In 2008, NAFSA celebrates its 60th anniversary by looking back at the last 60 years of international education.

Critical historical events that affected the field of international education such as the establishment of the Fulbright program, the first Peace Corps mission, and the Lincoln Commission's call for one million U.S. undergraduates to study abroad by 2017 are only a few of the examples.

Comment on issues in the past 60 years of international education at the NAFSA Blog.

Full-color wall posters of the 60th anniversary timeline are available from NAFSA Publications.

The Past is Prologue NAFSA changes name to National Association of Foreign Student AffairsU.S. Congress passes the Fulbright-Hays ActU.S. Peace Corps is established and first time volunteers go to Ghana and TanzaniaPresident Kennedy assasinated; Lyndon B. Johnson becomes PresidentU.S. President John F. Kennedy is electedU.S. Congress passes National Defense Education ActNAFSA begins Field Service ProgramNAFSA celebrates 10 years of 'Exchange of Persons,' in Ann Arbor, MichiganStudent Visa extension created for practical trainingU.S. Commissioner of Education designates Hindi-Urdi as a critical language to be taught and learned, with Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Portugese, and RussianBrown v Board of Education of Topeka states that 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal'International Association for Exchange of Students for Technical Experience is foundedMarshall Plan is enacted in the United StatesU.S. Congress passes U.S. Education and Educational Exchange Act (Smith-Mundt Act)First participants in U.S. Fulbright Program go abroadFirst NAFSA newsletterEnglish Language Section OrganizedNAFSA opens office on NYU's Washington Square CampusAmerican Friends of the Middle East establish the first grant for travel abroad through NAFSANational Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA) is formedNAFSA changes name to National Association of Foreign Student AffairsU.S. Congress passes the Fulbright-Hays ActPresident Kennedy assasinated; Lyndon B. Johnson becomes PresidentU.S President Richard Nixon is electedPresident Nixon visits People's Republic of China (PRC)Resolution to encourage greater participation of foreign students is tabled at NAFSA conferenceNAFSA signs contracts for Cooperative Projects Program and start of Global Issues ProjectIIE initiates Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship ProgramFirst students from PRC arrive in U.S.Title VI of U.S. NDEA is incorporated into Higher Education Act (HEA) and expandedInternational Educational Exchange Liaison Group is formedU.S. President Ronald Reagan is electedU.S. President's Commission releases report prompting universities to boost capacities for international studentsIranian students stranded in U.S. as Shah is deposedNAFSA approves full student participationU.S. Congress passes International Education ActNAFSA begins Field Service ProgramNAFSA celebrates 20 years, 'The Middle East: Traditions and Transformations,' in San Francisco, CaliforniaNAFSA celebrates 30 years of 'Continuity and Change in International Education,' at Iowa State University in Ames, IowaTitle VI of U.S. NDEA is incorporated into Higher Education Act (HEA) and expandedInternational Educational Exchange Liaison Group is formedU.S. President Ronald Reagan is electedU.S. Coalition for Advancement of Foreign Languages and International Studies (CAFLIS) is createdAmerican Council for Education proposes expansion of international studies initiativesU.S. President George H. W. Bush is electedNAFSA/CIEE/IEE task force recommends expansion of study abroad opportunities and participation for U.S. studentsNAFSA changes name to NAFSA: Association of International EducatorsNAFSA reports seven-fold increase in foreign students earning PhD's in the U.S.NAFSA launches International Educator magazineAssociation of American Universities proposes creation of national foundationfor foreign language and international studiesU.S. President's Commission releases report prompting universities to boost capacities for international studentsIranian students stranded in U.S. as Shah is deposedNAFSA celebrates 30 years of 'Continuity and Change in International Education,' at Iowa State University in Ames, IowaNAFSA celebrates 40 years of 'Paths to the Future of International Education and Exchange,' in Washington, D.C.NAFSA celebrates 50 years of 'Building Global Leadership for a New Century,' in Washington, D.C.Lincoln Commission calls for one million U.S. undergraduates to study abroad annually by 2017U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings Co-host summit of university presidents on international educationU.S. Academy for Educational Development hosts colloquium on diversity in education abroadU.S. House passes Paul Simon Study Abroad ActEvents of 9/11 sharpen focus on international expertise and prompt Congress to boost title IV and Fulbright-Hays fundingNAFSA Executive Director/CEO Marlene M. Johnson calls for comprehensive U.S. international education policyNAFSA reports seven-fold increase in foreign students earning PhD's in the U.S.U.S. President George W. Bush is electedPresident Clinton calls for U.S. international education policyAbraham Lincoln Study Abroad and Paul Simon Study Abroad Acts are introducedPresident Bush launches initiative to boost number of Americans learning critical foreign languagesNAFSA celebrates 60 years of 'Shaping the Future of International Education,' in Washington, D.C.U.S. government implements Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to track international students and scholars at campuses in U.S.NAFSA celebrates 50 years of 'Building Global Leadership for a New Century,' in Washington, D.C.
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60 Years of International Education