“Last fall the whole world was delivered a shock, and we had to rethink a lot of things,” said Dean of Enrollment Management Brian McCauley. “Our endowment value being greatly reduced, we had to find financial cuts… and think creatively about how to do that across the board.”

Now McCauley and his staff believe they’ve found a way to alleviate some of Principia’s budget woes: a reallocation of financial aid resources that would provide international students from third world countries with packages more in line with the ones most domestic students currently receive. Currently, students from third world countries receive substantial financial aid because their families are less likely to be able to finance their education than the families of students from first world countries.

“Third world students get all grants” said McCauley. “The reality is that many of these students then stay in the United States [after graduation]. They’re well prepared [by their education], and they’re making the same paychecks, so why wouldn’t it be reasonable to have international students have the same loans as domestic students?” Loan forgiveness for students who return home to countries where work is scarce, he added, could be decided on a case-by-case basis. “If you go back to your third world countries, nobody is going to penalize you for that. We don’t have exact details yet, but it should be a very fair forgiveness program.”

McCauley acknowledged that it has already been a year of financial burden for Principia’s international student body. “Because of tax changes and budgeting here at the college,” he said, “there are fewer work hours available over the summer and potentially overall.” In addition, a correction made by the accounting department this fall to a long-misfiled income tax has resulted in an overnight increase of some 14% to each international student’s taxes.

With the proposal for new loans coming just a few weeks before the end of the academic year and, until the meeting two weeks ago, an unexplained delay in the arrival of their financial aid packages for next year, several international students are reporting serious concerns about the potential long term effects of such loans.

“I can understand that the administration is looking at the big picture, considering the financial situation Principia is in – but they have to have all their facts straight,” said Darline Ambugo, a sophomore Business and Mass Communication major from Kenya. “They’re saying that from what they know, international students do well once they graduate. But all of the information that they reported back to us is just from Bente [Morse] and not from any other sources, and most people don’t give her accurate feedback [after graduation]. I know many international students who graduated last year and still don’t have jobs at all. Their Optional Practical Training [OPT] visas expire and they’re not entering graduate school, which means they either have to go back home or stay here illegally. And no one will contact you if they are here illegally. Once people graduate they are just out there on their own.”

Benjamin Chernivsky / photo

Andres De Paz Nicol (SO)

Also, the same dismal economy making jobs difficult to come by for domestic students may, according to some international students currently mid-job hunt, mean even slimmer pickings for them. “I understand that it’s essential right now, with the way things are in the economy, for [the administration] to find something that works,” said junior Business and Economics major Emily Kabura, also from Kenya. “But as an international student, my OPT dictates that I have only a year to find work after I graduate. Looking at this optimistically, let’s say I do find a company that’s interested [in hiring me]. They don’t want someone who’s going to live here for a year. For them, sponsoring you as both an employee and a citizen applying for a more permanent visa is very difficult. So it’s very hard to get a good job. I interview even just for internships, and it’s always a question: are you a citizen? Will you expect the company to sponsor you?”

Returning home to work may not yield better results, Kabura said. “If I were to go home, and if I were to get a job, which is pretty optimistic in the first place, I would be able to contribute maybe $20 monthly to pay off the loans [based on entry level salaries in Kenya]… $20 a month for a $20,000 loan will take a very long time to pay off. I just don’t see how that is functional. And most people do go back home, or at least that’s the trend right now. And with the loan forgiveness option, I know Principia is very understanding and I know that they would make a payment plan, but just how many loan forgiveness plans will they do?”

Others are concerned about how the introduction of the loans may affect the diversity of the student body. “I really see it from the administration’s perspective, and I understand, because I love Prin. But honestly, if I was still in Uruguay and facing $20,000 in loans, there’s no way I would have come to Principia,” reported junior Esteban Xifre Villar. “It’s too bad, because I would hate for this to mean less international students [on campus].”

Originally, said McCauley, the administration had planned to begin the loan program as early as next fall, but later decided a delay would be wise. “The point that was brought up [by students] was that, because of the lateness in the year, it’s too late in the process for the international students to transfer, so because of that we decided to wait until next year. It’s highly likely we will do it then.” McCauley said dialogue will continue into fall quarter.

“I really appreciate that they changed their mind [regarding the start date for loans],” said Xifre. “There’s just been a lot [of financial adjustments] in a really short of amount of time. As it is, it’s already tough to make regular payments. Situations are different for every individual, but right now, it’s just hard.”

Yet Xifre also echoed the sentiments of every other international student who spoke with the Pilot when he stressed his gratitude for the generosity and welcome Principia has already extended and his hope that a solution can be found that will meet all parties’ needs. “Principia is unique, and it is very generous,” he said. “I think I understand what [the administration] is after, which is what’s equal for everyone, and I support that. I just hope we can find a way that is not hurting anyone and that is benefiting Principia.”

“It might be possible that after you graduate and get a job, then Principia could contact you and figure out what is logical and what could be paid back,” Xifre suggested. “Right now, you don’t know about the economy, your job, and so many variables at this point. I think we’ll find a solution that’s happy and everyone can agree upon.” Kabura shared similar optimism: “I love Prin. I love being here. I know that times are hard, and when times get hard you just can’t do things the simple way; you have to bend with the times and go with what will work. I’m so grateful and so very happy to be here, so I know that there’s a solution. We have it, we just need to realize it.”

As the process continues, McCauley said the administration is approaching the situation with a broader perspective. “We’re very aware that for the first time, we are really examining in-depth the complete cost of what Principia pays for an international student, and what international students pay for [Principia],” he said. “There are a lot of hidden costs: clothes, bedding, rooms, lights, transportation to and from their home country, even dental work occasionally. There’s a number of things when you look at the total cost, and then the tax law changed, so we’re really trying to get a handle on this.” He said he hopes the college will “continue to have a highly diverse campus. Our intention [with the loan program] is not to lose any students over it. We love our international students, just as we love our domestic students.” And, he added, “Our doors are open to anybody who wants to talk.”

Benjamin Chernivsky / photo

Moses Karanja (FR)