ALLIANCE COMMENTARY
The Power of International Exchange: Congressional Lunch & Learn
On January 25, 2023, the Alliance held a Lunch and Learn on Capitol Hill for congressional staff to discuss the power of international educational and cultural exchange programs. Special thanks to Joel Colony at World Learning, Alliance Board member Christine Shiau at the Stevens Initiative, and Christine La Monica-Lunn at InterExchange and her team for making the event possible!
A recording of the session can be viewed below:
For BridgeUSA content, jump to 6:20.
For federally-funded program content, jump to 17:40.
For virtual exchange content, jump to 26:15.
For Q&A, jump to 39:10.
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Advocacy Day - March 8 & 9
Advocacy Day is a unique opportunity for Alliance members to come together and engage with Congress on the positive impact international exchange has at the state and local level. Attendees will have the opportunity to directly interact with relevant representatives and share their exchange stories and experiences.
The Alliance is thrilled to once again host our annual Advocacy Day meetings in person for members!
The 2023 event will kickstart with virtual advocacy orientation and briefing sessions the week of Monday, February 27. A Congressional Reception and in person Congressional Meetings will be held the following week on Wednesday, March 8 and Thursday, March 9 respectively.
To learn more and register, visit our website here.
2022 Midterm Election Analysis
After weeks of counting, the majority of races in the 2022 midterms have been decided, allowing for a clearer picture of what the 118th Congress will look like come January. What follows are our thoughts on the election results and their implications for the international exchange community.
After weeks of counting, the majority of races in the 2022 midterms have been decided, allowing for a clearer picture of what the 118th Congress will look like come January. What follows are our thoughts on the election results and their implications for the international exchange community. In short, the three key takeaways are:
1) This is as close to a status quo election as possible.
2) Familiar faces will remain on Foreign Affairs/Relations and Appropriations Committees, where leadership will mostly stay the same.
3) But, key departures from these committees, and of other exchange supporters across Congress, means new relationships need to be built and new champions developed.
1) The results of this midterm election are about as close to a status quo election outcome as is possible, with no strong mandate for either party.
As expected, Republicans took over the House majority, but with a slimmer margin than anticipated (220 – 213 with 2 uncalled).
The House will vote on the new Speaker in early January with current Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA) the front runner for the role. Committee chairs and make-up will be officially decided after the Speaker vote. Given the narrow majority, committee ratios will also need to be confirmed early next year.
On the Democratic side, there will be a change in leadership with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD) stepping down from the number one and two spots. Their potential successors include Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (NY), Katherine Clark (MA), and Pete Aguilar (CA).
Democrats have kept control of the Senate, which is now at 50-49.
The Georgia seat, set for a run-off election next Tuesday, December 6, will no longer decide the majority. If Sen. Raphael Warnock is re-elected, and the Democrats have a 51-49 majority, this would limit the power of either Sen. Joe Manchin (WV) or Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) to block the party from a simple majority.
Senate leadership will likely remain Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY). As with the House, committee ratios will need to be negotiated due to the slim margins between majority and minority. However, if the seat breakdown remains 50-50 as it is now, there likely won’t be significant changes.
2) International exchanges continue to have strong support among returning Members of Congress.
For the authorizing and appropriating committees for exchanges, leadership will remain mostly the same.
Familiar faces Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) are expected to continue to lead the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC), while the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) is likely to keep its leadership of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID).
It is also expected that the House Appropriations Committee (HAC) will continue to be led by Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), who will switch roles to Chair and Ranking Member, respectively.
Other supportive Members on these committees that were re-elected include Reps. Hal Rogers (R-KY), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), as well as Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and John Boozman (R-AR).
Another notable Senate Appropriations Committee member, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), also won a tough re-election race and will be returning to the 118th next year. A key supporter on the Republican side, Sen. Murkowski was one of the original sponsors of the Exchange Visitor Program provision included in the appropriations bills since FY2018.
3) Key departures necessitate outreach and education to new faces and potential champions.
