Resolution Opposing Section 6 of H.R. 3077, International Studies in Higher Education Act of 2003 (passed unanimously by voice vote)
Whereas, the House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3077,reauthorizing the Higher Education Act of 1965; and
Whereas, Section 6 of H.R. 3077 establishes in the Department ofEducation an independent International Education Advisory Board which “shallprovide advice, counsel and recommendations to the Secretary and theCongress on international education issues for higher education"; and
Whereas, the purposes of this International Advisory Board include, “to provide expertise in the area of national needs for proficiency in world regions, foreign languages, and international affairs; to make recommendations that will promote the excellence of international education programs and result in the growth and development of such programs at the
postsecondary education level that will reflect diverse perspectives and the full range of views on world regions, foreign language and international affairs"; and
Whereas, the membership of this advisory board will consist of seven members, including three appointed by the Secretary of Education, two of whom “shall be appointed to represent Federal agencies that have national security responsibilities, after consultation with the heads of such agencies"; and
Whereas, included among the functions of this advisory board will be to:
“review and comment upon the regulations for grants under this title;
“monitor, apprise, and evaluate a sample of activities supported under this title based on the purposes and objectives of this title in order to provide recommendations for improvement of the programs under this title;
“make recommendations that will assist the Secretary and the Congress to improve the programs under this title to better reflect the national needs related to the homeland security, international education, and international affairs, including an assessment of the national needs and the training provided by the institutions of higher education that receive a grant under this title for expert and non-expert level foreign language training;
“make recommendations to the Secretary and the Congress regarding such studies, surveys, and analyses of international education that will provide feedback about the programs under this title and assure that their relative
authorized activities reflect diverse perspectives and the full range of views on world regions, foreign languages, and international affairs;
“make recommendations on how institutions of higher education that receive a grant under this title can encourage students to serve the nation and meet national needs in an international affairs, international business, foreign
language, or national security capacity"; and
Whereas, the consequence of this advisory board, if not the motive behind it, may be to politicize the awarding of grants and to discourage scholarship critical of U.S. foreign policy in Foreign Language Area Studies, particularly those programs focusing on the Middle East, and
Whereas, freedom in research is fundamental to the advancement of knowledge,
Therefore, be it resolved, that the University Faculty Senate strongly opposes the creation of this advisory board, and urges the U.S. Senate to remove Section 6 from H.R. 3077 and, therefore, from the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
