Minnesota Becomes 13th to Issue a State International Education Resolution

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota legislature became the 13th in the nation to recognize the importance of international education earlier this month, when the Speaker of the House and the Secretary of the Senate signed a resolution supporting international education on behalf of the respective bodies.  Minnesota's action capped a flurry of state-level activity nationwide on the subject; over the past three months, seven states have passed resolutions highlighting the importance of international education.

"NAFSA is pleased to be here in Minneapolis to welcome Minnesota into the growing family of states that have declared their commitment to international education as a key tool in enhancing their economic competitiveness, international engagement, and academic excellence," said NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Marlene Johnson. NAFSA's 59th annual conference is taking place in Minneapolis this week.

The 12 other states that have passed international education resolutions are - in order of passage of the resolution - Kentucky (April 2002), California (September 2002), Louisiana (April 2003), Texas (April 2005), Mississippi (February 2005), Nevada (May 2005), Arkansas (March 2007), Hawaii (April 2007), Indiana (April 2007), Montana (April 2007), Vermont (May 2007), and  Oklahoma (May 2007).  In several of these states, NAFSA members played a key role in encouraging their state legislators to introduce resolutions, and NAFSA members in 12 additional states are currently urging lawmakers to take up the issue.

Each of the state resolutions recognizes the importance of international education to a successful state economy and notes that international education provides important societal benefits by fostering greater tolerance and cultural understanding.  All of the resolutions also highlight specific action steps that higher education institutions should take to promote international education.  Several of the resolutions emphasize the importance of an international education in preparing students for a global workforce; the economic benefit to the state from spending by international students and scholars; and the contributions of international education to national security.  Some call for increasing participation in specific activities, such as foreign-language courses, study abroad, and faculty exchanges.

The resolutions, though not legally binding, create a foundation for state-level action to support and facilitate international education and raise the consciousness of state leaders and citizens about the importance of international education.   Innovative, forward-looking actions of this kind can also have a powerful resonance beyond the state and may serve as a guide for national policy-making on the issue.

Resources on State-Level Policymaking on International Education

NAFSA has created a Web-based clearinghouse that tracks state-level international education initiatives and highlights the latest information on state policies, legislation, proclamations, reports, consortia, and commissions that promote international education and exchange at the postsecondary level. Detailed information about each of the state resolutions is also available. Visit: http://www.nafsa.org/statelevel

NAFSA's annual economic impact reports provide statistical information about the contributions of international students to state economies. Visit: http://www.nafsa.org/public_policy.sec/international_education_1/the_economic_benefits