House SFOPS amendment threatens to eliminate funding for DOS educational and cultural exchange programs
Tell your Rep to oppose amendment to eliminate DOS exchange funding: https://www.votervoice.net/EXCHANGE/campaigns/107854/respond
How Might Exchanges be Impacted by a U.S. Government Shutdown?
With only four legislative days left before the end of the fiscal year, Congress is still far from a funding deal. The Alliance’s Andrea Bodine provides a primer on how international exchange programs might be impacted by a government shutdown.
Navigating the Paradox: International Student Visa Trends in 2023
The dynamic landscape of international education has been marked this year by a powerful paradox: aspiring international students are displaying a renewed interest in studying in the U.S., yet this enthusiasm is met with a growing struggle to secure visas. A dichotomy emerges – while U.S. enrollments are surging for the first time since the pandemic, a shadow looms as visa denials rise. Collectively, these elements shape the trajectory of international student mobility, offering insights into the United States’ public diplomacy impact and its role as a competitive global player.
FY24 Appropriations Recap and Outlook
Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have completed their subcommittee and full committee markups of their respective State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) bills in recent weeks. Educational and cultural exchanges were funded at $700.95M (approx. 10% decrease) by the House bill and $779.5M (approx. 0.25% increase) by the Senate bill. See the chart below for more details and a comparison with the President’s budget request and current enacted level.
Member Feature: Celebrating Exchange Day with Greenheart International’s Haldis Toppen
Haldis Toppen, Communications Director at Greenheart International, reflects on the creation of Exchange Day, how its changed over the years, and how Greenheart is celebrating the day this year.
McCarry Leadership Award – Call for Nominations
Nominations for the 2023 McCarry Leadership Award are now live! Young professionals committed to the exchange field and looking for opportunities to grow in their work, as well as supervisors of exceptional young professionals are encouraged to review the award materials and submit applications no later than Friday, September 8.