International Campus Update
December 14, 2001
- Headlines
- International Education After September 11
- Campus and College News
- Funding Opportunities and Announcements
Headlines
OPEN DOORS 2001: The University of Minnesota — Twin Cities campus is ranked 17th in the number of international students enrolled and is ranked 15th in the number of students who study abroad, according to the Open Doors 2001 report released November 13. The annual report on U.S. international student mobility is published by the Institute of International Education. See Open Doors for more information.
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK 2001: International Education Week 2001 was November 12 – 16. Colleges, offices, and student and community groups hosted more than 25 events to highlight the University's support of international education. The week included a range of activities, such as a study abroad fair, research presentations, award ceremonies, receptions, Festival of Nations and a China I.Q. quiz. The week culminated in a festive Grand Finale Small World Coffee Hour, which featured an original performance created for the event by the Pangea World Theatre. See IE Week to view photos.
OIP GRANTS OFFICE UPDATE: Two major international grant proposals and a gift request have been submitted in recent weeks through OIP's Grants Office.
- The first grant (principal investigator: Andrew D. Cohen) is a request to the U.S. Department of Education's Language Resource Centers Program for $1,599,728 over 4 years to support interdisciplinary research projects and outreach pursued by the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA).
- The second grant (principal investigators: Andrew D. Cohen and R. Michael Paige) was submitted to the U.S. Department of Education's International Research and Studies Program and requests $439,330 over 3 years to evaluate the effectiveness of materials designed to help students develop strategies for learning language and culture while abroad.
- The gift request (principal investigator: C. Eugene Allen) seeks funding over 3 years from a major corporate foundation to create a scholarship pool for students of limited financial means who wish to study abroad, participate in international internships, or enroll in an intensive language institute abroad.
OIP's Grants Office helps faculty and staff design, write, budget, and
submit institutional grant proposals that seek to internationalize the
research, teaching, and outreach missions of the University. For more
information, e-mail David F. Steele, Director of Grants and Program Development,
at steel001@umn.edu.
International Education After September 11
OIP continues to monitor news, legislation, and issues related to international education and the events of September 11. Updated information and resources are posted on OIP's Sept. 11 news and resources page.
- Local law enforcement officials are interviewing more than 90 men from abroad for information related to the September 11 attacks. At least one University international student has been contacted. ISSS organized a meeting with U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger on Dec. 7 to explain the interviews. For more information, see stories in the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, and Minnesota Daily.
- Many international students at the University are debating whether to travel home during winter break, fearing they may not be allowed back into the United States. Read the Minnesota Daily story.
- Senators Kennedy and Feinstein introduced a compromise border security bill on November 30, which contains many provisions relating to international students. NAFSA: Association of International Educators, which had previously supported the Kennedy-Brownback bill, calls the bill "a largely favorable compromise" that removes "the objectionable provisions and [maintains] the basic Kennedy-Brownback framework." NAFSA provides an overview and full text of the legislation at nafsa.org.
Campus and College News
FORMER FELLOW NAMED AMBASSADOR: Alan Kyerematen, a 1986-87 International Fellow at the Humphrey Institute, recently was named Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States. Selected in 1994 by Time magazine as one of the developing world’s most outstanding young professionals, Kyerematen holds degrees in economics and law.
HONORARY DEGREE: The College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences (COAFES) awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science to Lou Chenghou at a ceremony in Beijing, China, on November 5. Lou received his Ph.D. in botany from the University in 1939. He was honored for his work in plant physiology — guiding Chinese agriculture to modern production practices, an improved crop yield, and enhanced environmental protection. Representatives of the University of Minnesota included Charles Muscoplat, Dean of COAFES, and Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and University alumnus.
Funding Opportunities and Announcements
2002 PAULO FREIRE COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANTS: 2002 Paulo Freire Community Service Grants were awarded to Scott Daby, Renee Huffman, Elizabeth Rosar, and Milo Sybrant. The Paulo Freire Grant gives students the opportunity to participate in three different components: the Community and Career Learning Center's "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" in the spring, a nine-week international project over the summer, and a service learning course at the University the following semester. Daby plans to work with Amnesty International in South Africa, Huffman will volunteer with Common Hope in Guatemala, Rosar will do AIDS education work in Jamaica, and Sybrant will work with the Water and Forest Services in Senegal. This grant is sponsored and administrated by the International Service & Travel Center and was made possible in part by the Billman International Scholarship Fund.
UPCOMING FELLOWSHIP DEADLINES: Contact Stephanie Bettermann, OIP, for more information on these fellowships (612-624-5580 or bette011@umn.edu).
- NSEP David L. Boren Undergraduate Fellowship — Jan. 28, 2002
- NSEP David L. Boren Graduate Fellowship — Feb. 1, 2002
- Walter H. Judd International Graduate & Professional Fellowships — Feb. 11, 2002
University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 2, No. 11
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 February. International Campus Update welcomes submissions. Please send items to be included to schul160@umn.edu or call 612-624-0557.