U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano unveiled a new website and initiative aiming to help international students study in the U.S. Friday afternoon during a campus appearance at Union South.

The website, Study in the States, was described as a one-stop resource for international students as it combines several agencies necessary for students before studying in the U.S.

According to the website, Study in the States is the culmination of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of State.

“Study in the States is an innovative approach to coordinate information for international students considering study in the U.S., and it’s a resource for universities and colleges across the country to recruit the best and brightest international scholars,” Napolitano said.

Napolitano emphasized the importance of international students, stating that in the 2009-10 year alone international students contributed more than $20 billion to the U.S. economy.

She also said that in Wisconsin, nearly $217 million was contributed to the economy.

UW political science professor Barry Burden said linking international students to the economy was a strength of Napolitano’s speech.

“The economy is the number one issue for most Americans right now,” Burden said. “I thought that was a clever twist to show how the contributions of international students improve economic situations.”

Napolitano said international students are some of the brightest individuals in the world today, and those who choose to stay in the country increase the U.S.’s competitiveness in science and technology and create a wealth of jobs.

“We all benefit from international students,” she said. “And these students benefit from some of the finest academic institutions in the world.”

Following her brief lecture, Napolitano invited questions from the audience, during which she said the DHS is considering expanding the use of biometrics as identity markers.

This technology could improve the facilitation of students through customs, and Napolitano mentioned using fingerprints and eyes as markers. She did not hone in on any specific details.

Napolitano also said she does not understand why visas for students in some countries take months instead of days. In a previous press conference, she said these visas might take longer to obtain because the country must know with confidence the student is in the U.S. for legitimate purposes.

In the end, Napolitano hopes the Study in the States website gives the U.S. a competitive edge in the realm of education and ensures that the U.S. remains a place international students choose to study.

“Our international students are something we are very proud of because we know the students studying here had many options. We are committed to making sure the U.S. continues to be a destination of choice,” she said.

As the associate chair and director of graduate studies, Burden is well aware of the problems international students face when coming to the U.S, and he hopes the initiative will prove beneficial to students on campus.

Burden said one of the most common problems for graduate international students is a lack of eligibility for grants, resulting in a loss of funding for projects and research. He said he does not know if the new initiative will cover this.

Napolitano chose to announce the launch of Study in the States at the University of Wisconsin as the institution consistently ranks in the top 20 universities for the largest number of international students.

Home to more than 4,000 international students, UW hosts individuals from more than 130 countries, according to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment’s website.