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AIRC Strategic Plan

Here at AIRC, we are constantly striving to inspire the community, diversify membership and provide all possible resources to our members. Thus, we have developed an all new Strategic Plan that will allow us to accomplish our goals to better serve our members and international students. We have written out how we will work at achieving these goals, and how it will solidify AIRC’s reputation as the association that serves and represents the interests of the international enrollment management field.

MISSION

AIRC champions the interests of international students, educational institutions, and educational agencies through the development of professional standards and partnerships that advance effective and strategic practices in international enrollment management.

A Vision for standards-based recruitment and enrollment for every international student.

I. Objective:

Expand AIRC’s reputation and influence as the leading association that provides expertise to the international enrollment management field.

Goals

Goal 1. Achieve wide recognition of AIRC’s expanded identity and reputation among members, partners and constituents.

Metric: Year 2 and Year 4 surveys of members, partners and constituents regarding AIRC’s mission and purpose.

Actions

A. Emphasize in communications and marketing that AIRC is the only membership association that focuses exclusively on international enrollment management (IEM).

B. Highlight the comprehensive resources, programs and events that AIRC provides to advance success in IEM.

C. Emphasize how AIRC serves the interests of students and engage and integrate students in programming and events when appropriate; conduct and feature assessment of international student outcomes.

D. Distribute AIRC’s new public newsletter and Annual Report widely to non-members and key constituents.

E. Consider rebranding AIRC as: AIRC: Association for International Enrollment Management

Goal 2. Achieve wide recognition of AIRC as a Standards Development Organization (SDO).

Metric: Year 2 and Year 4 surveys of members, partners and constituents regarding the perception and effectiveness of AIRC as a Standards Development Organization.

Actions

A. Advocate for AIRC’s place within the U.S. quality assurance sector by attending and presenting at Center for Higher Education Accreditation meetings, regional accreditation commission meetings, and by communicating regularly with these groups.

B. Collaborate with accrediting bodies to integrate AIRC’s standards into existing accreditation standards where appropriate.

C. Make AIRC’s SDO status and role more visible in AIRC communications by referencing the standards whenever possible and appropriate.

D. Emphasize AIRC’s SDO role and make the standards more visible on the website.

E. Align AIRC resources and programs with the standards.

Goal 3. Influence national policies related to international student enrollment.

Metric: Year 2 and Year 4 surveys of members, partners and constituents regarding AIRC’s impact in shaping national policies related to international student enrollment.

Actions

A. Expand outreach and advocacy efforts.

B. Convene top-level national leaders to discuss and debate the development of a national strategy for international enrollment and publish and promote results and recommendations of these discussions.

C. Establish strong linkages with the leading international education associations, Study State consortia, university systems, agency associations, and related groups in the U.S. and internationally, to leverage AIRC’s influence.

D. Establish and maintain effective relationships with federal and state governments in order to advocate effectively on behalf of members, the field and students.

E. Develop strong working relationships with the media by demonstrating that AIRC is the “go to” source for information and views about IEM.

F. Speak out and advocate on issues and topics related to IEM by referencing standards, and by considering the interests and goals of members and students.

G. Expand AIRC’s participation at key international education conferences, meetings, and discussions.

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II. Objective:

Embed the principles of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion into the content and culture of AIRC.

Goals

Goal 1. AIRC members incorporate DEI into their international enrollment management efforts.

Metric: Year 2 and Year 4 member surveys to evaluate the impact of AIRC DEI programs, resources, and services in helping members to incorporate DEI into their international enrollment recruitment efforts.

Actions

A. Incorporate DEI into Certification standards and processes.

B. Develop and deliver workshops on various topics around DEI that highlight AIRC members’ cultures.

C. Create a Resource Center for professional development and education about DEI.

D. Create and offer scholarships to institutional partners/agency partners for students to pursue international education opportunities.

E. Expand the AIRC Mentorship Program to offer more opportunities for equity and inclusion, for agency and new institutional members to participate in the AIRC community.

F. Create discussion topics and threads on the new AIRC Online Discussion Forum.

G. Provide DEI resources to assist educational agencies in preparing students to transition successfully to the U.S. social and political environment.