On the House side, both the Appropriations Committee (HAC) and Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) will have 8 departures each in the new year. Some notable changes include:
HAC has 6 Ds and 2 Rs departing with 2 flipped seats of Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) and Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA).
HFAC is losing 4 Ds and 4 Rs, including Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Vice Chair on Foreign Affairs and longtime Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH).
Approximately 21% of Representatives (21 Ds, 1 R) who signed on to the Alliance-facilitated FY23 House appropriations letter supporting funding for exchange programs are not returning in the next Congress.
In the upper chamber, the Senate Appropriations Committee will face leadership changes. Both the current Chair, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Ranking Member, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), are retiring. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who have both supported exchanges during their tenures, are expected to take over these leadership roles in January.
Leahy will be leaving an open spot on the State and Foreign Operations subcommittee, along with another longtime exchanges supporter, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO).
As of now, none of the Senators that signed the Alliance-facilitated FY23 Senate appropriations letter are departing. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) could be the only departure depending on the results of the Georgia run-off election next week.
Freshman to watch (for more information, see USGLC’s 2022 Midterm Election Analysis):
Senator-Elect Katie Britt (R-AL) has regularly expressed strong support for U.S. global leadership during her candidacy.
Senator-Elect John Fetterman (D-PA) has stated that the U.S. “should be engaging in preventive diplomacy, and proactively working with other countries to improve relations.”
Senator-Elect Peter Welch (D-VT) is a former House member who has supported exchange programs throughout his time in Congress.
Representative-elect Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) is a strong supporter of American global leadership.
Representative-elect Zach Nunn (R-IA) has advocated as a former national security official on why America must remain engaged in the world.
What will happen between now and January 3 when the new Congress is seated? As Senate Majority Leader Schumer said in a post-election press conference, “We are going to try to have as productive a lame-duck session as possible.”
Here are key priorities for the remainder of 2022:
With the current Continuing Resolution (CR) expiring in less than three weeks, finalizing funding for FY23 is a focus. Passing an omnibus for FY23 or another CR to prevent a government shutdown ahead of the holiday break will be the number one priority. Democrats will likely want to pass an omnibus while they still have control of both chambers.
The annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is a must-pass bill that traditionally has bipartisan support. However, House Minority Leader (and likely future Speaker) McCarthy has suggested delaying the NDAA until after the New Year when Republicans have control of the House. If this happens, it would be the first time in more than 60 years that the NDAA was not passed before the start of the year.
Other priorities on Congress’ mind include the Respect for Marriage Act, which was already passed by the House and will be voted on this week in the Senate, as well as the bipartisan overhaul of the Electoral Count Act. With time running out, the latter may need to be tied to appropriations or the NDAA.
As we move into the New Year, we are looking forward to engaging new partners as well as familiar friends in the 118th Congress to share the power and impact of people-to-people exchanges.
2022 Stevens Initiative Report: A Survey of Virtual Exchange
As part of International Education Week, the Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute released a comprehensive report on their survey of the virtual exchange field. Before diving into the data, the report highlights some of the Stevens Initiative’s overarching best practices in virtual exchange, which include intentionality and a focus on collaboration and reciprocity of knowledge and learning.
As part of International Education Week, the Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute released a comprehensive report on their survey of the virtual exchange field. More than 150 respondents participated in this year’s survey, representing findings in higher education, the NGO sector, secondary education, and more. This year’s report includes five case studies, which highlight opportunities and challenges of virtual exchange, data on funding and institutional support, key takeaways, and future plans.
Before diving into the data, the report highlights some of the Stevens Initiative’s overarching best practices in virtual exchange, which include intentionality and a focus on collaboration and reciprocity of knowledge and learning.
Alliance Takeaways:
Successful virtual exchange requires flexibility.
Most programs offer a blend of asynchronous and synchronous approaches.
Approximately 21% of programs are conducted in English and another language, with the most used being Spanish, French, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic.
The majority of programs take place over a course of less than 6 weeks, with 5-6 weeks being the most frequent program length, followed by 1-2 weeks.
