dipity

Learn about how the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs was started.

Created by ecawebsitesmail on Sep 30, 2010

Last updated: 09/30/10 at 04:55 PM

• 70th Anniversary for IVLP
  2010

  The International Visitor Leadership Program celebrates its 70th Anniversary!

• ExchangesConnect
  2008

  2008 – ExchangesConnect (Connect.State.Gov) debuts as the first social network of the U.S. government.
  http://connect.state.gov

• NSLI-Y is Launched
  2006

  The Bush administration launches the National Security Language Initiative, including ECA’s NSLI-Y initiative focused on American youth.
  http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/nsli.html

• Alumni
  2001

  ECA establishes the Office of Alumni Affairs and the Alumni.State.Gov network.
  http://alumni.state.gov

• Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation is Created
  2000

  Congress creates the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.
  http://exchanges.state.gov/heritage/afcp.html

• The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is Created
  1999

  USIA moves into the State Department where exchange programs and other USIA components comprise the department’s new Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which maintains its authority under the Fulbright-Hays Act.

• Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX)
  1992

  Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program is established.
  http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/flex.html

• Cultural Property Advisory Committee
  1984

  Congress creates the Cultural Property Advisory Committee to help stem illicit trafficking in cultural property. The CPAC secretariat is housed in ECA.
  http://exchanges.state.gov/heritage/culprop/committee.html

• CBYX
  1983

  The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program begins.
  http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/cbyx.html

• Name Change
  1982

  President Reagan changes USICA’s name back to USIA

• Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
  1978

  President Carter initiates the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program.
  http://exchanges.state.gov/globalexchanges/humphrey-fellowship.html

• Reorganization
  1978

  President Carter approves a major reorganization of USIA, combining it with the department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to become the United States International Communication Agency (USICA).

• English Teaching Forum
  1962

  English Teaching Forum magazine is launched.
  http://exchanges.state.gov/englishteaching/forum-journal.html

• Fulbright-Hays Act
  1961

  Congress passes the Fulbright-Hays Act to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. By the end of the year, a Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is established in the Department of State under an assistant secretary.

• Bureau of Educational and Cultural Relations
  1959

  The exchange function is separated from the State Department’s Bureau of Public Affairs and is assigned to a newly created Bureau of Educational and Cultural Relations (CU).

• USIA is Created
  1953

  President Eisenhower establishes the United States Information Agency (USIA) to consolidate information functions administered by the State Department and other agencies. Educational and cultural exchanges remain within the State Department.

• International Visitor Program
  1948

  International Visitor Program formally established to engage professionals, intellectuals and opinion leaders in the political and social infrastructure.

• Smith-Mundt Act
  1948

  Rep. Karl Mundt and Sen. H. Alexander Smith introduce the Smith-Mundt Act, establishing a statutory information agency to "promote a better understanding of the United States in other countries, and to increase mutual understanding" between Americans and foreigners. The Smith-Mundt Act gives full recognition to the importance of educational and cultural exchanges sponsored by the government.
  http://vlex.com/source/us-code-foreign-relations-intercous-1021/toc/19

• Office of International Information and Educational Exchange
  1947

  OIC is renamed the Office of International Information and Educational Exchange.

• Office of War Information is Terminated
  1946

  President Truman terminates OWI, one section is placed within the Department of State as the Office of International Information and Cultural Affairs (OIC). OIC has a network of 76 branches worldwide; 67 information centers and libraries stock books, display exhibits and show films.

• Fulbright Program
  1946

  Fulbright Program is established.

• Office of War Information is Established
  1942

  Office of War Information (OWI) is established to consolidate scattered agencies of domestic and foreign information.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Office_of_War_Information

• 130 Latin American Journalists are Invited to the U.S.
  1940

  Nelson Rockefeller named coordinator of Commercial and Cultural Affairs for the American Republics where he initiates the exchange of persons program with Latin America, inviting 130 Latin American journalists to the United States.