International Recruiting for Colleges and Universities–A Double Standard?

There’s an interesting conversation taking place about the role of agents in recruiting international students.

In the US, it is against the law for colleges and universities to pay commissions or finders fees to consultants or sales reps to “steer” applicants toward particular colleges or universities.

It is not illegal, however, to pay the same sorts of commissions and fees to companies abroad that do just that.  In fact, there is an organization set up to promote the practice and to regulate it:  the American International Recruitment Council,or AIRC.

Have a look at the article in today’s Inside Higher Ed, as well as the comments. Interesting stuff.

Mark Montgomery
Independent College Adviser to Domestic and Foreign Students