From: meltsner@crd.ge.com (Kenneth J Meltsner)
Newsgroups: sci.engr,sci.edu,misc.education,sci.engr.biomed,sci.engr.chem
Subject: Re: Foreign Students / Faculty
Date: 10 Apr 92 19:54:11 GMT
Article-I.D.: crd.1992Apr10.195411.21452
Reply-To: meltsner@crd.ge.com
Organization: GE Research and Development Center



Perhaps I have a peculiar viewpoint on this as a second-generation
American (i.e. I have relatives who worked very hard to learn English
and become real Americans -- my grandfather retired as a Lieut.
Colonel from the US Army Chaplain Corps), but I don't see what all the
fuss is about:

(1) Universities need TAs and RAs to survive, since teaching classes
and performing sponsored research are most institutions' primary
sources of funds.

(2) In the '80s, many programs expanded substantially and needed more
graduate students than were available from US sources, given the need
for students with some competence.  Foreign students were admitted to
fill in the shortfall without dipping into the pool of less-qualified
US citizens.

(3) Supported foreign students were actively recruited by many
universities, since they constituted a substantial revenue source.
Unsupported foreign students faced a significantly more difficult time
finding research funds (non-US citizenship keeps you from working on
projects from the DOD and some DOE efforts).  Many ended up as TAs to
make ends meet, despite lack of English skills and understanding of
American undergraduates.  Without them, there simply would not have
been *any* teaching assistants for some classes (or universities might
have been forced to increase TA/RA salaries to attract more
applicants).  Sure, some of them were bad, but bad was better than
nothing.  Universities usually underestimate the problems graduate
students have as TAs; it's not surprising the difficulties faced by
foreign TAs and their students were severely underestimated.

(4) Not surprisingly, many foreign graduate students want to stay in
the US after their education, and are willing to take low wages in
exchange for an American job as a stepping stone to permanent
residency or citizenship.  Some employers take advantage of this.

(5) In the current glut of (BS to PhD) scientists and engineers, there
are US citizens willing to take low-paying jobs formerly the province
of non-residents.

(6) Things will not get better quickly, since the glut continues to
worsen.  The primary employment, for example, of PhDs in my field was
in defense-related jobs (industrial, national defense labs,
DOD/DOE-sponsored research).  With the end of the cold war, the supply
is increasing rapidly with an unfortunate drop in demand. The
recession has also forced similar drops in demand for scientists and
engineers.

(7) Employers (both industrial and academic) no longer find it
necessary in most cases to go through the hassles of getting
non-residents the right to work in the US.

(8) Foreign-born scientists and engineers have made substantial
contributions to this country; I count several at my lab as among the
best scientists I've ever met.  But in an era of declining demand, it is no
longer possible to "stretch" immigration rules to hire more
non-residents.  In fact, to do so is to risk criminal and civil
prosecution (in theory).  

Summary:

The great influx of foreign students into the US during the 80s was a
result of the unprecedented expansion of American graduate engineering
and science programs.  Since the 90s will probably see the dismantling
of much of America's research infrastructure, there will no longer be
the demand for graduate students, and a lessening of the tendency of
some employers to exploit non-resident professionals.  For those who
want to study and work in science and engineering, the 90s will not be
pleasant, and it will be much worse for foreigners than for US
citizens.

===============================================================================
Ken Meltsner                        | meltsner@crd.ge.com (518) 387-6391
GE Research and Development Center  | Fax:  (518) 387-7495
P.O. Box 8, Room K1/MB207	    | Nothing I say should be attributed
Schenectady, NY 12301               | to my employer, and probably vice-versa
=============== Materials Science Division, Gizmonic Institute=================
Newsgroups: sci.engr.chem