Goal 2. AIRC becomes an association with a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Metric: Annual evaluation led by Board DEI Chair. External review by DEI expert at Year 2 and Year 4.

Actions

A. Integrate the new Board DEI Chair into AIRC’s decision making processes.

B. Create an annual Board member review process that evaluates contributions to DEI.

C. Incorporate DEI into AIRC hiring and review processes, advocacy efforts, publications,

committees, and conference and website content to encourage organizational cultural change.

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III. Objective:

Develop and deliver compelling resources, services and programs that are essential for members to advance their international enrollment management goals, adhere to standards, and that foster a sense of belonging to a supportive community of practice.

Goals

Goal 1. Create effective ways for members to engage with and contribute to AIRC.

Metric: Member survey at Year 2 and Year 4.

Actions

A. Create a moderated, online “AIRC Answers Forum” where members can ask questions, address hot topics, share their expertise, and provide pragmatic solutions.

B. Convene periodic “collegial conversations” that bring together diverse members to share ideas and exchange information.

C. Offer agency-led training opportunities focused on the development of successful partnerships among AIRC members.

D. Establish a professional mentoring program that helps to orient early career professionals to the field and the centrality of a standards-based approach to IEM.

E. Engage former AIRC leaders to contribute actively to the association.

F. Create a “Directory of AIRC Experts” that can contribute to programs, events and resources to help the entire membership.

G. Engage a diversity of members when creating and delivering AIRC resources, programs and events.

H. Communicate regularly the benefits that AIRC delivers to members.

I. Provide multiple, convenient ways for members to connect with AIRC leadership.

J. Conduct consistent evaluation of member programs, events and services, including an annual member satisfaction survey.

Goal 2. Improve how effectively member institutions and organizations adhere to standards.

Metrics: Member survey at Year 2 and Year 4 to evaluate how member institutions and organizations are adhering to AIRC standards. Number of certified and recertified educational agencies.

Actions

A. Create a “standards toolbox” of best practices that includes specific practices from certified educational agencies identified as best practices by certification reviewers. Solicit and choose from member institutions best practice examples that support international enrollment management.

B. Partner with a higher education institution to accredit the ISREP Course, offering graduate credit as an option to participants.

C. Create a Code of Ethics or Statement of Ethical Principles.

D. Develop member-expert publications, including case studies and best practices for IEM.

E. Develop a “Recognized for Meeting Standards” assessment and recognition program for institutional members.

F. Create an “International Enrollment Management Glossary” that shapes and influences the terminology used by the field.

Goal 3. Establish the AIRC Annual Conference as the “must attend” event for international enrollment management.

Metric: Double attendance by Year 5. Conference evaluations that demonstrate high value and relevance of the conference.

Actions

A. Deliver content that is valuable and relevant for all types of members.

B. Address key IEM issues and challenges by inviting national and global leaders to participate in sessions.

C. Attract institutional decision makers to participate by developing program that is relevant to and valuable for them.

D. Make the conference “the event where partnerships are made” among educational agencies, secondary institutions and higher education institutions.

E. Convene the conference in different locations each year.

F. Engage both member and non-member institutions that are located in the regions where the conference is held by offering special “hosting” arrangements.

G. Expand opportunities for sponsors to promote their services.

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Goal 4. Collect and analyze data that maps the state of the international enrollment management field and provides information to assist members to meet their goals.

Metric: Number of data collection projects. Member survey to evaluate value and relevance.

Actions

A. Draw on AIRC’s agency members to provide market intelligence research.

B. Conduct an annual survey of international students (“AIRC Student Pulse”) that provides information useful to educational agencies, institutions and the field.

C. Conduct annual survey all AIRC members to map the state of the IEM field.

D. Deliver regular “AIRC Data Insights” via webinars and through top-level infographics.

E. Leverage partnerships with other international education associations and organizations to conduct and publish surveys that provide useful information to AIRC members.

Goal 5. Develop and enhance member benefits for higher education members to assist them to achieve their goals.