Providers have had to adapt to variable access to technology, often making investments in schools’ technology infrastructure, or adopting flexible programming schedules.
Collaboration and training are key.
81% of providers indicated that they were part of one or more virtual exchange networks or consortia.
External initiatives, like Erasmus in the EU, are a supporting resource that allow “for capacity building and increased participation in the practice of virtual exchange.”
80% of providers have implemented some form of training for educators and facilitators. For example, virtual exchange providers at the Universidad de Monterrey in Mexico consulted with education professors to compare and assess the same course taught with and without a virtual exchange element.
The Stevens Initiative’s analysis indicates that the virtual exchange field will continue to grow, but trends may fluctuate based on disruptions and numbers that may have previously correlated with the pandemic. Looking toward the future, the analysis also emphasizes the importance of local partnerships, flexible programming, and continued dedication to facilitator training. It is encouraging to see the continued innovation and research in the virtual exchange field, and the Stevens Initiative report is a useful resource for both existing providers and members of the exchange community.
2022 Open Doors Report: What's Next for International Education?
Every year at the beginning of International Education Week, the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange is released by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Institute of International Education (IIE). This report provides an in-depth examination of the international student and study abroad landscape. As we amplify international education and exchange stories throughout the week, the Open Doors data grounds these narratives and speaks to the larger trends in the field.
Every year at the beginning of International Education Week, the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange is released by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Institute of International Education (IIE). This report provides an in-depth examination of the international student and study abroad landscape. As we amplify international education and exchange stories throughout the week, the Open Doors data grounds these narratives and speaks to the larger trends in the field.
In his remarks during the Open Doors data release, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, “When international students come to the United States—and when Americans study abroad—they bring their talents, perspectives, and cultures to their new communities. And when they work with peers to advance research and knowledge, they spark innovation and forge bonds across borders that can last a lifetime.”
Below are some key takeaways from this year’s data:
1. International student numbers in the U.S. are on the rise.
During the 2021-22 academic year, 948,519 international students studied in the U.S., up 4% from the previous academic year. China, India, and South Korea remain the top three sending countries, though the number of students from China decreased by 8.6%.
In conjunction with the 2022 Open Doors release, NAFSA’s annual update to their International Student Economic Value Tool finds that international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $33.8 billion and supported 335,423 jobs to the U.S. economy during the 2021-2022 academic year.
2. U.S. student study abroad numbers are way down, but a rebound is on the horizon.
There was a 91.1% decrease in study abroad participants from 2019-20 to 2020-21. Keep in mind that the Open Doors data for U.S. study abroad lags one year behind, so this large drop is reflecting the worst of the pandemic travel decreases.
IIE’s Snapshot Surveys indicate a rebound in study abroad is on the near horizon: 83% of institutions anticipated increased study abroad numbers in 2022-23. The rate of growth in global student mobility has increased steadily over the past 20 years, with the average growth rate being 5%.
3. There is still work to be done to ensure the study abroad population reflects the U.S. population.
Diversifying study abroad remains a primary goal; while 46% of students in the U.S. come from minority racial and/or ethnic backgrounds, only 32% of study abroad participants identify as such.
As institutions continue to expand study abroad opportunities, “continued focus in this area is necessary to align with the national U.S. student enrollment trend.”
4. Virtual exchange is key for increasing accessibility and sustainability.
32,990 students participated in virtual global learning experiences in 2020-21, with the number of institutions reporting data having doubled since 2019-20. These learning experiences included remote internships, remote academic courses, and videoconference dialogues, highlighting the increasing presence of virtual technology in international exchange
In the words of Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield, “International education is undoubtedly a foundational pillar of our people-to-people diplomacy work to support broader U.S. foreign policy goals.” We are encouraged by the rebounds and resiliency the 2022 Open Doors report reflects and look forward to using this data as we move into 2023.What we’re reading on the 2022 Open Doors Report:
The Washington Post: International college enrollment ticks back up after pandemic
StudyTravel: Strong recovery in new students for US unis in 2021/22, growth continuing this year
Karin Fischer at The Chronicle of Higher Education
Alliance for International Exchange Names Mark Overmann Executive Director
The Alliance for International Exchange has named Mark Overmann as its new Executive Director. He will begin his tenure on October 3.
