UConn sees drop in enrollment by Chinese students

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — The number of new undergraduate students at the University of Connecticut has fallen by 10% in the last two years in a reflection of a broader trend for American higher education.

The freshman class at UConn's main campus at Storrs includes 425 students from China, down from 473 in the fall of 2017. Incoming classes at UConn typically have between 3,600 and 3,700 total students.

Universities around the country have been reporting declines in Chinese enrollment amid worries about growing competition, visa complications, and political tensions between the two countries.

In June, UConn held its first pre-departure orientation for students in China. Vern Granger, the dean of undergraduate admissions, said the goal is to reassure students and their parents that they will be welcomed and supported.