By J. MICHAEL ADAMS

This article appeared in the Opinion section of The Record, November 28, 2004.

They are no longer dreaming of America. We should be very worried.

The Institute of International Education reported on November 10 that the number of international students studying in the United States declined last year by 2.4 percent, the first decline since 1971-72. The Council of Graduate Schools announced a week earlier that the number of international graduate students enrolling for the first time this year at American universities decreased 6 percent -- the third straight decline after a decade of steady growth.

Yet America still hosts nearly 600,000 international students -- far more than any other country -- and our higher education system remains the envy of the world, with the greatest collection of faculty, facilities and resources.

So why should we be worried?

The drop in international students is symptomatic of the widespread perception that America no longer lays out the welcome mat. That instead we offer a slumping economy, plenty of bureaucratic regulations and a rising tide of arrogance and intolerance.

Numerous surveys show a growing lack of confidence and even hostility toward our nation. The Pew Research Center, for example, reported this year that anti-American views were not only pervasive in the Muslim world but also rising in Europe. We're losing friends at an alarming rate and more people are boycotting American products, says Business for Diplomatic Action.

These negative attitudes are contributing to the loss of international students. As one group of exchange students remarked, 'The United States is no longer cool." So they now turn toward Britain, Canada and Australia, where they sense a friendlier environment and where it's easier to apply and less expensive to live and study.

What does this mean for us? There is a heavy price tag. It is estimated that these students contribute $13 billion annually to our economy. And, since many live and work here after graduation, that impact is compounded. Further, international students are especially active in science and engineering, and their research contributions bolster scientific progress and U.S. competitiveness.

Even more important, international students are integral to the education process. We need to learn from them. We need to hear their voices in our classrooms. In a world connected by technology, economic links and global challenges, it is vital that American students understand and learn to work alongside those from different cultures. Few American students study abroad, so we must bring the world to our classrooms. International students do exactly this.

Perhaps above all, we need to teach international students. We need to teach them about our political and economic systems, and help them understand our point of view. These students will become influential leaders worldwide. How different will they be if they've had a positive experience in America?

What can we do? Colleges and universities must enhance recruitment efforts overseas. Strong support services must be provided before and after foreign students enroll. And cross-cultural dialogues and interactions must be encouraged between American and international students.

On a recent trip to Egypt, one parent told me her son studied four years in America and came home without one friend. Possibly her son was not interested in making friends, but more likely he did not have many opportunities to form friendships. That cannot happen.

We must be mindful of security but visa policies must be rational. There have been improvements but problems continue. For example, those seeking student visas must be interviewed in person by a U.S. consular official. So they often wait weeks and travel great distances for a three-minute interview. Also, many students, once here, are afraid to travel to conferences or visit their families for fear of not being readmitted. Would you accept that deal?

Even if we can streamline visa procedures, we still have the question of America's credibility and reputation overseas. To improve our image and strengthen relationships abroad, we must all become ambassadors of goodwill. We must be global citizens who understand the connections between cultures and who extend their circle of consideration outside our borders.

After a divisive election, we can agree that making more friends and creating more allies will advance our national interests. So we must demand that our business leaders act responsibly overseas, and we must hold our government accountable when it fails to honor international commitments or to advance the cause of justice abroad.

In acting apart from the international community and in disregarding the voices of others, we risk creating what we have been trying to prevent: a lost generation that sees America not as a beacon of hope but as a place to avoid.

Education is our greatest weapon. As H. G. Wells wrote, "Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe."

We must not lose this generation of students.