International Students in American Colleges and Universities: A History [Hardcover]

"This well researched book presents a unique opportunity to learn the contributions and value of international exchange and study abroad programs.  It is a comprehensive history of foreign students and their impact on education from antiquity to the early 21st century.  This is a book is for everyone who recognizes the rising importance of world affairs and the fact that education in the 21st century must include an introduction to people from other cultures. Don't miss it!"--Suzanne E. Gordon, Former Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville

 “This is arguably the most comprehensive focus on the international student and will contribute tremendously to academics and the society in general.  By linking the past, the present, and possibly the future, the authors have provided a much needed and balanced perspective on a debate that is ongoing at a challenging time.  This book should be required for graduate courses for students pursuing careers in higher education administration.”-- Kondwani Phwandaphwanda, Instructor, University of Central Arkansas and former international student from Malawi

“An exhaustively researched, gracefully written account of the way America has welcomed students to partake of its educational institutions over the course of nearly two centuries. Its historical perspective is deep--relating the story of the foreign students who flocked to ancient Athens and the wandering scholars of medieval Europe. It does not shy from the controversies that have beset international students over many decades, from the immigration exclusions of the nineteenth century through the McCarthyism of the twentieth and the terror fears of the twenty-first. Bevis and Lucas are to be commended for having produced a thorough and exciting tale of this most productive and important meeting of other cultures with our own.”--Steve Courtney, journalist and author of Joseph Hopkins Twichell: The Life and Times of Mark Twain's Best Friend

Today more than half a million foreign students study in America's colleges and universities, significantly contributing to the U.S. economy. Despite its current success, international study was initially not an easy feat and the first students had to traverse oceans and continents at a time when transportation could be treacherous. Upon arrival they found few support services and were left to maneuver a foreign education system. International Students in American Colleges and Universities argues that the legacy of those trailblazers and of the thousands who followed is an important piece of American higher education history. This book traces their fascinating story from its roots--highlighting the individuals, students and policymakers who contributed to the rich history of international students in America.