NHA supports the Coalition for International Education (CIE) request of $176.8 million for Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs, a $51 million increase over FY 2010.  This includes $153.8 million for Title VI-A&B --a $45.4 million increase;  $19.8 million for Fulbright-Hays 102(b)(6) --a $4.2 million increase; and $3.2 million for the Institute for International Public Policy, Title VI-C --a $1.3 million increase over FY 2010.

 

As a member of the Coalition, NHA strongly urges Congress to provide an infusion of new funding that restores Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs to their historic levels, encourages strategic collaborations within and among educational institutions, and makes critical investments in the nation’s future. 

 

These programs must be strengthened to more effectively increase the nation’s pool of foreign language and area expertise and research; infuse an international and foreign language dimension into business and other professional education, undergraduate education, and K-12 teacher training and curriculum development; enhance citizen understanding of global issues; and increase the number of underrepresented minorities in international service. 

FUNDING OVERVIEW

Title VI and Fulbright-Hays international education programs are funded at $125.9 million in the current fiscal year (FY 2010) ending September 30, 2010.  Final funding for FY 2010 constitutes an overall increase of $7 million (6%) over the FY 2009 level.   For FY 2010, funding is provided as follows: 

The U.S. Department of Education’s International Education and Foreign Language Studies programs are funded under the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.  The FY 2010 Labor/HHS/Education bill (H.R. 3293) was enacted on 12/16/09 as one of six appropriations bills rolled into the year-end Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-117).  

 

FY 2011 BUDGET REQUEST

For FY 2011, the Obama Administration has requested $125.881 million in funding for International Education and Foreign Language Studies (IEFLS) programs under the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Programs. The President’s Budget Request represents flat funding at the previous year’s levels for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2010 (FY 2011), broken out as follows:

See also: FY 2011 Budget for the Department of Education (agency press release and budget documents)

 

The U.S. Department of Education’s Title VI and Fulbright Hays programs, also referred to as the International Education and Foreign Language Studies (IEFLS) programs are authorized under two separate laws.  The Department’s Domestic IEFLS programs (Title VI) have their origin in the 1958 National Defense Education Act (NDEA), and are now authorized under Title VI of the Higher Education Act (HEA).  The Higher Education Opportunity Act (P.L. 110-315) was enacted on August 14, 2008.  The 2008 Act renewed the Higher Education Act of 1965, and provides continued authorization of Title VI funding (at the level of “such sums as may be necessary”) for at least six years, beginning FY 2009 through FY 2014.  The Fulbright-Hays program was created in 1961, and is authorized under Section 102(b)(6) of the Fulbright-Hays Act, also known as the “Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961”.  See also: