HSAAC Celebrates Three Years
April 14, 2015
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Academic Engagement (OAE) supports the DHS mission by building, improving and leveraging relationships with the academic community.
Through this ongoing series, read how OAE actively engages with the academic community in the United States and leads initiatives related to international students, among other key focus areas.
The Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC) celebrates three years of service this spring. Managed by DHS's OAE, the HSAAC is a DHS federal advisory committee made up of a diverse group of university presidents, academic leaders, and interagency partners charged with advising DHS’s secretary and senior leadership on matters related to homeland security and the academic community.
Through its six subcommittees, including one focused on international students, the HSAAC has delivered more than 100 recommendations to DHS surrounding homeland security matters and the academic community. Of these recommendations, 30 have focused on international students, resulting in key accomplishments for DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). A few of these key accomplishments include:
- Draft Policy Guidance: Based on a recommendation from the council, SEVP began publishing draft policy guidance for public input on Study in the States. To date, 14 pieces of draft international student policy guidance surrounding topics such as conditional admission, bridge programs, and flight training have been published for public comment.
- Campus Resilience: In support of DHS’ mission, HSAAC recommendations have improved campus resilience and emergency planning efforts. In October 2014, the HSAAC, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and OAE hosted the National Seminar and Tabletop Exercise for Institutions of Higher Education, the first in a series of tabletop exercises targeting institutions of higher education. More than 100 participants from 21 institutions of higher education attended the event and engaged in a series of workshop sessions on topics relevant to campus preparedness and resilience, including international students. The event included a panel session with representatives from SEVP, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of State. The panel discussed the international student immigration process, the unique needs of international students related to emergency planning and resources available to students and school officials.
- Collaboration on Academic Issues: HSAAC recommendations have also increased collaboration between government partners and the academic community. In December, SEVP partnered with the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), OAE and the U.S. Department of State’s EducationUSA network to host a webinar with HBCUs regarding international students. Designed specifically for HBCUs, the webinar included an overview of the international student immigration process, information related to the recruitment of international students and compliance with federal regulations, and resources available to international students and institutions.
To learn more and sign up to receive monthly updates from OAE, visit the OAE website.