U.S. for Success Coalition Sets New Goals and Welcomes New Members to Achieve International Student Success
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, D.C. –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.
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.
What our executive committee is saying
Alliance for International Exchange, Mark Overmann, Executive Director
“The continued advancement of international student success is critical to the U.S.’ broader foreign policy and economic priorities at home and on the world stage. As a founding member, the Alliance for International Exchange is proud to celebrate one year of the U.S. for Success Coalition’s efforts in support of these priorities and looks forward to our collective work in the years to come.”
ETS, Rohit Sharma, SVP of Global Mobility Solutions
"As a founding member of the U.S. for Success Coalition, ETS is proud of our continued efforts to champion international students. By championing inclusive policies, we enrich campuses, fuel innovation, and strengthen the economy. Creating opportunities for these students ensures a more connected, competitive, and prosperous future for all."
Institute of International Education (IIE), Allan Goodman, Chief Executive Officer
“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.”
MPOWER Financing, Manu Smadja, CEO and Co-founder
“We’re proud to join the U.S. for Success Coalition to empower the brightest minds from around the world to access high-quality education in the U.S., thereby investing in a future where cultural exchange and shared knowledge fuel progress and opportunity globally. International students are essential to driving innovation, cooperation, and economic growth. The U.S.’ roughly one million international students are an essential financial contributor to our universities, and upon graduating they go on to fill critical STEM jobs amid record labor shortages and an aging U.S. workforce, thereby fueling our economy, healthcare system, and technology innovation.”
NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Fanta Aw, PhD, Executive Director and CEO
“We are encouraged by the progress we’ve made in the coalition’s first year and firmly believe partnership will be the way forward, especially in these unsettled times politically. Drastic changes in other major destinations recently reinforce the critical importance of sound, coordinated national policy with student success at the center. International students and scholars, institutions of higher education, and society all benefit immensely from international exchange, given how interdependent our world is and that global solutions require global engagement. There is no better investment than education. We look forward to making more inroads in 2025.”
Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director
“We are excited by the growing interest in the U.S. for Success coalition and the success of our work together. It speaks to the vital role that colleges and universities play in attracting and retaining students from around the world, and what more we can do in partnership with others. Beyond the strong benefits of international education, U.S. higher education also serves as a crucial immigration pathway for global talent -- students, researchers, and graduates who stay, launch careers, and contribute to our economy, workforce, and communities. It is in our national interest to support and expand these post-graduate pathways”.
Shorelight, Tom Dretler, CEO
“Over the past year U.S. for Success membership has grown, attracting new members from leading international education groups who recognize the need for collaboration and action to ensure the success of international students studying in the U.S. While the dream of a U.S. education remains strong, visa challenges are making it harder for students to achieve this. As other countries offer competitive alternatives, the U.S. must take action. It’s time for a national strategy on international education.”
World Education Services (WES), Kit Taintor, Sr. Director, U.S. Policy and Programs
“By advocating policies and practices that streamline these students’ ability to both study and put their skills and education to work in the U.S., we create benefits for newcomers, colleges, and communities alike. World Education Services is proud to celebrate one year of the U.S. for Success Coalition’s work to support international students.”
About the coalition
Founded by the Alliance for International Exchange, ETS, IIE, NAFSA, the Presidents’ Alliance for Higher Education and Immigration, Shorelight, and World Education Services, the U.S. for Success coalition is a multi-sector effort that aims to foster international student success in the United States through a coordinated national effort. We all succeed when the U.S. can compete and cooperate effectively on the global stage by welcoming international students to the nation’s campuses and by facilitating pathways for them to apply their knowledge and skills in local economies upon graduation. The coalition works in partnership with the U.S. government, higher education institutions, the business sector, and other key partners to foster supportive federal policies and practices.
