Buffalo State Receives Institution of the Year Award for International Recruitment
The American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) named Buffalo State College its 2019 Institution of the Year in December.
This award recognizes an institution that stands out among AIRC members for its innovation, commitment to the organization’s mission, and excellence in the field of international student recruitment.
“I’m really pleased that Buffalo State, with a small international recruitment unit, was recognized for its role in global engagement,” said Robert Summers, the college’s assistant provost for global engagement.
In 2013, soon after Summers assumed his current role in the Center for Global Engagement, he became more involved with AIRC, a nonprofit member organization based in Bethesda, Maryland.
“I started going to the AIRC meetings and reading their white papers and issue briefs,” Summers said. “It really helped me to structure our internal recruitment plans, and it allowed me to follow the industry’s best practices while working with partners located all over the world. I also have a dedicated team who helped make this award a reality.”
The Center for Global Engagement leads the college’s involvement in the international arena. Along with establishing study-abroad programs for Buffalo State students and supporting international students, the center works with partner institutions in Asia, Europe, Australia, and South America to recruit students.
About 200 international students are currently enrolled at Buffalo State. The majority come through the student visa process.
AIRC recognized that Buffalo State is able to issue certificates for visa eligibility within 24 hours, and the uniqueness of our Center for China Studies as a catalyst for recruitment, Summers said.
“These students are applying to multiple institutions,” Summers said. “We want to be the first one to give the students this piece of paper and make them feel welcome on our campus from the very beginning. My staff and I try to give excellent customer service both on and off campus.”
About AIRC
A nonprofit membership association recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission as a standards development organization (SDO), AIRC was founded in 2008 by senior U.S. education leaders. Its purpose is to safeguard the interests of both international students and enrolling institutions through the promotion of ethical standards-based international recruitment strategies. It’s the only professional education membership association focused solely on issues relating to international student recruitment.
