Phil Matier: USF Official Steps Down Over Chinese Student Enrollment
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - A University of San Francisco administrator has stepped down amid a campus-wide debate over aggressive recruitment of foreign students, many of whom are enrolling at the private institution with limited English language skills.
Dayle Smith stepped down as associate dean of undergraduate studies at the School of Management earlier this month and returned to full time faculty, according to USF spokeswoman Anne-Marie Devine. Business school Dean Mike Webber announced Smith's reassignment in a Sept. 8 letter to his staff.
There are 10,017 students enrolled at USF; 781 are Chinese nationals and the vast majority of those foreign students are enrolled in the business school and paying the full $36,000 yearly tuition.
Some students needed headsets during orientation for English-to-Mandarin translation since their English language skills were so poor.
Smith questioned how the struggling foreign students were impacting the overall educational experience for the entire USF student body, according to Webber in his letter to staffers.
KCBS, CBS 5 and SF Chronicle Insider Phil Matier:
USF Provost Jennifer Turpin confirmed that some new students were admitted despite their poor English skills, but had technically been admitted on a "conditional basis" and were being given extra help.
An undetermined number of students received headsets at a recent orientation because they were unable to comprehend the presentation in English.
Webber acknowledged the matter in his Sept. 8 letter, but cautioned that the "considerable increase" in foreign students "is not in and of itself a cause for concern."
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