| The total number of doctoral degrees earned in the United States declined from 1996 through 2002. This decline in the number of doctoral degrees earned among minorities was not consistent across racial and ethnic boundaries. The Asian international student doctoral population behaved quite differently from other minority groupings during this time period of 1996 through 2002 with respect to the amount of education-related debt accrued, broad field of study concentration changes and location of postdoctoral employment secured upon graduation. This study applies a multivariate regression analysis in study of the relationship between the dependent variable of the number of doctoral degrees attained by Asian international students in the United States, with respect to the four major Asian countries of origin for which data is available (China, Korea, India and Taiwan), and the independent variables of the amount of education-related debt accrued, broad field of study concentration changes and location of postdoctoral employment secured upon graduation during the period of 1996 through 2002. In the same period, 1996--2002 foreign student enrollment in American universities decreased causing concern among American university administrators. The administrative concerns ranged from those related to recruitment to financial to risk of educational reputation and integrity. It is also observed that Asian doctoral students demonstrate difficulty in assimilating to U.S. culture and experience acculturative stress at a significantly higher magnitude than and in contrast to other minority population segments of the doctoral student population. It is unknown if the Asian doctoral international students assimilation and acculturation issues are related to the problem but are worthy of further inquiry. |
