Swarthmore College founded
Swarthmore College was founded on April 1, 1864
Swarthmore College opens
Swarthmore College opens, admitting 199 students into its first class in 1869.
The first international student arrives
The first international student, Bernardo de Souza Frank Harrah from Rio de Janerio, enrolls at the College.
First international student to graduate.
Edgar M. Zavitz was the first international student to graduate
The Institute of International Education (IIE) was established
The Institute of International Education (IIE) was established with a grant from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, becoming one of the first institutes to advocate for international exchange.
Integration of student body at Swarthmore
The Board of Managers decided to formally admit black applicants. As President John Nason explained in a letter to Earlham College President Thomas Jones: “It is the policy of Swarthmore College to accept students without discrimination as to race or color upon the bases of their ability to profit by residence here and to survive serious competition for place…. We welcome foreign students from all over the world and we think that our student body should represent not only all income classes in this country but all groups of people within our citizenry."
The Fullbright Program is created
Senator J. William Fullbright created the Fullbright Program, which funds international educational exchanges to improve intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence.
U.S. Information and Educational Exchange Act signed into law
The U.S. Information and Educational Exchange Act, also known as the Smith–Mundt Act, was signed into law, allowing communication to audiences outside the United States through broadcasting, face-to-face contacts, and exchanges (educational, cultural, and technical).
National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA) was founded
Founding of the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA), which is now known as NAFSA: Association of International Educators. It is the world's largest and most comprehensive nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange.
International population in the U.S. continues to increase
Approximately 26,000 international students are in the US, making up 1% of all students enrolled in US higher education.
The first F-1 visas are issued
Student visas (F-1) were introduced through the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (The McCarran-Walter Act).
Swarthmore gets its first International Student Advisor
International student adviser Gloria Evans came to Swarthmore originally as an Assistant Professor in Psychology. She remained at the College for more than 50 years until her passing in December 2008.
Intercultural Center opens
The Intercultural Center opened, originally consisting of three organizations - the Hispanic Organization for Latino Awareness, the Swarthmore Asian Organization, and Action Les-B-Gay.
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is created
The Department of Homeland Security implements the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Information on each foreign student's or exchange program visitor's port of entry and date of entry became required. Flight schools, language training schools, and vocational schools were now required to participate in SEVIS.
Federal funding increased for international studies and foreign languages
The Higher Education Act of 1965 was reauthorized, and its Title VI was reviewed to provide federal funds to 129 international studies and foreign language centers at universities nationwide and grants for international language studies, business, and international education programs, as well as international policy.
Swarthmore gets it's second International Student Advisor
Assistant Dean & Director of International Student Programs Jennifer Marks-Gold joins Swarthmore.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) was approved at Swarthmore
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) at the College was approved, and the first CPT was issued in the summer of 2019.
Population of international students in the U.S. continues to increase
There are approximately 884,000 international students in the US, making up almost 5% of all students enrolled in US higher education.
