According to statistics from the Graduate School, domestic applications increased from 4,475 to 4,799, while international applications decreased from 8,074 to 5,369.

Pell said one force behind the decrease in international applications is "the political climate" of today.

"Increasing federal regulations have caused delays in securing student visas," she said.

Carol Colbeck, associate professor of education and director of the Center for the Study of Higher Education, said she knows international students who have been denied visas because of tightening security regulations that have been imposed after Sept. 11, 2001.

"This has had a definite impact on graduate education," she said.

Jim Lynch, director of International Students and Scholars, said American universities face competition from other countries, such as Australia, which do not impose these restrictions.

However, Pell said the greatest factors contributing to the decrease are the Education Testing Service's suspension of computer-based exams in China, Korea and Taiwan because of "irregularities," which Pell said could indicate cheating.

The suspension of all Graduate Record Examination testing took place in China last spring because of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Last year, the number of international graduate student applications increased by 3 percent, indicating that testing problems within the last year have had a greater impact on the current decrease than post-Sept. 11 security regulations.

Kasey Eisenhour (graduate-counseling) said although she has not noticed a decrease in the number of international students in her classes compared to past years, she has not seen an increase.

Pell said if testing problems do not continue into next year, she predicts the number of international applications will increase once again.

"Those issues are temporary and will be reversed," she said.

Lynch offered a different prediction, based on the regulations imposed upon international students who wish to obtain visas.

"It doesn't appear to me that we're going to make any changes to make things easier [for international students]. Restrictions will [likely] continue," he said.

Pell said other universities throughout the nation are experiencing decreasing numbers in international applications, and are reporting this trend to the government.

"The presidents of major educational organizations, such as the AAU (Association of American Universities), are making it very well-known to the State Department," she said.

Pell said international students are essential to the "fabric and environment" of the university.