TheFinanser.co.uk recently noted, Product people are myopic. They are short on everything: Short-sighted, short-term, short on time and short on developing relationships... Solutions sellers are different, as by their very nature they want to know your problems first.

USjournal positions itself as Solution Sellers. Back in 2006, one of our advertisers suggested that we figure out how to improve the efficiency and integrity of the funds verification component of international admissions. The concept of FundsV was born. Learn more: FundsV.com/page/about

The FundsV Working Group was formed in 2010 at the request of SWIFT, the Belgium-based Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication to develop global standards for international student funds verification. In light of recent initiatives, the Group is seeking input about current parameters for data collection in international education. We've constructed a simple, 10-question survey for colleagues to complete: SurveyMonkey.com/s/HZQ2N3N. (We're particularly interested in feedback from international educators outside of the United States, so please feel free to forward the link.)

We'll discuss survey results at our Working Group's mid-year meeting, held this year on Thursday morning (31 May) during NAFSA Week in Houston. If you'd like to participate, contact cheryl@FundsV.com

We look forward to re-connecting with colleagues, and meeting new ones, at NAFSA's Annual Conference in a few weeks: nafsa.org/annualconference. USjournal will continue our tradition of scheduling small group meal meetings, rather than investing in an expo booth or huge reception, to discuss ways we can help you effectively recruit qualified international students. If you'd like to book an available slot, please contact cheryl@USjournal.com.

• Tues, 29 May, 7:30am to 8:30am, Available
• Tues, 29 May, 9:00am to 10:00am, Available


• Wed, 30 May, 7:00am to 8:00am, Available
• Wed, 30 May, 1:15pm to 2:15pm, Price Compared with Value in International Student Recruitment (nafsa.org/annualconference)


• Thurs, 31 May, 8:00am to 9:30am, FundsV Working Group Meeting


• Fri, 1 June, 10:30am to 11:45am, Opportunities and Challenges of Working with Agents (nafsa.org/annualconference)