International Campus Update
October 19, 2001
Headlines
THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11: The events of September 11 have put a spotlight on international education and have made the recent weeks a busy, hectic time in OIP. While most Americans were glued to their televisions, ISSS and Global Campus staff acted quickly to address the safety and well-being of study abroad participants and international students and scholars. OIP directors responded to media inquiries and monitored legislative and regulatory issues. OIP has gathered resources and news regarding the September 11 events. This listing will be updated as new issues arise. See Resources.
TRAVEL WARNINGS: In the wake of the September 11 events, many people have questions regarding the state of travel and study in specific regions throughout the world. To review travel warnings and restrictions, visit the U.S. Department of State website.
SUSPICIOUS MAIL: There have been no incidents at the University of U.S. mail being used to transport anthrax. For facts and tips about suspicious mail and biological weapons, go to the U.S. Postal Service website.
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK 2001: International Education Week 2001 is November 12-16 and is declared by the U.S. Departments of Education and State to encourage policies and programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study in the U.S. University departments and units are encouraged to sponsor events and programs that highlight the University's support of international education. A listing of events will be included in the next issue of this newsletter and on the OIP website. For more information about International Education Week, go to the State Department's website.
CUBA LICENSE: The University of Minnesota was recently issued a license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to sponsor academic travel to and from Cuba. OIP coordinates use of the license, authorizes travel, and keeps the records required by the U.S. government. All campuses of the University are included under the terms of the license. This license addresses the U.S. economic embargo, allowing authorized travelers to spend money in Cuba. It is separate from any other authorizations and visas that a traveler will need. Contact Kathleen Sellew, OIP, at 612-626-8834 or k-sell@umn.edu. See Cuba License.
CHERYL ROBERTSON: Cheryl Robertson, assistant professor in the School of Nursing, received one of five 2001 Twin Cities International Citizen Awards at a reception on September 25. The award honors those whose work has contributed significantly to international understanding, cooperation, friendship, and development. Robertson works to establish sustainable community-based health care for refugees and other victims of armed conflict and war-related atrocities. See Minnesota Daily coverage.
INTERNATIONALIZING THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: Internationalizing the University of Minnesota, a project with grant support from the Bush Foundation, was kicked off September 24-25 with a retreat of 114 representatives from all four campuses. Faculty, professional academic advisers, and project staff gathered for the first in a series of workshops to discuss academic and developmental needs of freshmen and sophomores with respect to study abroad and international education. Coordinated by staff from the Global Campus and OIP, the event presented participants with the value of study abroad, study abroad program structures, and an overview of the Study Abroad Curriculum Integration Initiative. This collaboration will revise existing and create new, innovative advising materials and practices. See Curriculum Integration.
CHINA NEWS: Rate of Chinese visa denials increasing — Governor Ventura's trip to China canceled — China Center director attends forum in Beijing. Read more on the web.
NEW STUDY ABROAD CATALOG: New Study Abroad Catalog is now available. Produced by Global Campus • Study Abroad, the catalog features 230 study abroad programs in 80 countries. Catalogs are available at the entrances to most campus buildings or by calling Global Campus at 612-626-9000. View it online at Global Campus.
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE AND TRAVEL CENTER: International Service and Travel Center has launched its new website, with a new design and expanded content in the work, volunteer, internship, and travel sections. See ISTC.
MEDICAL COVERAGE ABROAD: During open enrollment, all University employees must select a medical plan option by November 15. If you are considering international research or travel, OIP encourages you to review the out-of-network coverage, especially international coverage, before you select a plan. If your health plan does not provide sufficient coverage for medical care abroad, it is recommended that you purchase a supplemental travel insurance policy. OIP's International Service & Travel Center is researching various travel insurance plans in hopes of being able to recommend a policy to University travelers and scholars. More information will be available in future issues of this newsletter.
FULBRIGHT DIRECTORY: The 2001-2002 Fulbright Visiting Scholar Directory is now online. This directory provides a cross-indexed listing of the visiting scholars -- including 12 at the University -- and provides instructions on how to request one to come to your campus or community under the Occasional Lecturer Program. See Directory.
Campus and College News
HUMPHREY INSTITUTE: A new course on immigrant health is being offered online. Taught by Katherine Fennelly, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, this course can be taken from a home or office computer anywhere in the U.S. It offers four graduate credits, or can be taken as a non-credit class for CEUs or CMEs. The class runs January to May. See Immigrant Health.
