“Great day” for US educators, says Biden, as he clinches presidency

Published 09/11/2020

The education sector has welcomed Joe Biden as the 46th president to be elected, and hopes his past support for international collaboration and liberal immigration policies will see a boost for the country’s international education sector and students considering future plans.

The president elect – on Saturday – declared the election result was a “great day” for America’s educators, as his wife and future first lady Jill Biden who has had a long career as a community college professor.

She has pledged that she would like to keep working at Northern Virginia Community College if possible.

Additionally, Biden gave praise to his running mate and vice president elect, Kamala Harris, who makes “history as the first woman, first African American woman, first woman of South Asian descent, and first daughter of immigrants ever elected to national office in this country”.

“We must make the promise of the country real for everybody”

“The American story is about the slow, yet steady widening of opportunity,” he said.

“Make no mistake: Too many dreams have been deferred for too long. We must make the promise of the country real for everybody – no matter their race, their ethnicity, their faith, their identity, or their disability.”

Miriam Feldblum, executive director of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, called for a “bold and aggressive agenda” to work on damage-limitation of the previous administration, revoking any pending rule changes.

“Having witnessed first-hand the harm caused over the past four years to our campuses, communities and nation through the anti-immigrant policies of the current administration, the Presidents’ Alliance calls upon the incoming administration to… expand protection and opportunity for immigrant and international students,” said Feldblum.

“We ask that the administration immediately pause and withdraw all proposed rules and regulations undermining international students and scholars, including the duration of status and H-1B related rules,” Feldblum urged – along with rebuilding the USA’s refugee program.

“Most importantly,” she continued, the incoming administration must “enact immigration reform that establishes a roadmap to citizenship for our nation’s Dreamers, TPS holders, and undocumented individuals; and commit to immigration reform that recognises the tremendous contributions of international students, scholars, and alumni” within the first 100 days.

Former assistant vice president of Enrollment Management at George Washington University, Fred Siegel (speaking ahead of the election verdict) said Democrats would be “likely to openly support the initiatives to push international students to come into the US as Biden’s party recognises the value of foreign students and their contribution to the economy”.

Freddy Weima of Nuffic also tweeted that Biden lent his support to international education in a surprise drop-in to a meeting in the US in 2018.

“We ask that the administration withdraw all proposed rules and regulations undermining international students and scholars”

President of the American Council on Education, Ted Mitchell, said the entire higher education community will work with the incoming administration on key issues including expanding equitable access to educational opportunity and supporting cutting-edge research and innovation.

“We in higher education are committed to engaging with the administration and new Congress to confront a daunting list of challenges,” he said.

If Congress does not finalise and approve a comprehensive Covid relief package including at least $120 billion in financial assistance for students and colleges and universities facing an “existential crisis”, Mitchell added, ACE “hopes that the Biden administration and the new Congress will make doing so the top priority in January”.

Some students have hinted that the result of the election makes them feel at ease from “unfriendly/ restriction” policies regarding international students.

The news has also buoyed those working in the sector, with Nadine Baladi, founder and managing partner at The Parliament Group sharing, “Here’s to our industry in the USA! Here’s to women and minorities and social justice! Here’s to immigrants and international students! Here’s to decency and kindness!”

While giving his victory speech on Saturday, Joe Biden said “this is a great day” for America’s educators.

“You’re going to have one of your own in the White House and Jill is going to make a great first lady,” he said of his wife.

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