Institutions are responding to the visa delays, OPT uncertainty and SEVIS disruptions that disrupted international student flows in 2025 by redesigning admissions, support and recruitment operations for 2026. Colleges reported appointment backlogs and compliance friction that forced students to defer or transfer; administrators told sector outlets they plan process changes and enhanced local partnerships to stabilise enrolment pipelines. At the same time, a Student Digital Experience Survey shows ‘digital friction’—fragmented online systems, poor navigation, and slow access to routine information—degrades student belonging and harms retention. The survey of more than 1,000 U.S. students finds that disjointed digital services increase stress and reduce time available for learning and community building. Institutions told sector leaders they will invest in integrated digital infrastructure, clearer workflows for international applicants, and targeted student supports to reduce churn. The twin pressures of global mobility disruption and campus IT fragmentation are forcing many colleges to prioritise operational fixes that were previously low on investment lists.