At the first-year mark, multi-sector coalition seeks to build upon track record of effective advocacy for coordination, efficiency, and improvement of federal policy
WASHINGTON, October 29, 2024 – The U.S. for Success Coalition, a multi-sector effort founded a year ago to advance policies and practices that foster international student success in the United States, is marking its one-year milestone by reflecting on successes to date, announcing new members, and committing to new goals for 2025.
Marking the occasion, Allan Goodman, CEO of IIE says, “At a time when our nation is facing demographic shifts that will have major implications for our colleges and universities, it is so important to come together as a community to support both international student success and the success of our institutions hosting these students. IIE is proud of the collective work of the U.S. for Success coalition and looks forward to continued partnership with the U.S. government, higher education institutions, and the international education community.”
Notable achievements in its inaugural year include:
- The Department of State’s action to extend the visa interview waiver policy to address lengthy visa interview and processing delays and to formalize in writing its commitment to ensuring every student is able to get a visa appointment, and “if qualified, a visa in time to start classes.”
- Consistent and high-level communication with Congress and the State Department to resolve the disproportionately high visa denial rate affecting students from Africa, including an advocacy campaign that resulted in more than 1,300 messages sent to Members of Congress and a sign-on letter from eight U.S. senators to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging clarity on student visa adjudication standards.
- Commending the U.S. government’s Joint Statement on International Education and National Export Strategy for elevating the importance of positioning the U.S. as a leading destination for international students.
- Encouraging the Department of Homeland Security to champion policies that support international students as a key part of U.S. national security, global competitiveness, and ability to innovate while reflecting its values as a welcoming and inclusive nation.
- The Coalition has also expanded its membership to a total of more than 40 entities across the international education sector, has added to its Executive Committee, and has formed a new Advisory Council to help shape the coalition’s agenda, informed by the latest data, research, policy analysis, and insights.
Moving forward, the U.S. for Success Coalition will:
- Mobilize to accelerate positive change and protect against potential threats to positioning the United States to effectively compete and cooperate on a global stage by attracting top talent and ensuring the success of all international students. When international students succeed, we all win.
- Engage the next presidential administration and the new Congress in 2025 to build upon its call for a whole-of-government approach to competing on the global stage and embracing ways to more efficiently handle government processing and interagency coordination. This includes continuous improvement to visa interview and processing, and stronger pathways for students to apply their in-demand skills in our workforce.
- Strengthen the Coalition’s work with U.S. higher education institutions in order to increase and diversify international student enrollment and post-graduation pathways across all U.S. states and territories.
If successful, the United States will be poised to offer invaluable educational experiences to top talent from across the globe, effectively integrate their knowledge and skills into the U.S. economy, and benefit from the tens of billions of dollars that international students contribute to the economy.