021864_Policy Implications ABOUT THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES For more than 100 years, the National Academies have provided independent advice on issues of science, technology, and medicine, that underlies many questions national importance. The National Academies—comprising the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council—work together to enlist the nation’s topic scientists, engineers, health professionals, and other experts to study specific issues. The results of their deliberations have inspired some of America’s most signifi- cant and lasting efforts to improve the health, education, and welfare of the nation. To learn more about Academies activities, check our Web site at nationalacademies.org. 021864_Policy Implications COMMITTEE FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT INTERNATIONAL S&E GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS (1) How many international S&E graduate students are enrolled in remaining in the United States for at least 2 years after receiving their BIOGRAPHIC US academic institutions? In 2002, there were 125,000 full-time degrees increased from 49 percent for the 1989 cohort to 71 percent international S&E graduate students enrolled in US institutions. for the 2001 cohort. Stay rates were highest among engineering, INFORMATION Temporary visa holders comprised 49 percent of the graduate students computer-science, and physical-sciences graduates and varied dra- in engineering (58,300 students), 48 percent in computer sciences matically among graduate students from the top source countries: (26,800 students), 40 percent physical sciences (13,000 students), China (96 percent), India (86 percent), Taiwan (40 percent), and and 39 percent in mathematical sciences (7,000 students). South Korea (21 percent). Stay rates are not monitored for postdoc- toral scholars, but a 2004 survey indicates that a majority wish to (2) Are enrollments of international graduate students increasing or remain in the US after their training is completed. PHILLIP A. GRIFFITHS (Chair), Professor of Mathematics, PAULA STEPHAN, Professor, Department of Economics, decreasing? The total number of S&E graduate students in US insti- School of Mathematics, Institute of Advanced Study Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, tutions has grown consistently over the last several decades. The (8) How are full-time international graduate students and postdoc- Georgia State University share of international graduate students has risen from 23.4 percent toral scholars supported financially? Overall, graduate students are in 1982 to 34.5 percent (125,000 of 325,000 total) in 2002. First- receiving more financial support than they are paying in tuition. In WILLIAM G. AGNEW, Director of Programs and Plans time enrollment of temporary residents declined 6 percent (by 2,100 2000, the average support (stipend, tuition remission, health cover- (retired), General Motors MICHAEL TEITELBAUM, Program Director, Alfred P. students to 32,000) in 2002. Preliminary figures indicate first-time age, fees) provided per graduate student across all fields was Sloan Foundation enrollments may decline through 2005. $37,000. Multiplying by the number of graduate students enrolled JOHN A. ARMSTRONG, Vice President for Science and in 2000 (341,000) yields a total investment of about $13 billion. Technology (retired), IBM Corporation MARVALEE WAKE, Professor, Department of Integrative (3) Are enrollments of US graduate students increasing or decreasing? This investment is spread across federal, state, university, and private The 20-year trend for US citizens and permanent residents shows less sectors, and depends on citizenship status. For the 2000 cohort, Biology, University of California, Berkeley growth and more years of decline than does the trend for temporary 48.9 percent of international students (3800 students) were support- RICHARD B. FREEMAN, Herbert Ascherman Chair in visa holders. Enrollment of US students increased more slowly during ed on federal research assistantships, and about 17 percent (1300 Economics, Harvard University; and Director, Labor the 1980s and declined from 1994-2000, and in 2002 was 6 percent students) each for state-supported teaching assistantships, federal fel- Studies Program, National Bureau of Economic Research below the peak year of 1993 (when, after the Tiananmen Square lowships or traineeships, and other forms of support (self-support, uprising, a number of Chinese students became US permanent resi- private fellowship, industry, foreign government). There are no spe- dents). Even so, in 2002, US student S&E graduate enrollment cific numbers on funding for international postdoctoral scholars. In ALICE P. GAST, Robert T. Haslam Professor, increased by 15,500 students, the second largest numerical gain in total, postdoctoral scholars are primarily supported by federal Department of Chemical Engineering, and Vice President the last 20 years. The proportion of women and minority students research grants (in 2002, 59.2 percent, or 22,670 scholars). Further, for Research and Associate Provost, Massachusetts