Policy Priorities

The U.S. Department of Education announced an expansion of the definition of third-party servicers that could—among other effects—seriously jeopardize U.S. higher education institutions’ international student recruiting contracts, study abroad programs, and partnerships with foreign institutions around the globe.

NAFSA advocates for robust federal funding of international education and exchange programs, which is needed to fully restore international education activities at U.S. colleges and universities following the pandemic.

To make study abroad the norm, not the exception, for today's U.S. college student Congress should pass the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act to incentivize higher education to increase study abroad and provide a cost-effective, sustainable way to ensure more diverse U.S. undergraduates can study internationally.

A national strategy for international education would serve to proactively recruit talented students and scholars to U.S. colleges and universities from countries around the world and increase the number and diversity of U.S. students who can access the career skills associated with study abroad.

The Biden-Harris administration began at an unprecedented moment in U.S. history. The COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, travel restrictions were in pace around the world, and international education was in crisis. Today, rebuilding and restoring U.S. engagement with the world is critical. This is essential if we are to get the country’s economy and higher education system back on track. International education must be a key element of this recovery.

Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, NAFSA has identified urgent policy and actions the Biden administration should adopt to help protect lives and provide a measure of stability to Afghan students, scholars, and researchers--particularly women and girls.