LEADERSHIP UKRAINE: As part of a team that included Polish, Ukrainian, and U.S. instructors, senior fellow Barbara Crosby taught a one-week leadership course twice as part of the third annual Summer Institutes this July. The institutes are sponsored by the Consortium for the Enhancement of Ukrainian Management Education, a project of the Humphrey Institute's Center for Nations in Transition. Center director and senior fellow Zbigniew Bochniarz also served on the program faculty.
U.N. WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM: Samuel L. Myers Jr., professor and director of the Humphrey Institute's Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice, led an eight-member delegation to the conference and will spearhead a project to summarize the long-term implications of the conference and the prospects for implementation.
DEPARTMENT OF GERMAN, SCANDINAVIAN AND DUTCH: Department of German, Scandinavian, and Dutch will present honorary degrees (Doctor of Humane Letters) to Heinrich Beck and Johan Fjord Jensen on November 6. Beck, Germany, a distinguished scholar in medieval Scandinavian and German, has published widely in the field of Old Norse and Germanic medieval studies. He is the editor of the Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde, the standard reference work in the Germanic cultures in antiquity and the middle ages. Jensen, Denmark, is the preeminent scholar and critic of the humanities in Denmark from the 1960s to the 1980s. A prolific scholar of Nordic and comparative literature, he has been an intellectual role model for an entire generation of Scandinavian academics.
Funding Opportunities and Announcements
PAULO FREIRE GRANT: Up to $2,000 to enable Twin Cities students to engage in community service abroad. Sponsored by the Career and Community Learning Center (CCLC) and International Service and Travel Center (ISTC). Application deadline: 4:30 pm, Friday, November 9, 2001. To learn more or pick up an application, go to ISTC in 94 Blegen Hall or CCLC in 345 Fraser Hall.
FACULTY TRAVEL GRANTS: Faculty travel grants: designed to enable University faculty on all campuses to participate in one-time research or conference opportunities, or to fund initial phases of projects that will ultimately be supported by other sources. Deadline: December 3, 2001, for activities commencing January through April. See Travel Grants. Robert Blanchette, professor in Department of Plant Pathology, used a travel grant to fund a research trip to study wood deterioration in the Canadian arctic. For an overview and photos of his trip, see Blanchette.
GRAD SCHOOL FELLOWSHIPS: The following competitions are administered by the Graduate School Fellowship Office, 321 Johnston Hall, 612-625-7579, or on the Web.
• DAAD GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP — Application deadline: November 26,
2001.
•DAAD FOR GRADUATING SENIORS — Application deadline: November 26,
2001.
•LUCE SCHOLARS PROGRAM — Application deadline: November 1, 2001.
•TORKSE KLUBBEN FELLOWSHIP — Application deadline: March 1, 2002.
TWIN CITIES: Switbert Kamazina has been named one of 10 Peace Scholars, sponsored by the Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program of the U.S. Institute of Peace. Kamazima, a student in Sociology, will receive $17,000 for doctoral dissertation research involving cooperative efforts along the Tanzania-Uganda border.
Lawrence Toledo, a student participating in the Toledo Global Campus o Study Abroad program, received one of the first national Gilman Scholarships, worth $5,000. There were 2,200 applicants and 139 grants awarded.
DEPARTMENT OF GERMAN, SCANDINAVIAN AND DUTCH: The department recently announced several graduate students who received fellowships for 2001-2002. See Fellowships.
MEDICAL SCHOOL: Troy Lund, a 4th year medical student, is one of ten U.S. recipients of the China Medical Board of New York Award. The recipients will attend the International Perspectives on Human Clinical Trials in Kunming, China, October 19-23. Lund was also a recipient of an International Graduate & Professional Fellowship, sponsored by OIP and the Graduate School, which helped fund a rotation in The Gambia.
University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 2, No. 9
Office of International Programs
Assoc. Vice President: C. Eugene Allen
Editor: Jennifer Schulz
Interested persons may request to receive this newsletter as an e-mail update by contacting the editor at schul160@umn.edu or calling 612-624-0557.
The next issue will be sent in November. International Campus Update welcomes submissions. Please send items to be included to schul160@umn.edu or call 612-624-0557.