Five Things to Do in a Time of Uncertainty

In this time of great uncertainty on campuses, in many of our communities, and at the national level, we are all looking for ways to help students and colleagues and to communicate the value of international education.

While NAFSA does not have all the answers, we are advocating every day for the work of international educators everywhere. Consider taking these steps to explain how international education can be part of a bipartisan solution to boosting U.S. national security, global competitiveness, and workforce development—whether your audience includes your members of Congress, your campus leadership, or other stakeholders with the potential to make a difference.

1. Urge Congress to restore State Department funds.

Flag the recent funding freeze as a top priority for your members of Congress to address, and urge them to take action to restore funds immediately. The near-total suspension of funding has paralyzed study abroad and international exchange programs including Fulbright, Gilman, and IDEAS, leaving participants in limbo and threatening these programs’ survival.

“These programs are not charity ... They were created with the understanding that the U.S. must exchange with the rest of the world and vice versa. This is about smart diplomacy. It is an investment in our future, and in our national security and economic interest.” —Fanta Aw, as quoted in the Washington Post

2. Make the case for international education.

Elected officials at all levels of government—local, state, and federal—are moved by economic arguments, and international students on U.S. campuses mean jobs and dollars for local economies—and we can prove it. Every year, NAFSA and JB International partner to analyze the economic activity and jobs supported by international students in the United States at the national, state, and congressional district levels during the prior academic year. Explore the interactive NAFSA International Student Economic Value Tool for data on your area, and download our infographic for stats and facts that speak to the multitude of ways in which international students and scholars enrich U.S. society, research, and innovation.

We also know that study abroad generates the skills employers are looking for in potential employees, in addition to having a positive correlation with four-year graduation rates and higher GPAs. Yet only 10 percent of students study abroad before they graduate, despite high interest in doing so. Research commissioned by NAFSA and other organizations makes the case for why federal investment in study abroad and foreign language learning is so important.

3. Share your story.

Help NAFSA better understand the immediate and potential effects of recent executive actions by the Trump administration on your institution and students. For our advocacy to have the greatest impact, we need to hear how you, your institution, and your students have been affected by changes such as reductions in staffing and funding for international education and exchange programs at the U.S. Departments of Education and State; challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; cuts to National Institutes of Health research funding; and extreme vetting of international students and scholars. We’ve prepared a short, anonymous survey so you can share your thoughts with us.

4. Stay informed.

NAFSA’s weekly Connecting our World newsletter is a consistent source of the latest developments related to policy and regulatory issues coming out of Washington, D.C., and it includes simple ways you can add your voice to key advocacy campaigns to support the field. Subscribe to the newsletter, and encourage your colleagues to do the same. Bookmark NAFSA’s “Current U.S. Administration” web page to stay abreast of updates.

5. Take a deep breath.

Advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint. As NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Fanta Aw said in a recent town hall marking the first 40 days of the current administration, “10,000 fires cannot be put out at once.” We are in this together.  •