Research Uncovers the Importance of International Students to Michigan STEM Workforce
Global Detroit, a regional economic development organization in Michigan, has been working on a new report examining the importance of the state’s STEM workforce and the critical role international students play in meeting growing STEM demand. Drawing on both internal sources and public datasets—including the OPT Observatory—they released their report, Strategic Talent Retention at Michigan’s Economic Crossroads.
Key highlights from the report include:
International student graduates working on OPT filled 97,772 positions in Michigan over the decade from 2013-2022.
The vast majority of OPT workers in Michigan (88.3%) were international students whose degrees were in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). These 86,341 STEM OPT workers in Michigan were eligible to utilize the OPT “STEM extension,” enabling them extend their employment authorization from one year to three years total.
International Students Remade a College. What’s Left When They’re Gone?
It’s never easy to share the tougher stories in our weekly newsletters, but sometimes it’s necessary. This New York Times piece highlights the very real impact current administration policies are having on higher education. At Lewis University, their international student population has dropped from more than 1,300 to 900—and could fall below 500 this fall.
One particularly concerning point raised in the article is the reference to the “15% policy.” After visa appointments reopened following the pause in 2025, an unwritten directive emerged instructing consulates to prioritize processing for schools with international student populations below 15%. It appears that this unwritten policy remains in effect.
Until Mr. Trump returned to power, universities historically saw international students as boons to their campuses and communities. Many paid full tuition, easing budget strains, and enriched campus cultures as they earned degrees in fields propelling academic research. Roughly 30 years ago, the United States had about 344,000 international students. Except for a period around the pandemic, it has had more than 1 million since the 2015-16 academic year, according to the Institute of International Education, though the explosive growth softened during Mr. Trump’s first term.
Your America in 250 Words: Rika Mardiana
It’s amazing how much meaning can be packed into just 250 words. Ms. Mardiana captured exactly what all of us at Shorelight—and at universities across the country hope for. We want every student who dreams of studying in the United States not only to achieve that dream, but also to experience everything this country has to offer during their time here.
Her short essay highlights the power and lasting impact of international education, both while students are in the U.S. and long after they return home.
Studying in the U.S. is not just shaping me as a scholar, but as a global citizen—someone who continues to grow academically while building meaningful human connections across cultures.