Effective government relations require long-term relationships with both career staff and political appointees at the U.S. Department of Education, Administration, and the U.S. Congress. Through IEC's organizational leadership and base in Washington, D.C., access to these people is available to members.

IEC staff work closely with many of the top political appointees and have long-standing relationships with key department staff, including those in charge of issues involving international institutions. IEC also possess contacts with key Members of Congress, especially those on the committees responsible for education, as well as international issues related to immigration, homeland security, privacy, reporting of crime statistics, and other areas of interest.

Some current issues being tracked which impact international universities that draw American students to their classrooms include:

• Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act
• Reinstatement of the eligibility of U.S. graduate veterinary students for guaranteed student loans
• Problems in reporting the U.S. exams administered to medical students at international universities
• The requirement imposed by the Department of Education that all universities receiving more than a certain amount of guaranteed student loan funds submit U.S.-type financial audits to the department

A daily presence on the ground in Washington, D.C. for members ensures that these issues and many others are followed and that policy makers are made aware of how policies affect international institutions and their students.