Office of International Programs

Office of International Programs

International Campus Update

International Campus Update is a monthly e-mail and online newsletter about international issues, events, and announcements at the University of Minnesota, compiled by the Office of International Programs.

Interested persons may request to receive this newsletter as an e-mail update:

International Campus Update welcomes submissions. Please send items to be included to the editor:

Jennifer Schulz
Phone: 612-624-0557
Email: schul160@umn.edu

May 16, 2008

Note: International Campus Update is not published during the summer. The next issue will be published in September.

In This Issue:

Headlines

OIP MOVING: Several units within the Office of International Programs will be moving to the East Bank in June. The OIP Dean's Office, China Center, and CARLA will move to the University International Center at 331 17th Ave SE (formerly the University Episcopal Center). Phone numbers and email addresses will remain the same. A grand opening will be held in the fall.

REGENTS POLICY: The Regents policy on international education is being revised for the first time since 1994. The new policy reflects a more comprehensive strategy and thorough integration of international efforts. The Regents Educational Planning and Policy Committee discussed the proposed changes at its May meeting and will vote on the final version in June. (Download current and proposed policy. Go to pp. 2-6 of PDF.)

INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI AWARDS: Five international alumni have been awarded the University’s 2008 Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals. The award honors alumni, former students, and friends of the University who have distinguished themselves in their post-university work as leaders in their professional careers. The recipients are Felicie Affolter, Switzerland (CLA); Meeran Borwankar, India (HHH); Mustafa Dilber, Turkey (CSOM); Chi-kuen Lau, Hong Kong, China (CLA); and Fouzia Saeed, Pakistan (CEHD and CDes). The deadline for the next round of nominations will be in February 2009. (MORE)

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR AWARD FOR GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT: The award is given to faculty and staff members—active or retired—in recognition of outstanding contributions to global education and international programs in their field, discipline, or the University. Recipients receive a cash prize and an honorary title. The award is sponsored by the Office of the Senior Vice President for System Academic Administration and administered by the Office of International Programs. DEADLINE: June 16, 2008 (MORE)

SCHOLARLY INTIATIVES FUNDING: The Office of International Programs is pleased to announce the second round of recipients of its grant program to promote a global network of scholarship and engagement and encourage interdisciplinary and transnational partnerships. More than $550,000 was awarded to faculty and graduate students through the following grants (click to see a list of the recipients):

IN MEMORY: G. Edward Schuh, Regents Professor Emeritus in the Humphrey Institute, died May 4. Schuh was a long-time supporter of international programs and was the recipient of many international awards and honors, including being named the first "Legendary Member" of the Brazilian Society of Rural Economics and Sociology in 2004. (MORE)

MEET INTERNATIONAL MEDIA: Students, faculty, and staff with international backgrounds or experience abroad are needed to meet with international media during the Republican National Convention to be held in St. Paul from September 1 to 4. It is expected that the volunteers will tell the reporters about their experiences abroad or their reasons for coming to Minnesota and how the University is becoming more international. Taking the reporters on short campus tours is also a possibility. If you are interested in being a volunteer, please contact Jennifer Schulz in the Office of International Programs at schul160@umn.edu. More information will be provided in late-August.

Program News

CARLA: Leaders of the University of Ottawa’s Official Languages and Bilingual Institute visited the University's Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition to discuss possible collaborations between OLBI and CARLA, with a focus on language policy and planning issues. The University of Ottawa is the continent’s oldest bilingual university, offering all courses in both French and English.

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS: The University's student chapter has been awarded a $25,000 grand prize advocacy award from the KEEN footwear company for the students' work to bring recycling and sustainable sanitation to Haiti. (MORE)

ICGC: The Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC) has been awarded a $600,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for continuation of its undergraduate honors program, the Global Issues Honors Consortium—a partnership between UMTC and UMM, and two Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tougaloo College and Dillard University. The program is designed to serve populations underrepresented in higher education, and focuses on contemporary international issues while preparing students to be successful in graduate school.

ICI: The University's Institute on Community Integration partnered with four community organizations in April to provide leadership training in disability policy and services for a team of 10 government officials, missionaries, educators, and advocates from Zambia, Africa. The program was modeled on the Certificate in Disability Policy and Services offered in the College of Education and Human Development. (MORE)

ISSS: Small World Coffee Hour (a long-standing program of International Student and Scholar Services) won a Tony Diggs Excellence Award for outstanding programs from the Student Activities Office in April. The bi-weekly event gives international and U.S. students, staff, and faculty the opportunity to meet each other in a relaxing environment and to learn about other cultures and traditions around the world.The Small World Coffee Hour team this year was Avigya Karki, Julia Rauchfuss, Seongdok Kim, Apeckchya Karki, Jersin Nguetio, Hee Sung Lee, and Taeko Harada. (MORE)

MEDICINE: The Department of Medicine will offer its third annual global health certification course—Clinical Tropical, Migrant, and Travel Medicine—for physicians and other health care providers, June 30-Aug. 22. Topics include introduction to refugee and migrant health, insect-borne disease, and travel medicine. Cosponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Features guest faculty from U-affiliated international sites. (MORE)

Professional Notes

PHILLIP PETERSON, U physician and director of the Medical School's International Medical Education and Research Program, will receive an honorary doctorate this month from Sweden's Karolinska Institute, one of the largest medical universities in Europe.

Study, Service Learning, Intern, Volunteer, Work, and Travel Abroad

BALKCUM TO RETIRE: Al Balkcum will retire as director of the Learning Abroad Center on June 30 after a 35-year career at the University. During his time as director, participation in education abroad has increased dramatically as the University developed its nationally recognized curriculum integration project. Martha Johnson, current associate director of the center, will serve as the interim director until a search is conducted.

SITE VISITS: The following faculty and staff will participate in the Learning Abroad Center's Curriculum Integration Site Visits for 2008-09.

Funding Opportunities and Announcements

DUNN PEACE: The recipients of the 2008-09 Dunn Peace Research Scholarship are:

JUDD FELLOWSHIPS: Twenty-one graduate and professional degree students have been awarded fellowships in 2008 through OIP's Walter H. Judd International Graduate and Professional Fellowships. The fellowships provide critical assistance to graduate students to study, undertake internships, and conduct research projects abroad. Six Judd Fellows will also receive airfare through the World Travel Scholarships from Northwest Airlines and administered by OIP. (MORE)

NSEP SCHOLARSHIP: UMTC undergraduate Kathleen Hiatt has received a National Security Education Program David L. Boren Scholarship to study Russian in St. Petersburg, Russia, during the 2008-09 academic year. The NSEP scholarship focuses on geographical areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security.This year 697 students applied and 151 students were awarded scholarships. (MORE)

See also SCHOLARLY INTIATIVES FUNDING in Headlines section above.

University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 9, No. 3

Office of International Programs
Associate Vice President and Dean: Meredith McQuaid
Editor: Jennifer Schulz

The next issue will be sent in early April. International Campus Update welcomes submissions. Please send items to be included by Friday, March 28, to schul160@umn.edu or call 612-624-0557.

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