Exchange+Visitor+Program

=**Exchange Visitor Program**=

The Exchange Visitor Program derives its authority from the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. The purpose of this act was to create mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries through the exchanging of cultural and educational values. Through the Exchange Visitor Program, foreign nationals visit the United States temporarily to teach, lecture, learn, observe, consult and train, among other things.[|(1)] The Exchange Visitor Program is run by the [|Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs], which is a part of the State Department. The Bureau is split into two separate entities, the Private Sector Programs Division and the Academic and Government Programs Division. The Private Sector Programs Division handles exchange of professions such as physicians, au pairs, and camp counselors. The Academic and Government Programs Division handles the student exchange program, and is in charge of programs for both secondary and post-secondary education. The program was originally introduced in 1946 by Arkansas [|Senator J. William Fulbright]. In 1961, the legislation was extended under the Fulbright/Hays Act. Nearly 5,000 scholarships are now awarded annually for foreign nationals to learn and teach in the United States. The program is run by a Binational Commission in 50 countries overseas, while the remaining programs are administered by the U.S. State Department's overseas staff.[|(2)]

What Did We Believe Before the Shift?
Before the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act, America was a largely isolationist country. The American people did not want many foreign entanglements because of what had happened in World War I. After World War II, largely seen by the American people as a justified war and a great victory, citizens began to accept programs such as this cultural exchange as beneficial for our nation's livelihood.[|(3)]

What Do We Believe After the Shift?
After this shift, Americans and people around the world viewed this exchange as a very beneficial program. The program only helped itself when President John F. Kennedy signed into law the Fulbright/Hays Act in 1961, which provided many more scholarships and opportunities for students. With students taking advantage of incredible education opportunities not only abroad, but at other schools in the United States, almost everyone seems to approve of this idea.

How Do We Still Act That We Believe the Old Belief?
In my research, I came across people who had discussed the downside to having foreign nationals study in our schools, but for other reasons than before the Fulbright/Hays Act. Some people today have been discussing the fact that it is harder for some foreign students to study here due to increased scrutiny at our borders, stingier requirements for visas, and even racism against Muslim students wishing to study in the United States. After September 11th, 2001, there was a seven percent decrease in temporary student admissions in the United States. However, the program has recovered and hosted over one million students in FY 2002.[|(4)]

Resources
(1) http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges/about.htm (2) http://resources.abroadplanet.com/scholarships/7 (3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_exchange_program (4) http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=158