A US university has asked at least 25 Indian students enrolled in a graduate course to leave because of their inability to write computer programmes, which is a necessary qualification.
The university allowed them to complete their first semester. They now have the option to enrol in some other US university, as some of them are trying, or to return home
Western Kentucky University used international recruiters to enrol these students, at a commission of $2,000 for each admission, and had not directly screened them.
James Gary, chairman of Western Kentucky’s computer science programme, told The New York Times “almost 40” students did not meet the requirements of their admission.
They were offered remedial help by the university but it didn’t work out well for all. At least 25 of nearly 60 students enrolled will have to leave.
“If they come out of here without the ability to write programs, that’s embarrassing to my department,” Gary has said as the reason for asking them to leave.
According to The Times, the university began recruiting aggressively using a recruiter “to lift enrolment and revenue in the face of deep state budget cuts”.
But when staff members realised last fall that some students were not fulfilling basic admission needs, the university’s senate endorsed a resolution expressing concerns at the new system.
