As you are surely well aware, COVID-19 is having a significant impact at the domestic and international level and has disrupted international travel and exchange, especially at higher education institutions throughout the world. Most recently, the U.S. Department of State has issued the
Global Level 4 Health Advisory
. These are unprecedented circumstances. We recognize that the closing of borders and air space, lack of flights, and other local conditions might or will make international travel difficult, and we are aware that higher education institution partnerships between the United States and the rest of the Americas could be impacted by disruptions in travel and other factors related to COVID-19. We also know that many of you are also closely following the COVID-19 situation and its impact in your local communities. We are deeply saddened by these recent occurrences, as our primary mission is to stimulate higher education institutional partnerships and provide training opportunities for students in the United States and the rest of the Western Hemisphere.
Additionally, in light of the cancellation of the NAFSA 2020 Annual Conference & Expo, we are very disappointed to announce that
our Innovation Fund Workshop at NAFSA 2020 on May 25, 2020 has been cancelled
. We appreciate your patience and understanding, and we are committed to finding alternative ways to connect our community.
We believe that we are called 100,000
Strong
in the Americas for a reason. As a community of international education practitioners, we are hopeful for the future while being realistic about the present. Given the uncertainty related to the COVID-19 virus, the
100,000 Strong in the Americas
Innovation Fund team at Partners of the Americas, along with Innovation Fund program colleagues at the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassies in the region, will continue to support your partnerships – always – and during these challenging times. We will continue to build our network of strong and impactful partnerships throughout the hemisphere, and we will work to ensure that our Innovation Fund program participants stay safe and healthy.
We are currently working with our public and private partners, supporters, and stakeholders to ensure the safety of students and faculty abroad and at home, which is the highest priority at the present moment. Know that we are committed to working with higher education institutions to build institutional capacity, create dynamic training programs, and expand global education opportunities for students. We recognize that we are all working under unusual, and challenging circumstances, and so, we are thankful for the invaluable work that all of you continue to do to connect the Americas through the power of education. Know that we are here to support your programs and initiatives as best as we can, and to continue to provide you with helpful resources. For more information regarding COVID-19's effect on international education specifically, please visit
www.nafsa.org/regulatory-information/coronavirus-critical-resource
s
,
which provides a comprehensive
list of resources for international education practitioners.
In this difficult time, the U.S. Department of State and Partners of the Americas remain committed to expanding international education opportunities for students.
With that in mind, we invite you all to save the date and keep an eye out for the launch of a new Innovation Fund Grant Competition on April 1, 2020.
Join us in laying the groundwork for an eventual resurgence in international education exchanges!
Sincerely,
The
100,000 Strong in the Americas
Innovation Fund Team at Partners of the Americas