Overmann rejoins the Alliance, where he served as Deputy Director, and as Assistant Director/Senior Policy Specialist.
The Alliance, an association of 80 U.S.-based exchange organizations, serves as the collective policy voice of the exchange community.
For the past 3 years, Overmann served as a Senior Manager for Accenture Federal Services, where he managed a major Department of State program focused on global health and diplomacy.
“We are thrilled to have Mark Overmann return to the Alliance as our Executive Director,” said Jennifer Clinton, chair of the Alliance Board and President of Cultural Vistas. “All of Mark’s professional career – his varied work in our community, both with exchange organizations and with the Alliance, his leadership role in the consulting world, and his personal exchange experiences make him the ideal person to lead the Alliance in these challenging times.
“This appointment is the culmination of an extensive and very competitive search. We believe Mark has unique capacities to listen and learn from our diverse membership, and to lead the Alliance to new levels of success.”
Prior to joining Accenture, Overmann worked at InterExchange, a large New York-based exchange organization, as Vice President of External Affairs.
Before his first stint with the Alliance, Overmann was Program Associate at the National Council for International Visitors (now Global Ties US), and Director of College Communications at Georgetown University.
He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and holds an M.A. from American University. As an undergraduate, he studied abroad in France, and after completing his degree, taught English in Northeast China, in a small town near the North Korean border.
Alliance for International Exchange Names Mark Overmann Executive Director
The Alliance for International Exchange has named Mark Overmann as its new Executive Director. He will begin his tenure on October 3.
Overmann rejoins the Alliance, where he served as Deputy Director, and as Assistant Director/Senior Policy Specialist.
The Alliance, an association of 80 U.S.-based exchange organizations, serves as the collective policy voice of the exchange community.
For the past 3 years, Overmann served as a Senior Manager for Accenture Federal Services, where he managed a major Department of State program focused on global health and diplomacy.
“We are thrilled to have Mark Overmann return to the Alliance as our Executive Director,” said Jennifer Clinton, chair of the Alliance Board and President of Cultural Vistas. “All of Mark’s professional career – his varied work in our community, both with exchange organizations and with the Alliance, his leadership role in the consulting world, and his personal exchange experiences make him the ideal person to lead the Alliance in these challenging times.
“This appointment is the culmination of an extensive and very competitive search. We believe Mark has unique capacities to listen and learn from our diverse membership, and to lead the Alliance to new levels of success.”
Prior to joining Accenture, Overmann worked at InterExchange, a large New York-based exchange organization, as Vice President of External Affairs.
Before his first stint with the Alliance, Overmann was Program Associate at the National Council for International Visitors (now Global Ties US), and Director of College Communications at Georgetown University.
He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and holds an M.A. from American University. As an undergraduate, he studied abroad in France, and after completing his degree, taught English in Northeast China, in a small town near the North Korean border.
Farewell Letters: Thanking Ilir Zherka for his leadership
The Alliance for International Exchange and its community of stakeholders are grateful to Ilir Zherka for his leadership over the past seven years. Below are letters of thanks from key Alliance partners that make our work possible:
Alliance Thanks Ilir Zherka for his Leadership: Zherka Vacating Executive Director Role after 7 years
“The Alliance is very grateful to Ilir Zherka for his leadership during a uniquely challenging time for the Alliance and the broader exchange community,” said Jennifer Clinton, Chair of the Alliance Board of Directors.
Since Zherka joined the Alliance, the community has significantly strengthened its voice. The Alliance commissioned its first-ever impact reports. Additionally, member and stakeholder engagement increased substantially with greater participation in advocacy days on Capitol Hill and in letter writing campaigns. The Alliance also launched the Exchange Week in the District program to increase grassroots engagement with local congressional offices and the People for International Exchange initiative to increase stakeholder involvement with the Alliance.