enrolled in S&E graduate programs has grown steadily over the past 27.7 percent (10,620) were supported by non-federal sources and 13 Institute of Technology decade; the mid-1990s decline in US citizen graduate enrollment is percent (5030) by federal traineeships or fellowships. attributable to reduced white male enrollment. (9) What are the primary sending countries for S&E graduate students JOEL MOSES, Institute Professor, Professor of Computer (4) How many graduate degrees are awarded each year to interna- and postdoctoral scholars? Since the 1960s, India, Taiwan, South Science and Engineering, and Professor of Engineering tional students? The number and proportion of S&E PhDs awarded to Korea, and China have been the primary sending countries, as meas- Systems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology temporary residents has been increasing steadily since 1966, when ured by the total number of US S&E PhDs awarded. In 1966, Indian FOR MORE INFORMATION 1627 PhDs were awarded to temporary residents, 14.3 percent of the students earned 3 percent (338) of US S&E PhDs, in 2003 3.2 per- total. In 2003, 8276 (32.9 percent) S&E PhDs were awarded to tem- cent (801). In 1966, Chinese Students earned 0.7 percent (84) of US NORMAN NEUREITER, Director, Center for Science, porary residents. In 2002, temporary residents received 19.5 percent S&E PhDs, in 2003 10.2 percent (2559). South Korea: 1966, 0.6 per- Technology and Security Policy, American Association This report was developed under the aegis of the National (1400) of all PhDs awarded in the social sciences, 18.0 percent cent (73), 2003, 3.9 percent (972); and Taiwan: 1966 1.5 percent for the Advancement of Science Academies Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public (1480) in the life sciences, 35.4 percent (2020) in the physical sci- (168), 2003, 1.9 percent (478). Policy (COSEPUP) and the Board on Higher Education and ences, and 58.7 percent (3000) in engineering. (10) What visas are used by international graduate students and post- PREM PAUL, Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of Workforce (BHEW). BHEW monitors critical national (5) How many international postdoctoral appointees are there at US doctoral scholars? Graduate students usually use either an F or J visa Graduate Studies, University of Nebraska, Lincoln issues in the education and training of, and labor market educational institutions? The numbers of postdoctoral scholars with to study in the US. To apply for a US visa they must supply proof of for, the nation’s science and engineering workforce. temporary-residence visas has risen from 6,472 in 1983 to 21,601 in acceptance at a US institution and also must prove that they do not SAMUEL H. PRESTON, Frederick J. Warren Professor of Ronald Ehrenberg, Irving M. Ives Professor of Industrial 2002; the number of US citizens and permanent residents in post- intend to immigrate. As of 2003, all student and exchange visitors Demography, University of Pennsylvania and Labor Relations and Economics at Cornell University doctoral positions rose more slowly, from 10,432 in 1983 to 16,715 are monitored by SEVIS and verification of acceptance is now possi- in 2002. The growth in postdoctoral positions was largest in the life ble electronically. Postdoctoral scholars use a variety of visas to train is the chair of BHEW. COSEPUP is the only joint com- sciences, where total numbers increased from 9,494 in 1983 to in the US. The majority enter using a J visa, and are entered into the ELSA REICHMANIS, Director, Bell Laboratories Materials mittee of the three honorific academies—The National 26,262 in 2002, 68.5 percent of the total postdoctoral population. SEVIS database. A substantial proportion enter on H-1b visas; sev- Research Department, Lucent Technologies Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, eral other visa classes are also utilized including O, TN, EA, F, B, G, and Institute of Medicine. Its overall charge is to address (6) What proportion of international postdoctoral scholars in the WB, A, L, and PR. ROBERT C. RICHARDSON, Vice Provost for cross-cutting issues in science and technology policy that United States have a US PhD? Of the 60 percent of academic post- doctoral scholars who hold temporary visas, about four-fifths have (11) What proportion of the US S&E workforce is foreign-born? Research and Floyd Newman Professor of Physics, affect the health of the national research enterprise. non-US doctorates. This means that half of all US academic post- Foreign-born scientists and engineers were 22.7 percent of the US Cornell University Maxine Singer, president emerita of the Carnegie Institute doctoral scholars have non-US PhDs. Most were awarded in China S&E labor force in 2000, an increase from 12.7 percent in 1980. of Washington, is the chair of COSEPUP. (25 percent), followed by India (11 percent), Germany (7 percent), Representation of foreign-born scientists and engineers in US S&E LEWIS SIEGEL, Vice Provost for Graduate Education, South Korea (5 percent), Canada (5 percent), Japan (5 percent), the occupations varies by field and degree level.