Improving the international student experience through data-informed decision-making at The University of Texas Austin

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is a public research state institution with 53,000 students and 19 colleges and schools. It is known for its diverse student population, with more than 8,600 international students and scholars. UT Austin is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for its international students and has been utilizing the International Student Barometer (ISB) to assess and improve their experience.

We speak to Dr. Sonia Feigenbaum, senior vice provost for global engagement and chief international officer, exploring the impact of the ISB at UT Austin and shining a spotlight on the initiatives undertaken to enhance the international student experience.

Utilizing the International Student Barometer

Dr. Feigenbaum has held the position of Senior Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Chief International Officer at UT Austin since 2019 and has previous experience working with the ISB at other institutions. Recognizing the importance of understanding and addressing the needs of international students, she brought the ISB to UT Austin.

“The ISB offers a holistic view of the international student experience, from application to graduation. It enables UT Austin to make data-driven decisions to sustain positive aspects and improve areas that need attention. Being intentional and soliciting feedback is critical in our efforts to support international students as an integral part of the Longhorn community.”

Impact and successes

The ISB has made several positive impacts at UT Austin. One success story is an understanding of the importance of alumni relationships. The ISB results indicated that alumni engagement heavily influences prospective students' decision to apply to UT Austin. Consequently, UT Austin has been reconnecting with alumni worldwide, inviting them to campus events, and encouraging them to serve as mentors to current and graduating international students.

Notably, the Net Promoter Score at UT Austin surpasses the U.S. benchmark (53 vs 39), reflecting the university's efforts to provide exceptional support to international students. The overall satisfaction for arrival has also improved over time, increasing by 9 percent between 2022 and 2023; in fact, 17 out of the 22 aspects surveyed under the ‘arrival’ category saw improvements during the period. However, UT Austin acknowledges that there is further room for improvement in the arrival experience, and it will be a focus area in the coming years.

Cascading actionable findings

UT Austin ensures that the ISB findings are cascaded and translated into results across the campus. Stakeholders from various units and departments are invited to review the results and identify areas for improvement. For example, if there are concerns regarding application response times, the Office of Admissions can address these issues based on the insights provided by the ISB. UT Austin also celebrates achievements and works collaboratively to enhance international students' experiences. Also of particular value to Dr. Feigenbaum is the cross-functionality that the ISB facilitates.

“The ISB gives leaders across campus the opportunity to learn and expand our support of international students. It has fostered cross-unit collaboration, which is important in an institution as large as ours and has helped us develop strong programs and services.”

Putting this into context, future career impact is the second-most important factor for students choosing to go to UT Austin, eclipsed only by institution reputation for the first time in the 2023 Wave 2 results. Recognizing this, the International Student and Scholar Services unit has partnered with various campus career services to offer programs and resources that support international students in understanding the U.S. job market.

This approach to the all-important aspect of employability is certainly borne out in UT Austin’s ISB survey results. Students feel significantly more prepared for their career goals than the U.S. benchmark (92 percent vs 85 percent), and of notable significance is the increase from 81 percent since 2022. Additionally, in the area of career support satisfaction, all nine aspects outperform the U.S. benchmarks.

Scrutinizing data and challenges

UT Austin closely analyses the international student experience, focusing on identifying salient points and addressing them collaboratively. The ISB, informs institutions on the differences between undergraduate and graduate students, how they experience the university, and how it differs from school to school. By using the data to reflect, understand, and establish which stakeholders to consult in decision making, the University can continuously improve in a way that is reflected positively by the student population.

Selection of The University of Texas at Austin’s ISB headline results*

• Overall satisfaction: 93 percent vs U.S. benchmark of 91 percent
• Value for money: 92 percent vs U.S. benchmark of 82 percent
• Well-being concerns: 80 percent “not at all/slightly” vs U.S. benchmark of 75 percent
• Prepared for career goals: 92 percent vs U.S. benchmark of 85 percent

*Data source: ISB 2023 Wave 2