“I want to thank the Alliance Board and its membership for the opportunity to serve this important community at such a critical time,” said Ilir Zherka. “Increasing mutual understanding between people around the world is as important now as ever. We strengthen the cause of freedom and prosperity when we couple traditional diplomacy with exchange programs that often create deep, personal relationships between participants and hosts across borders, cultures, and generations.”
Zherka is a graduate of Cornell University and the University of Virginia School of Law. He and his family immigrated to the United States when he was a child. Ilir credits the support he received from people in the community and from government programs for helping him and his family succeed. “I have dedicated my life to serving the public interest,” added Zherka. “After taking some time off, I hope to continue making a positive difference in the world by empowering greater engagement in the workplace, in our communities, and with our elected representatives.” More information about Zherka’s background can be found here.
“The Alliance is confident we will select a new executive that will help us take advantage of the emerging opportunities and address the continuing challenges the exchange community is facing worldwide,” Clinton added.
Michael McCarry, a prior Executive Director at the Alliance, will serve in that role again on an interim basis while the Board finalizes its search for its next leader which it hopes to announce at its upcoming Annual Conference on October 18.
The Alliance for International Exchange is an association dedicated to promoting the growth and impact of exchange programs and the effectiveness of its members. Since 1993, it serves as the collective public policy voice for nearly 90 organizations comprising the international educational and cultural exchange community in the United States.
ACPD Special Report: Exploring U.S. Public Diplomacy’s Domestic Dimensions: Purviews, Publics, and Policies
The U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (ACPD) released a special report exploring the role that public diplomacy plays in advancing Americans’ understanding of the domestic impact of U.S. global engagement. Exploring U.S. Public Diplomacy’s Domestic Dimensions: Purviews, Publics, and Policies examines the use of USG public diplomacy programs and resources to engage domestic audiences. The report offers key takeaways about the scope and authorities of public diplomacy’s domestic dimension, the identification of key domestic audiences, stakeholders, and potential partners, and the policy and resource implications of a focus on domestic public diplomacy.Learn more about the report and access it here.The ACPD is a bipartisan panel created by Congress in 1948 to formulate, assess and recommend policies and programs to carry out the Public Diplomacy (PD) functions vested in U.S. government entities, to include the Department of State.
Alliance Statement on Ukraine
The Alliance for International Exchange is deeply saddened by the violence in Ukraine today, and we are very concerned about the impact on the Ukrainian people and others in the region from the outbreak of war.
For many years, Alliance members have supported Americans on exchange programs in the region and have hosted visitors from there as well. Many program participants have developed strong ties across borders and even generations. Our hearts go out to these individuals as well as to our members who are from Ukraine and are being directly or indirectly impacted by these events. Today, we think about all of them and their families and hope that peace will return to Ukraine very soon.
The Alliance and its members stand committed to the goals of international exchange - to promote mutual understanding between peoples and democratic institutions worldwide. Pursuing those goals in Ukraine and elsewhere will be especially critical in the months and years to come.
House Resolution supporting BridgeUSA programs
On February 2, Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) and Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH) introduced House Resolution 901, which reaffirms bipartisan congressional support of BridgeUSA programs and recognizes the importance of these programs to the United States’ economy and national interests.BridgeUSA programs, formerly known as the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, were created alongside the Peace Corps and U.S. Agency for International Development during the Cold War to promote the diplomatic and foreign affairs goals of the United States, which the State Department still advances in administering BridgeUSA as federal cultural exchange programs.In the press release announcing the resolution, Rep. Moore stated, “the message I have heard from community and business leaders alike is that these programs simply work.” Rep. Kuster added, “Small businesses here in New Hampshire and across the country rely on the BridgeUSA program — a work-and study-based exchange visitor program — to staff their operations and serve their communities.”The Alliance for International Exchange signed on as an external supporter of the resolution along with a number of other organizations and stakeholders.
