Economic Threats to Study Abroad Programs in the United States

The value of learning a foreign language seems like it should be clear, but within the U.S. educational system it is losing traction. Languages are often not a requirement in undergraduate education and students still don’t start learning them until the high school levels at most schools. Learning languages is a key component for fostering interest in other cultures. Without cultivating this natural curiosity, any culture becomes insular.

Another key component of cultural exchange is the study abroad program. It is clear study abroad programs at most colleges are still alive and well. Often these programs become a way of reducing the expense of higher education and are funded through that institution. These programs are seen as crucial components of a well-rounded education.

Since World War II the federal government has invested in cultural exchange programs, as well. The Fulbright Program and Marshall and Rhodes Scholar Programs benefit from government support. And yet, with each new budget proposed these programs, particularly Fulbright, are put on high alert. Large funding cuts loom every year, funding which is crucial for their operation. Ultimately, no permanently crippling cuts have been made, but the energy these programs have to put into rallying to save these programs each year is a hardship, not to mention the shadow this casts over these exciting opportunities.

If you want to get ahead of the curve and support these programs before the next budget crisis, donate to them directly and contact your local representatives to make clear these programs matter.