consider. Students are individually and personally responsible for their maintenance of status, meaning every decision they make has the potential to impact their visa. With the personalized support that we strive for, GBC is able to clearly communicate the requirements and make sure that students are following the regulations. Furthermore, international students here can find a community and network of students with shared interests and experiences.

With so many regulations at play, there are times when institutions may have very prescriptive policies that force international students onto a rigid pathway. My team and I, however, place a lot of emphasis on a student needing to make their own decisions. What drives our work is making sure that students are making decisions with all the relevant information available to them. So much of what we do is educating students on their visa and the associated requirements. We empower them to the investigate the different options and make a decision that works for them while meeting the applicable requirements.

Of course, none of this even touches on the reasons that GBC is an attractive institution for any student: innovative academic programs, individualized attention from staff, flexible scheduling opportunities and strong support from faculty. Even with the regulations that restrict international students, we are able to work with students to meet their needs and ensure their compliance.

Day 1 CPT is emerging as a popular recruitment tactic by institutions across the country. What’s Day 1 CPT and how can a GBC international student benefit?

Day 1 CPT is a benefit available to F-1 students who meet the Student & Exchange Visitor’s Program (SEVP) requirements for eligibility.

SEVP allows F-1 students to apply for and receive two kinds of “Practical Training.” Practical Training gives students employment authorization to work in a field that is related to their degree and area of study. These opportunities are academic exercises that facilitate connecting the course content to real-world scenarios and seeing how they play out in an organization. CPT, or Curricular Practical Training, is a Practical Training opportunity that students may utilize during their studies.

“Day 1 CPT,” then speaks to CPT employment authorization that can begin in tandem with someone’s coursework. Day 1 CPT benefits students in a myriad of ways; they get real-world experience and make connections between theory and actuality. For GBC specifically, students who utilize practical training are emblematic of the College’s Mission. GBC values linking knowledge to practice, and these employment opportunities facilitate that linkage. When someone is able to utilize CPT for the duration of their program, they are able to see how their knowledge and understanding have developed and grown as a result of their curriculum. For students who are eligible and opt for CPT, GBC considers it to be integral to their curricula, as it empowers them to achieve excellence through linking knowledge to practice.

How has your role evolved over the years?

The answer depends on when you start the clock. I began my full-time position with the College in July 2017 working as an Advisor in the Financial Aid & Advisement Office. At that time, Advisors were responsible for the advisement of students as well as their financial aid; we also dabbled in Registrar Office functions at that time, processing transcript requests, verification letters, and helping international students respond to received Requests for Evidence from USCIS. Before my first month was complete, I was also selected to be the College’s Title IX Coordinator, overseeing the College’s adherence to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. This is tied to discrimination on the basis of sex and gender, and I would oversee any complaints and institutional proceedings related to Title IX violations. I spent a brief period as the College’s Clery Compliance Officer as well, though that was for less than a year and much more short-lived than Title IX.

In January of 2021, the Financial Aid & Advising Office was restructured, and I moved into the International Student Coordinator position, which was very similar to the position I hold now. It was the beginning of my work in International Admissions and a shift to my Advisees being all international students. After about 2 years of holding that position. I was able to be moved to Deputy Title IX Coordinator and have since become the Assistant Director of International Student Compliance.

For fun, though, I actually held my first position with GBC in the summer of 2013 and worked each summer following until I started full-time in 2017. The first summer, I worked the evening reception desk, but every summer after that, I worked for the Dean of Enrollment Management. There, I helped with the CPT documentation for current students looking to renew their authorization and assisted with responses for Requests for Evidence. While the scope of my role has shifted dramatically, I, in some ways, have been working with international students and helping them navigate the different components of visa compliance since 2014.

How can an international student finance their education at GBC?

International students are, by and large, ineligible to receive any federal financial aid. Therefore, financing education for international students tends to involve outside scholarship opportunities and private loans. Students may also utilize on-campus employment or Practical Training opportunities to meet their expenses.

For extreme circumstances, students are able to apply for employment authorization through USCIS due to Severe Economic Hardship. As this is an application through USCIS, it is a lengthy process and the documentation of the economic hardship must be incredibly detailed. However, it is an option for situations wherein, due to unforeseen circumstances, students may receive authorization to work and earn income.

Where do you see international admissions in 12 months from now?

If only I had a crystal ball. International Admissions in 12 months from now will hinge on the political landscape over the course of the next year. With proposed regulations pending, it’s hard to speculate, since we won’t know the ripple effects of the policy until it’s finalized and enacted. Even now, it’s hard to get a pulse on the reality of the situation and the international enrollment trends across the United States. Sources contradict each other and point to different data points as indicative of varying patterns.

If things continue exactly as they are now, with the ambiguity and uncertainty, I think International Admissions will begin to see fewer and fewer transfer students in the graduate division, with a shift toward more students from overseas. Additionally, as policies or benefits related to other visa classes are adjusted or rescinded, we may see a minor increase in students seeking a Change of Status to an F-1 visa with their admission from Goldey-Beacom College. For instance, the relatively recent revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens of Nepal and Venezuela resulted in an influx of citizens from those nations applying for admission and hoping to seek a Change of Status to F-1.

The climate depends on the intersection of so many different components: policies and regulations, movement in other visa classes, and relations among different nations. We truly can only take it one day at a time and support the students who are here to the best of our ability.

Thanks, Hannah.