Afghanistan Task Force
The purpose of this task force is to help members contribute most effectively to supporting at-risk Afghans, especially those who are involved in international education as participants or partners, including human and women’s rights activists, educators, journalists and media representatives, former government officials, non-profit leaders, and other civil society leaders. The task force adds the Alliance for International Exchange’s voice to advocacy efforts and provides members with information to navigate in their communities and with their constituencies.
Learn more and access resources on our Afghanistan Task Force webpage.
Norm Peterson: An Appreciation
We are saddened to report that Norm Peterson, the Alliance’s founding executive director, passed away recently.
In 1993, the Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange was born out of a merger between The Liaison Group, led by Norm, and the International Exchange Association. The Alliance brought together for the first time the entire range of international exchange programs – from high school students to senior scholars – and grew into a significant advocacy voice for the entire community.
The Alliance has grown in size, stature, and reach since its founding. For his role in founding the Alliance and his achievements there and elsewhere, we will remember Norm as one of our field’s all-time advocacy greats.
Alliance Statement on Lift of Travel Ban
The Alliance welcomes the news that, starting November 8, the United States will lift the travel ban imposed on 33 nations and admit fully vaccinated foreign air travelers.
This is a critical step towards reinvigorating international exchange. The Alliance urges the Administration to take two additional steps. First, it should ensure that U.S. embassies in travel-banned countries are processing visas immediately. Doing so now will be critical for many program sponsors and hosts who are working to bring exchange visitors to the United States soon after the bans are lifted.
Second, the Administration should develop vaccination exemptions for exchange visitors from countries where vaccines are not routinely available. For these visitors, the Administration should extend the current practice of requiring a negative test and a vaccination within a defined period after entry. Additionally, the Administration should exempt exchange visa holders who will receive the vaccine through their academic institution in the United States.
Alliance Supports Joint Statement of Principles on International Education
Washington, DC: The Alliance for International Exchange’s Executive Director, Ilir Zherka, issued the following statement today regarding the Biden Administration’s announcement of a first-ever coordinated national approach on international education. The below may be quoted in whole or in part.
The Alliance enthusiastically supports the Joint Statement of Principles on international education issued by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on July 26, 2021. The U.S. Departments of State and Education’s shared commitment to promoting international education is a welcome initiative that includes actions seeking to implement a coordinated strategy for international students studying in the U.S. and Americans studying abroad, expand access to international education opportunities, and incorporate international education as part of our recovery from the pandemic.
We also urge the Departments of State and Education to include the following recommendations as part of its strategy on international education.
The inclusion of post-secondary, accredited English language programs in the U.S., which are an important facet of international education.
The incorporation of a range of U.S. programs in which international students participate, such as Intern; Optional Practical Training; and Summer, Work and Travel.
The Alliance for International Exchange is an association dedicated to promoting the growth and impact of exchange programs and the effectiveness of its members. Since 1993, it serves as the collective public policy voice for organizations comprising the international educational and cultural exchange community in the United States.
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Open Doors 2021 Release
To kick off International Education Week 2021, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education released findings from the Open Doors® 2021 Report on International Educational Exchange. Watch the release event here with remarks by IIE CEO Allan Goodman, other IIE research staff, and Acting Assistant Secretary Matthew Lussenhop.
You can pre-order the full 2021 report here or access featured data on the Open Doors website.
Alliance sends letter to Sec. Blinken from 11 Associations
Washington, DC: The Alliance for International Exchange’s Executive Director, Ilir Zherka, issued the following statement today regarding a letter to Secretary Blinken from 11 associations. The letter urges the Department of State to consider changes regarding the level 4 travel advisory update that impacts approximately 80 percent of countries worldwide. The below may be quoted in whole or in part.
Yesterday, the Alliance for International Exchange sent a letter to Secretary Blinken cosigned by eleven associations expressing collective concerns regarding the April 19, 2021, travel advisory update that increases the number of countries at “Level 4: Do Not Travel” to approximately 80 percent worldwide.
The Alliance joins its colleagues and members in calling on the U.S. Department of State to reconsider its designation of "Do Not Travel" for 80 percent of countries worldwide. Many colleges and universities look to the Department when developing their student travel policies. It is now difficult to discern why advanced democracies that are making progress vaccinating their residents are in the same category as failing and war-torn states.
