Advocacy: A Role for all International Educators

Kerry Geffert
Product Evangelist, Terra Dotta

 

Last month over 100 NAFSAns descended on Capitol Hill in the annual NAFSA Advocacy Day event to promote international educational exchange. If you have not had the opportunity to participate on one of the Advocacy Days, I recommend trying to incorporate it into your 2017 budget and schedule. The two-day event is a fascinating exposure to a world of politics, lobbying, handshakes, pictures, and above all, talking about issues important to us as international educators. It can be exhilarating and empowering, but to be honest, it can also be intimidating. However, advocacy – in some form or another – needs to be a responsibility for each one of us.

Here is a quick summary of what happens during an Advocacy Day, keeping in mind this does not capture the enormous amount of work that goes into putting this event together. The first day is spent being briefed and trained on both the process and the issues being promoted. The next day you are let loose on Capitol Hill with previously arranged appointments. These appointments are with members of your respective Congressional delegation, both representatives and senators whenever possible. Often the meetings are with a staff member of the official, but occasionally you will meet with your “real live” representative.

If you have learned to prepare an “elevator pitch” then you understand the preparation involved with advocacy meetings. Your time is limited as staffers are busy individuals. It’s likely there is another group advocating for completely different causes preceding or following you. The goal is to find a connection if possible, quickly define your issues providing data-driven support, establish why it is important to you (and therefore, should be important to your representative) and ask for his/her support, typically by doing something definitive such as signing on to a piece of legislation. This bears repeating as it is important to any effort at advocating for an issue or cause:

• If you can, find a connection (time spent abroad, knowledge of another language, hosted an international student, etc., but could also be same home town or alma mater)
• Define the issue or cause
• Provide succinct data to support the issue or cause
• State why it is important to you, using the connection to underscore why it could be important to your staffer or representative
• Ask for support via an action or a stance
• Follow up

Remember, as an advocate you want your representative to do something that supports your issues or causes. Otherwise, your appointment was nothing more than a pleasant chat.

The last bullet, while not part of your meeting, is just as important as any of the others. Follow up is important if only because it is the polite thing to do. But following up helps to remind your representative of your topic. Your communication need not be lengthy; you want to thank them for their time and reiterate your desire to take action.
 

Solo Advocacy

With thousands of NAFSA members based in the United States, it is clear that not everyone can participate in NAFSA Advocacy Day. However, that does not mean you need not be an advocate; there is still much that you can do. In 1994-1995 I had the honor of serving as chair of NAFSA Region X at a time when the importance of advocacy was becoming a more important topic among international educators. However, many of us had little experience in this area, thinking that this was primarily a “Washington activity.” In response, three of my colleagues on the NAFSA Regional Council and I took on the project of creating a pamphlet that introduced various actions NAFSAns could take to advocate for international education. Long since archived, The Advocate in You provided over 25 actions one could take at three different levels of experience.

The opening paragraphs of the pamphlet bear repeating:

“The recommendations found herein are borne out of a belief that the subject of advocacy must be taken at its most common denominator; and like building blocks, be reinforced layer by layer. The approach takes NAFSAns, at whatever professional level they may be, and provides a framework to develop and expand upon. The point is to move NAFSAns from the thinking stage to a proactive stage. This offers concrete ways on pursuing this, without frightening off NAFSAns with little experience or background.

Advocacy for NAFSAns is turning WHO we are into WHAT we do. Naomi Collins [then NAFSA CEO], in her briefing before Capitol Hill visits in 1995, indicated, “one citizen has more power and potential impact than paid lobbyists.”

The pamphlet then proceeded to identify various actions one could take at the beginning, intermediate and advanced stages of one’s career. Admittedly, some of the actions are now considered more networking activities rather than advocacy. However, networking can be viewed as a first step toward advocacy, i.e., developing a connection.

Though 20 years old, many of the actions are still valid methods of advocating for international education without going to Washington. Here are some steps each of us can take:
 

Create a Connection

• Invite colleagues to meet in your office. Let them see your operation firsthand. Build familiarity of your program.
• Learn who the decision people are and who sits on committees that have an impact on your program, whether it is on your campus; or in your local, state or federal governmental offices.
• Be visible. Make the time to attend functions and open meetings.
• Know who on your campus has had an international experience as a student or scholar.
• Invite local officials to your functions as appropriate.
• Join groups, whether on campus or in the community, where an international perspective is needed.
• Collaborate with other offices. Establish yourself as the expert on things related to international education.
• Know your institution’s public relations staff and where appropriate, establish communication with your student and local press. Feed them positive news stories.

