As our team begins to prepare for the always-epic NAFSA Conference in Denver later this year, we're especially excited about co-presenting two highly-anticipated general sessions! Save the dates:

Measuring Return on Investment
in International Recruitment:
A Working Model
Tuesday, 31 May at 2:30p

The Groningen Declaration:
Digitizing Data to Empower Students,
Improve Integrity, and Enhance Efficiency
Wednesday, 1 June at 1:15p

(We'll discuss the dynamic Groningen Declaration in an upcoming issue; in the meantime, take a look at their latest newsletter.)

For now, let's talk ROI! Traditionally, ROI metrics have been designed for internal institutional conversations. With a marketing budget of $75,000, how do we enroll 25 new undergraduate students next semester? or We'd like to diversify our international student population. One approach is to offer scholarships to students from countries currently not represented on campus...

The point is that ROI dialogues are rarely shared with the general public -- let alone prospective international students and their parents. But in this age of online transparency, that approach may be changing.

The State University of New York at Plattsburgh produces one of USjournal's favorite industry-related tech tool of all time: An International Student Scholarship and Cost Calculator. Go ahead: Try it!

You'll notice that estimated scholarships and tuition costs vary among different countries and academic achievement -- based on institutional priorities. Plattsburgh's calculator brilliantly but subtly "exposes" those priorities to anyone interested.

Brief History: Plattsburgh's calculator mimics the Net Price Calculator concept, mandated by the U.S. Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 for each and every postsecondary institution in the U.S. that participates in popular federal student aid programs for domestic students.

We'll continue to explore ways in which campuses use ROI metrics in creative ways. Join the conversation! Contact cheryl@USjournal.com.

As part of USjournal's Strategic Partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, we invite you to explore a number of international student recruitment fairs and networking opportunities this year:

• 7 March in Sandton, South Africa
• 10 March in Accra, Ghana
• 12 March in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
• 18 April in Prague, Czech Republic
• 20 April in Warsaw, Poland
• 22 April in Budapest, Hungary
• 3 May in Panama City, Panama
• 4 May in San Pedro Sula, Honduras
• 5 May in Guatemala City, Guatemala

For details, contact Gabriela.Zelaya@trade.gov, Global Education Team Leader at the U.S. Commercial Service within the U.S. Department of Commerce.