The Department should consider changes in the Level 4 advisory that acknowledge differences among those countries with that rating. They should also review the change in advisories within 30-days to determine whether states that were recently moved to Level 4 should be moved back to Level 3 and/or whether the alignment with CDC’s rankings is beneficial.
We very much appreciate the Department's strong support of international education and understand the rationale for aligning its advisories with that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But time is of the essence. Without a change, the new advisories may result in tens of thousands of opportunities for students to travel abroad being eliminated. That would likely affect the readiness of many college graduates entering the U.S. job market over the next few years and deepen the economic crisis facing organizations that administer study abroad and other travel programs.
The Alliance for International Exchange is an association dedicated to promoting the growth and impact of exchange programs and the effectiveness of its members. Since 1993, it serves as the collective public policy voice for organizations comprising the international educational and cultural exchange community in the United States.
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COVID-19 Restrictions
The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges for international exchange programs due to their heavy dependence on travel and people-to-people interactions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges for international exchange programs due to their heavy dependence on travel and people-to-people interactions. An estimated 6500 jobs and $303M were lost by these employers and others in related fields last year due to the pandemic. Overall, the BridgeUSA exchange community experienced $1.23 billion in financial fallout in 2020.
Unfortunately, international exchange programs are still stymied by travel and other restrictions. The Administration’s current approach of not issuing most J-1 visas in countries where there are travel bans, as well as its decision not to prioritize these BridgeUSA programs for visa processing in countries without such a ban, will likely mean that program sponsors will go through another year without much income. That would be devastating to exchange employers and to the cultural exchange programs they run, which would in turn hurt the United States’ national security for years to come.
Learn more about the Alliance's advocacy efforts in this space on our COVID-19 Restrictions website page.
https://apnews.com/article/travel-pandemics-jamaica-boston-coronavirus-pandemic-11627ee5df0e9d2477ce13b2c3ed4546 Click to copy RELATED TOPICS Travel Pandemics Jamaica Immigration Boston Coronavirus Coronavirus pandemic AP Top News U.S. News Health Lifestyle Business Help Wanted: In pandemic, worry about finding summer workers
BOSTON (AP) — The owner of seafood restaurants on Cape Cod has eliminated lunch service and delayed the opening of some locations because his summertime influx of foreign workers hasn’t arrived yet.
More than a thousand miles away, a Jamaican couple is fretting about whether the rest of their extended family can join them for the seasonal migration to the popular beach destination south of Boston that’s been a crucial lifeline for them for decades.
As vaccinated Americans start to get comfortable traveling again, popular summer destinations are anticipating a busy season. But hotel, restaurant and retail store owners warn that staffing shortages exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic could force them to limit occupancy, curtail hours and services or shut down facilities entirely just as they’re starting to bounce back from a grim year.
The problem, they say, is twofold: The annual influx of seasonal foreign workers has stalled in places because of the pandemic. Businesses have also struggled to attract U.S. workers, even as many have redoubled their efforts to hire locally amid high unemployment.
“It’s the ‘Hunger Games’ for these employers, fighting for getting these guest workers into the country while also trying everything they can to recruit domestically,” said Brian Crawford, an executive vice president for the American Hotel and Lodging Association, a Washington, D.C.-based industry group. “It’s really frustrating. They’re trying to regain their footing after this disastrous pandemic but they just can’t catch a break.”
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden let expire a controversial ban on temporary worker visas such as the J-1 program for students and the H-2B program for nonagricultural laborers imposed by former President Donald Trump.
But American embassies and consulates remain closed or severely short-staffed in many countries. The U.S. has also imposed restrictions on travelers from countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil and South Africa because of the emergence of new virus variants or rising COVID-19 cases.
Advocates for the J-1 program, which brings in about 300,000 foreign students annually, urged the State Department in a letter Thursday to exempt the applicants from the travel bans and provide other relief so they can start their summer jobs. Ilir Zherka, head of the Alliance for International Exchange, which sent the letter along with more than 500 supporting groups and companies, argued the J-1 program doesn’t just benefit local economies, but also helps strengthen national security by promoting understanding and appreciation of U.S. culture.
