Minority enrollment at Kansas University increased this fall, but the number of international students decreased.

There are 1,677 international students at KU this fall, 43  or 2.5 percent  fewer than fall 2001.

Diana Carlin, dean of international programs, attributed the decrease to global turmoil and increased visa restrictions imposed after 9-11 terrorist attacks.

She said the decrease could have been bigger. She predicted earlier this semester the totals could be as many as 100 students fewer than last year.

Carlin said 17 KU students  all from the Middle East  returned home this summer and didn’t complete visa paperwork in time to return for classes this fall. The federal government increased the time required to process paperwork after last year’s attacks.

Carlin said she expected those students to return in the spring.

KU has 81 Saudi Arabian students this fall, down 18 from last year. It’s still the fifth-largest group of international students at the university.

In addition to increased paperwork, Carlin said, countries such as Australia have stepped up college recruiting efforts. But she said she expected the effects of the attacks to be limited.