You'd be hard-pressed to find an industry whose finer details haven't been revealed online, at least to some extent, over the past 15 years. Three trends in transparency have manifested themselves in International Enrollment Management:

• U.S. Net Price Calculator: The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 effectively mandates greater transparency in calculating tuition discounts and likely federal financial aid for prospective U.S. students. By October 2011, each postsecondary institution in the United States that participates in federal student aid programs must post a Net Price Calculator on its web site. How will this domestic requirement impact international student recruitment?
• Tuition Comparator: In the global arena, a colleague in Australia is developing a Course Cost Comparison Tool for typical degrees in Canada, the U.S., U.K., New Zealand and Australia. Prospective international students (and those that influence them) from various countries can estimate the cost of enrolling in a similar academic course offered in different countries, taking into consideration specific fluctuations in particular currencies. The tool may be available for public use by the end of calendar year 2011.
• The FundsV Working Group: USjournal.com has assembled a group of colleagues from leading host countries and sending countries, to improve the efficiency and integrity of funds verification. The initiative takes advantage of robust communications platforms that connect and exchange financial information securely and reliably, so prospective students can satisfy host government requirements with speed, certainty and confidence.

Cheryl Darrup-Boychuck will explore these trends in transparency on Wednesday, 1 June from 9:00 am to 10:30 am at the poster fair, Best Practices in International Enrollment Management at the NAFSA Conference in Vancouver. We hope to see you there!

• 26-28 May, Vancouver
  ICEF Vancouver Workshop: icef.com
• 31 May at 2:30 pm, Vancouver
  Working with Agents: nafsa.org/annualconference
• 1 June at 9:00 am, Vancouver
  IEM Poster Session -- Trends in Transparency: nafsa.org/annualconference
• 1 June at 3:45 pm, Vancouver
  "Sufficient Funds" -- Determining the Financial Capacity of Prospective Students: nafsa.org/annualconference
• October and November, various locations
  Select NAFSA Regional Conferences: nafsa.org/nafsaregions

TS College Tours is operated by a former international school counselor (at Singapore American School and International School Manila), who recognizes the challenges of international students (and their parents) in arranging actual, physical visits to campuses outside the home country. TS College Tours offers tour programs of selected U.S. and Canadian colleges, specifically for international students, led by experienced international school counselors.

• More info: tscollegetours.com
• Contact: enquiries@tscollegetours.com