Arkansas Becomes 7th State to Pass International Education Resolution

On Wednesday, March 7, 2007, the Arkansas Senate passed HCR 1004, a joint resolution "encouraging students and faculty in the state's colleges and universities to promote international education to ensure that students and future leaders are prepared to meet the challenges of a global society."

The bill was sponsored by Arkansas Representative Lindsley Smith and Arkansas Senator Sue Madison, both from northwestern Arkansas. The core team of NAFSAns that worked to secure this resolution included Andy Faulkner of University of Central Arkansas, DeDe Long of University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and David Wick of Arkansas State University, Jonesboro. After hearing about the need for states throughout the country to pass state-level international education policies during a regional NAFSA conference last year, they worked together to draft a resolution, identify a legislative sponsor, and secure the bill's passage.

ASU students from France, Germany, Iceland, India, Mexico, Sweden, and Zimbabwe joined Andrew Bleignier, international student advisor, at the event.

As Representative Smith leads faculty-led study abroad programs at University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Long asked her to sponsor the bill, and Smith gladly agreed. Once the resolution was placed in the hands of Representative Smith, the process moved at lightning speed as she quickly drummed up support from her colleagues in both the House and the Senate. Senator Sue Madison took the lead on getting the resolution through the Senate. The resolution was filed in the House on January 17, 2007, and passed through the Senate only seven weeks later. It is now awaiting signature by Governor Mike Beebe.

Over 40 staff and students from the following institutions were present in the Arkansas State Senate gallery when the bill was read and passed on March 7, 2007:

• Arkansas State University, Jonesboro - ASU
• Northwest Arkansas Community College - NACC
• University of Arkansas, Fayetteville - UAF
• University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, UA Ft. Smith
• University of Arkansas, Little Rock - UALR
• University of Arkansas Medical School, Little Rock - UAMS
• University of Central Arkansas - UCA

Institutions of higher education across the state of Arkansas now have a tool at their disposal to help them advance the cause of international education within their own campuses and throughout the state.