POCATELLO — There have been conflicting reports as to whether or not Idaho State University will lose its Saudi and Kuwaiti students in the wake of reports of harassment and discrimination.

CNN Money reported in February that the Saudi Arabian government was considering cutting back the number of scholarships to U.S. universities due to a lack of funds from low oil prices. It was also reported that they might only give scholarships to the top 100 schools in the U.S. — a list that doesn’t include ISU.

However, none of that was confirmed.

Last week the Gulf News, a English language publication in Dubai that covers the Arabian Peninsula, reported that both the Saudi and Kuwaiti governments would suspend their programs at ISU due to the reports of discrimination.

On Monday, Mansour Jaragh, the director of the Kuwait Cultural Offices in Los Angeles, said there has been a block on ISU — as well as other universities across the US — since May 2015. He said the block was temporary and was meant to encourage Kuwaiti students to attend other U.S. universities.

Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad said he spoke with officials from the Saudi Arabian embassy last week. And on Monday he spoke with officials from both the Saudi and Kuwaiti governments.

According to Blad, that official said they felt confident in the steps being taken by the city and university, and were encouraging students to stay at ISU.

“Most of them are very positive,” said Blad. “At least they’ve told us that we’ve addressed their concerns.”

However Blad said some students will leave ISU.

“That’s not unexpected, people come and go,” said Blad. “If it’s not the right fit they need to go where they’ll be happy.”

Blad did say, from what he understands, that there have been cutbacks in scholarships to U.S. universities across the country. However, as it stands now Pocatello will retain the majority of the roughly 1,000 Saudi and Kuwaiti students studying at ISU.

“We love the support of the community,” said Abdulaziz Alabaih, an ISU student from Kuwait. “We know Idaho is a loving community and it’s just a minority making things difficult.”

This is good news for both the city of Pocatello and ISU — not just from a diversity standpoint — but also economically. According to Dr. Dan Cravens, the director of Bengal Solutions for the ISU Business College, foreign students contribute millions to the economy of Pocatello each year.

He estimates that each of the Saudi and Kuwaiti students pay just over $20,000 in tuition each year. While their tuition contributes to Pocatello’s economy indirectly, they also contribute directly — buying cars, eating at local restaurants, and buying clothes and groceries.

“They have a real impact on the economy,” said Cravens. “It would be hard to put a number on it, but without those students it could easily cost Pocatello 100 jobs.”