Temple University has received the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Open Doors Seal of Excellence for providing insights on international students. Open Doors is an information resource on international students and scholars studying or teaching in the United States and U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit. 

“Open Doors benefits from the consistent, robust responses we receive each year from colleges and universities around the country,” said Mirka Martel, head of research, evaluation and learning at IIE. 

Temple was recognized for achieving a milestone as one of 642 U.S. institutions that have been reporting to Open Doors since the annual census began in 1949. 

“This Seal of Excellence from Open Doors recognizes the importance Temple has placed on international student mobility since 1949, long before many other universities began to do so,” said Vice Provost of Global Engagement Emilia Zankina. 

Assistant Vice President of Global Engagement Martyn J. Miller, whose portfolio includes International Student and Scholar Services, which submits the data, emphasized the critical role that data collection plays in his field.  

“These data tell the story of international student contributions to the nation’s economy, to its educational system, and to its development and growth as a whole,” he said.  

Miller praised Joan McGinley, director of immigration services, who has been submitting the data for Temple for more than 30 years, beginning when data had to be counted by hand.  

 “Joan has a significant role in ensuring that Temple’s international students and scholars play a part in our national story of international student mobility and contributions to the U.S. economy,” he said. 

 McGinley pointed out that “global engagement has been part of the Temple family for much longer than 75 years, beginning with the international connection established by our founder, Russell Conwell, whose inspiration for ‘Acres of Diamonds’ came to him during a trip to Iraq in 1870.”  

  Providing current context, Zankina said, “We are thankful for and count on Open Doors data, which has long been crucial for Temple and for all globally focused institutions. The Open Doors report has helped guide our strategies throughout the years and helped us grow our overall international student body from 35 students in 1949 to 2,246 students in this year’s report. 

“Indicative of this overall pattern of growth, this fall, the number of incoming international students at Temple was up more than 60% over the last two years. The students hailed from 124 countries and territories,” she added.