Metric: Increase in the number of higher education members by 10% each of the next five years. Achievement of a retention rate of >90%.

Actions

A. Increase membership to expand and deepen expertise to serve AIRC’s community of practice.

B. Partner with other higher education associations that intersect with IEM (eg. URMIA, NACUBO, NACUA) to deliver expert programming that serves members.

C. Create an “AIRC Guide to U.S. Educational Opportunities” to promote the variety of educational opportunities and pathways available to international students.

D. Develop “Recognized for Meeting Standards” assessment and recognition program for institutional members.

E. Conduct targeted outreach to regional international education groups by offering to present AIRC content (ie, survey results, resources) as part of their meetings to demonstrate the value of AIRC membership.

F. Partner with associations such as the Community Colleges for International Development (CCID), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and others to attract more institutions to join AIRC.

G. Develop effective ways for institutions to arrange communications and meetings with certified educational agencies.

H. Attract new institutions by convening the annual conference in targeted cities to make it easier for institutions to attend, sponsor the conference as “host institutions,” and have opportunities to meet with educational agencies.

Goal 6. Develop and enhance member benefits for secondary education members to assist them to achieve their goals.

Metric: Increase in number of secondary education members to a minimum of 50 total members

within the next 3 years. Achievement of a retention rate of >90%.

Actions

A. Partner with The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) to develop resources, raise the visibility of AIRC among secondary institutions, and recruit members.

B. Facilitate connections between secondary institutions and certified educational agencies, and between secondary institutions and higher education institutions..

C. Increase membership to expand and deepen expertise to serve AIRC’s community of practice.

D. Create an “AIRC Guide to U.S. Educational Opportunities” to promote the variety of educational opportunities and pathways available to international students.

E. Develop “Recognized for Meeting Standards” assessment and recognition program for institutional members.

F. Develop effective ways for institutions to arrange communications and meetings with certified educational agencies.

G. Attract new institutions by convening the annual conference in targeted cities to make it easier for institutions to attend, sponsor the conference as “host institutions,” and have opportunities to meet with educational agencies.

Goal 7. Develop and enhance member benefits for agency members to assist them to achieve their goals.

Metric: Increase in agency memberships by 15% each of the next 3 years. Achievement of a

retention rate of >90%.

Actions

A. Create new membership categories and pricing for small- and medium-sized educational agencies to make membership more affordable.

B. Develop an accessible, clearly understood pathway to certification that includes an option for “stackable certification.”

C. In partnership with agency members, create and deliver US higher education overview sessions for prospective students and families, thereby delivering value to agency members.

D. Launch an agency campus visit program in conjunction with the annual conference as it rotates to different cities.

E. Create an Agency-India AIRC Chapter as a way to serve the specific needs of agency members in India, and attract new members.

F. Promote models for successful relationships between institutions and educational agencies.

G. Collaborate with ICEF to create linkages between ICEF agency training and AIRC certification.

H. Attract new agency members through the TABS partnership.

I. Promote agency college fairs on AIRC website.

J. Conduct regular virtual information sessions for prospective agency members.

K. Launch “Agency Academies” and “Agency Mentors” to assist educational agencies to be successful.

L. Provide a reference letter for certified educational agencies that can serve as part of a letter of introduction when they contact institutions.

M. Make the institutional information in the member directory more useful to agency members.

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Thank you

We thank the many colleagues who contributed to the development of the strategic plan, including the Strategic Planning Task Force, Board of Directors, Certification Commission, and leaders of our sister associations. Most of all, we thank the many members who contributed to the process by filling out surveys, participating in listening sessions, and by providing essential feedback on drafts of the strategic plan. Their input provided much of the content and shape of the plan.

AIRC-DA New Affiliation

Diversity Abroad and the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) are pleased to announce a collaboration that will help institutions to improve their international enrollment practices. Experts from both organizations will work together to develop new resources and programs that assist secondary and higher education institutions to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion principles into their international enrollment recruitment and enrollment operations. A joint working group will work over the next year to develop recommendations and resources and identify best practices.