Supporters of the H-2B program, meanwhile, have renewed their call to overhaul the program, which is capped at 66,000 visas per fiscal year. The Biden administration, citing the summer demand from employers, said Tuesday it will approve an additional 22,000 H-2B visas, but lawmakers from New England and other regions that rely on the visas for tourism, landscaping, forestry, fish processing and other seasonal trades say that’s still inadequate.
“That’s infinitesimal. It isn’t anywhere close to the need,” said Congressman Bill Keating, a Democrat representing Cape Cod.
Cem Küçükgenç (Gem Koo-CHOOK-gench), a 22-year-old engineering student at Middle East Technical University in Turkey, is among thousands of foreign students worldwide awaiting approval for a J-1 visa.
He’s slated to work at a waterfront restaurant in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, this summer, but the U.S. Embassy in Ankara recently announced that it won’t be unable to process temporary work visas in time for the summer season.
Turkey has imposed a partial lockdown as the coronavirus surges there, but Küçükgenç is still holding out hope the embassy might relent if virus cases subside.
“I graduate next year,” he said. “I’m not sure when I’ll have another chance.”
In Jamaica, Freda Powell says she and her husband have secured their H-2B visas and will arrive on Cape Cod, where they’ve worked in retail stores and restaurants for roughly 20 summers now, in early May.
But the 55-year-old worries her siblings and other relatives might not be so lucky. The U.S. Embassy in Kingston has temporarily halted visa processing because of rising COVID-19 cases in her country, she says.
“In Jamaica, you can work, but it’s hand to mouth,” Powell said. “With the money you make in the U.S., you can buy a car, fix the house, send your kids to school and build savings.”
The uncertainty around international hires has forced American businesses to redouble their efforts to hire domestically, or make tough compromises until reinforcements can arrive.
In New Hampshire’s White Mountains, the Christmas-themed amusement park Santa’s Village is promising college students free housing and utilities.
In California’s Sonoma Valley, business leaders in the famous winemaking region are exploring the idea of pooling employees, among other workforce initiatives.
Mark Bodenhamer, head of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, said a restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch could possibly share employees with one that does the majority of its business during evening hours.
“Those solutions are complicated and costly,” he said. “But at this point, it’s all hands on deck.”
In North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the tourist season is already in full swing, but staff shortages abound, according to Karen Brown, head of the beach region’s chamber of commerce.
Some restaurants have been forced to shut down once a week or halt curbside service, while in some hotels, managers are helping maids turn over rooms, she said.
“Everyone is pitching in where they can just to keep the wheels on the bus,” Brown said.
Mac Hay, who owns seafood restaurants and markets on Cape Cod, is among the business owners who have their doubts that extra efforts to hire American workers will pay off.
On a given year, he estimates about a third of his 350-person summer workforce ultimately has to come from seasonal visa workers from Mexico, Jamaica and elsewhere when the jobs aren’t filled locally.
Hay argues the foreign workers are the “backbone kitchen staff” — the line cooks, food prep workers and dishwashers — who make it possible for him to hire Americans for jobs they’re seeking, such as waiting tables, bartending and management.
“We simply won’t be able to meet demand without an increased workforce,” he said.
Business owners and experts say there are myriad reasons why U.S. citizens aren’t rushing to respond to the job boom, from COVID-19-related worries to child care issues or simply a decision to collect unemployment benefits, which have been increased and extended through the summer season in most places.
But the need for international workers on Cape Cod — where soaring housing costs have been a major barrier to generating a substantial homegrown workforce — boils down to a simple math problem, Hay said.
Provincetown, a popular gay resort community at the very tip of the cape, has just 2,200 year-round residents, yet restaurants like Hay’s employ about 2,000 workers in high season alone.
“We’re on a dead-end street up here, basically,” he said. “There’s no one else coming.”