Seek to Influence

• Create fact sheets, whether about international or study abroad students. Go beyond basic numbers; include students’ awards, honors and testimonials.
• Provide information on a volunteer basis. Periodic reports of activity, good news, trends in international education and exchange, especially when they are reflected in your international population.
• Arrange for brief meetings between international visitors and upper administrators, including photo opportunities.
• Request representation on relevant committees and task forces.
• Be a resource for those on campus or in the community who may be impacted by international exchange. Offer to provide workshops and seminars on selected topics to promote international education.
• Be a mentor to newer professionals. Provide opportunities for interns and graduate assistants whereby they learn the benefits of international education.
• Visit the local offices of your legislative representatives. Write letters. (Read on to learn about additional resources from professional organizations.) NOTE: It is important to know your institution’s stance on local and state matters so that your advocacy efforts do not conflict.
• Connect and collaborate with other international educators in your area in order to do any of these bulleted items collectively.
• Help your students tell their stories. The updated version of this technique is to use social media. Keep others informed of the positive impact of international education.
• Follow up with thank you notes and other notes of appreciation.

Resources from Professional Organizations

Many of the actions listed above do not take extensive skill to implement. Other forms of advocacy, however, may require training and technique, as well as data and background information. This holds true particularly when advocating at a regional or national level.

Fortunately for international educators, our professional organizations have developed various tools and collected numerous resources to assist with making the case for international educational exchange. Here is a look at what is provided by four organizations:

Association of International Education Administrators - https://www.aieaworld.org/advocacy-pub

The Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) is “a membership organization…..composed of institutional leaders engaged in advancing the international dimensions of higher education.” (AIEA website) Within AIEA’s advocacy page can be found letters and briefings on both federal and international concerns. Recent advocacy efforts are centered on Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs.

Forum on Education Abroad - https://forumea.org/resources/advocacy/

Focused on services for education abroad professionals, the Forum website provides an extensive “collection of resources intended to support advocacy for education abroad on U.S. campuses” through its Advocacy Clearinghouse. (Forum website) The Clearinghouse is overseen by the Forum’s Advocacy Committee. Within the Clearinghouse can be found articles and reports on topics including Academic Success, Retention and Educational Outcomes; Access; Career Impact; Soft Diplomacy and Strategic Institutional Planning.

NAFSA: Association of International Educators - https://www.nafsa.org/Get_Involved/Be_an_Advocate/

As the largest association for international education, NAFSA plays an important role in matters of advocacy and public policy. NAFSA’s website provides policy statements and recommendations for matters related to both international students in the United States as well as the flow of U.S. students abroad for education and training opportunities. Data regarding public opinion, economic impact and study abroad trends are all available as well as numerous impact studies. Members are encouraged to participate in Connecting Our World, “a community of individuals taking action to support public policies that strengthen and expand international education.” (NAFSA website) Current issues focus on travel to Cuba and immigration reform, with templated letters available for sending to elected officials. A new section entitled “Share Your Story” encourages us all to submit our stories that “help bring to life the real-world value of international education.”

The Alliance for International Exchange - https://www.alliance-exchange.org/advocacy

The Alliance for International Exchange “is an association of 90 nongovernmental organizations comprising the international educational and cultural exchange community in the United States.” “As part of its mission, the Alliance marshals grassroots constituencies to advocate for the general health and welfare of international exchange programs and for foreign affairs policies that support these programs.” (Alliance website) Federally focused, the Alliance’s website provides positions papers on topics ranging from FY 2017 Department of State Exchange Program Funding to exchanges for
professionals, youth, scholars and teachers. Of particular interest may be the Alliance’s Raise Your Voice for International Exchange and the accompanying toolkit, providing useful information for contacting members of Congress. For instance, did you know that sending your letter by postal mail is not recommended? “All mail sent to Capitol Hill goes through a complex security process that can delay delivery for weeks or longer. Instead, fax or email your letter.” (Raise Your Voice Toolkit, p. 4)
 

Conclusion

The Alliance summarizes the advocacy process well with its Seven Advocacy Principles:

1. Know your issue and talk about what you know.
2. Provide information, but keep it digestible.
3. Build relationships.
4. Know the System.
5. Know what to ask for.
6. Be truthful.
7. Say thank you.

 

Accept it or not, advocacy is a necessary part of our lives as international educators. We must seek to influence those decisions that affect our programs, our staff and our students. Whether through simple actions locally or participation in a national effort like Advocacy Day, each of us can take steps to preserve and strengthen the ideals of international educational exchange. The power of collective and solo advocacy should not be discounted, but it takes practice. The tools exist to help us improve our skills. The next steps are ours.