AIRC-CCID New Affiliation

Contact: Stephanie Kelly

Executive Director

executivedirector@ccidinc.org

Contact: Brian Whalen

Executive Director

Brian.whalen@airc-education.org

Community Colleges for International Development and the American International Recruitment Council Announce a New Collaboration (April, 2021)

Community Colleges for International Development (CCID) and the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) are pleased to announce a collaboration to expand high-quality, community college educational opportunities for students worldwide. The partnership will include a sharing of expertise between the associations, the development of new resources and programs specific to international enrollment management at community colleges, participation in each association's annual conference, and numerous opportunities for CCID member Institutions and AIRC members to connect and collaborate. In addition, the affiliation will greatly enhance the ability for students and families to discover and pursue the extraordinary advantages of a community college education.

Stephanie Kelly, Ph.D., Executive Director of CCID, stated,"CCID's collaboration with AIRC will enable community colleges to draw on some of the best expertise in international student recruitment as they share the incredible opportunities available at today's community colleges with prospective students."

"Together, AIRC and CCID will help to expand high quality educational opportunities for international students by helping to enhance international recruitment and enrollment capacity at community colleges," said Brian Whalen, Ph.D., Executive Director of AIRC.

About Community Colleges for International Development (CCID)

CCID is an international association of community, technical, and vocational institutions dedicated to creating globally engaged learning environment. Members engage within CCID's network to improve practice, participate in learning communities and collaborate to advance global opportunities at the college level. CCID supports student success and campus goals through helping members build capacity for comprehensive internationalization, partnership development, education abroad and international student recruitment.

About the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC)

The American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership association recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission as a Standards Development Organization (SDO), AIRC safeguards the interests of students through the development of professional standards and collaborations between educational institutions, educational agencies, and service providers to advance student mobility and strategic international enrollment management.

AIRC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Declaration

AIRC welcomes our diverse members’ unique contributions through their life experiences and social identities which include, but are not limited to; age, ancestry, belief, color, culture, disability, education, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, languages spoken, marital status, nation of origin, race, religion/spirituality, and sex.

AIRC values transparency and integrity in a diverse membership that share common views to build a global organization that promotes inclusivity and equity in the shared interest of student success. 

AIRC inspires courageous yet mutually respectful dialogue that embraces differences of thought to promote a deeper appreciation for cultural backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to create an inclusive global membership organization. 

AIRC aspires to advancing and achieving an inclusive society through advocacy and fulfillment of AIRC’s mission.  

AIRC commits to:

  • Ensuring a fair and inclusive representation of stakeholders on its Board of Directors and Certification Commission.

  • Demonstrating a dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion through employment practices of its administration.

  • Fostering an environment that values and respects its diverse and expanding memberships. 

  • Creating professional development opportunities for members on cultural sensitivity to strengthen effective domestic and international recruitment.

AIRC-TABS New Affiliation

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) and the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) are pleased to announce a five-year collaboration to expand high-quality, secondary educational opportunities for students worldwide. The partnership will include a sharing of expertise between the organizations, the development of new resources specific to boarding schools and the international climate, and numerous opportunities for TABS member schools and AIRC members to connect and collaborate. In addition, the alliance will greatly enhance the ability for students and families to discover and pursue the extraordinary advantages of a boarding school education.

AIRC - NACAC Survey Provides Insights Into Institution – Agency Partnerships

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For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Click here to contact Brian Whalen
Executive Director
240-547-640)

Falls Church, VA (February 16, 2021) --   The American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) collaborated on a brief survey to learn more about how colleges and universities are partnering with international student recruitment agents during the COVID-19 pandemic. All AIRC and NACAC college and university members were invited to participate in the survey and a total of 294 valid responses were received.

Results showed that almost half (49 percent) of the responding institutions currently partner with agents to recruit undergraduate international students. This appears to represent overall growth in the number of institutions partnering with agencies.  Private institutions were more likely than public institutions to have agent partnerships (60 percent vs. 42 percent, respectively). Five percent of institutions reported they are actively exploring agent partnerships as a result of the pandemic.

