When you compare The University of Alabama to similar universities in the south, like The University of Georgia and The University of Tennessee, you will see that we have a remarkably high percentage of out-of-state students enrolled. However, the percentage of internationally born students is only on par with other similar schools, and that shows a huge opportunity that the University is missing out on.

International students have a few extra obstacles to surpass when they come to the University. Although the relatively generous out-of-state academic scholarships are available to them as well, complications and costs associated with things like health insurance, student visa renewal fees, international cell phones, and more can drive the cost of attendance too high even for students on a full tuition scholarship. The University can lead the way in international attendance by offering better, more encompassing scholarships to qualified international students that will cover these additional costs.

If the purpose of our state’s flagship university is to truly improve the condition of the state of Alabama, then it is imperative that we make an effort to make it even easier for international students to successfully enroll. Many students who come here from other countries will end up staying here, and with their residence comes cultural, economic and social contributions that will surely improve the place we live in. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the influx of both international and out-of-state students to our school is one of the best things happening to our university right now, as their presence will only enrich our education and our state’s economic well-being well after graduation.

It’s no secret that, historically, Alabama has suffered from both social and economic stagnation, earning us many of the negative stereotypes that we continue to fight against to this day. We have painful events in our history like the “The Stand in the Schoolhouse Door,” where George Wallace made Alabama the unofficial capital of Southern resentment and racism. Another embarrassment happened in November 2012 (that’s not a typo), when voters defeated an amendment to the state constitution that would have removed the ineffectual language in the state constitution that references school segregation.

When outside perspectives come into our state, Alabamians will be exposed to other worldviews and become more worldly themselves. Additionally, people who come here and meet Alabamians will realize that the stereotypes are untrue and that Alabamians can be some of the best people they’ll ever meet.

Many international students that come to our university will, upon graduation, become some of the most skilled immigrants in our state’s workforce, which will enormously benefit our economy. This is one of the best ways to raise our state’s standard of living and reduce poverty, which has been among the highest in the country since the Civil War. Despite popular opinion, immigration to the United States is not as high as it historically has been, and American companies are desperately searching for high skilled immigrants to help grow their companies in our rapidly improving national economy. There’s no better way for Alabama to take advantage of this than by making its flagship university a welcome and popular destination for aspiring international students.

Kyle Simpson is a sophomore majoring in biology. His column runs biweekly.