 Institutions that do not partner with agents were asked why they do not. The top three reasons given by the 154 respondents to this question were: 1) institution has staff dedicated to international recruitment travel (55%); 2) concern with unethical practice (54%); and, 3) institution has staff dedicated to “armchair” recruitment of international students (45%). 9% of institutions reported that they do not recruit international students.

 According to AIRC’s Executive Director, Brian Whalen, “When comparing the survey results to the results of a similar survey done a few years ago, it appears that institutional partnerships with agencies are growing. This is likely due to a wider acceptance on the part of institutions of the effectiveness and benefits of partnering with agents.”

 At the same time, Whalen explained that AIRC’s work to certify agencies for meeting industry standards remains critically important. “Institutions that have concerns about ethical practices should be assured that AIRC-certified agencies have demonstrated their ongoing commitment to high quality standards and to serving the best interests of students and institutional partners,” he said.

 Full survey results are accessible by following this link.

AIRC's Recommendations to the Biden Administration

AIRC has sent recommendations to the Biden administration advocating for the international student recruitment industry and outlining how AIRC can work with the new administration to develop a national strategy to rebuild international student enrollments and promote the U.S. as a welcoming destination. The recommendations call on the administration to address several policies to make it easier for international students to study in the U.S.

AIRC's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Declaration

Submit your comments and feedback about the AIRC DEI Declaration

Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force has completed its work and shared a DEI Declaration and Recommendations with the AIRC Board. This is an historic moment in AIRC's development as we move forward with what we hope will serve as a foundation piece for AIRC's new strategic plan. As such, I want to take this opportunity to give a heart-filled 'thank you' to our DEI Task Force members who worked diligently the past few months to produce this momentous document: DEI Task Force Co-Chair and Board Treasurer Bryan Gross, Board President Jing Luan, Board Member Val Daily, agency Member Gary Bergman, Board Member Vanessa Andrade, past Certification Commission Chair, Ismael Betancourt Velez, agency Member Sonya Singh, and AIRC Manager of Member Services Cat Marte. Without the generous contribution and knowledge of our Task Force volunteers, our Declaration could not have become the meaningful document that it is. The final step will be a vote to adopt the Declaration at the February Board meeting. Prior to that last step and in the spirit of inclusivity, we feel it's very important for all members to have an official opportunity to reflect on the declaration and provide feedback. We thank the contribution of members who have already provided valuable feedback during the session at our annual conference, which helped improve the current document. The context and timeliness of this work is of the essence.

To submit your comments and feedback about the Declaration, please email us.

 

For Your Students: AIRC's Talking Points Regarding Events in Washington DC

You may be receiving numerous calls of concern from students and families about the events in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. AIRC has produced the following Talking Points found here, which may be useful in helping your students, families and constituents understand the scope of the event and what we can hope for in the next U.S. administration.
Please feel free to reach out to AIRC Staff with comments or concerns.

Announcing— AIRC's Strategic Planning Task Force

With 2020 nearly behind us, AIRC is entering a time of transition and innovation. In this exciting new time, AIRC will be launching a new strategic planning process!

Broad member involvement in the formation of the strategic plan is critically important. Please be on the lookout for announcements on the ways that you can engage in the development of AIRC’s next strategic plan, including responding to a membership survey, participating in member listening sessions, and providing feedback on drafts of the strategic plan. This will be a transparent and inclusive process that will benefit from the diverse perspectives of all AIRC members.


Strategic Planning Task Force

Engage your Team at the AIRC Conference!

If you registered a team for the AIRC Conference, learn below how to maximize your team participation.

This is an opportunity your institution/organization to benefit from your participation in the leading international student recruitment conference.

AIRC Signed the Alliance Letter Regarding the Duration of Status Proposal

AIRC wrote to its institutional members to encourage them to make a public comment about the proposed Duration of Status changes. Did you know you can also comment as an agency? Since your client’s dream of study in the U.S., they may be affected by this proposed rule. You can comment by following the links in the letter

Video Series: Where Do We Go From Here?- Episode Eleven

Watch episode eleven for inside information about how recruiters are feeling and what extra measures they are taking in these unprecedented times to support students.