Office of International Programs

Office of International Programs

International Campus Update

October 18, 2002

Headlines

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK 2002: International Education Week 2002 is November 18-22. Colleges and departments are encouraged to host events that highlight the University’s support of international education. International Education Week was first declared by the U.S. Departments of State and Education in 2000 as part of their effort to encourage policies and programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study in the U.S. For more information, go to http://www.international.umn.edu/ieweek/2002.

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK CELEBRATION: Judd Lecture and International Scholar Reception, Nov. 21, 3 to 6:30 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center. Event will include poster session by Judd Fellows, lecture by Humphrey Institute Dean J. Brian Atwood, and a reception honoring international faculty, scholars, and staff and the Judd Fellowship program. For more information, go to http://www.international.umn.edu/news/2002/ieweekcelebration.html.

SEPT. 11 REMEMBRANCE EVENT: OIP sponsored "A Time for Reflection: An International Remembrance of September 11th" on the one-year anniversary of the events. More than 50 people gathered to discuss the events and make peace cranes. See photos at: http://www.international.umn.edu/sept11/eventfollowup.html.

VOLUNTEER ABROAD: ISTC will sponsor "The Peace Corps and More: Alternative Opportunities Overseas," a talk by Zahara Heckscher, co-author of "How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas." This fun lecture covers practical information, such as the pros and cons of volunteer programs; finances; and tips for staying safe. Tuesday, October 22, 7:30 p.m., 125 Willey Hall.

INTERN ABROAD: The University of Minnesota has been accepted as a site for a new chapter of the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE). The IAESTE internship program offers paid internships abroad. For more information, go to http://aipt.org/subpages/iaeste_us/index.php.

JUNIOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) designed and implemented, for the second year in a row, a ten-day intercultural orientation training program this August for 96 faculty from the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union. Faculty participated in lectures on U.S. higher education, professional culture at U.S. academic institutions, writing for U.S. audiences, and intercultural awareness. The faculty are now serving as visiting scholars at U.S. universities through an 11-month professional development program. ISSS will receive another grant to implement this same training program again, as well as a program for 50 to 60 faculty from the Balkan countries.

FULBRIGHT AWARDS: Three University of Minnesota faculty have been awarded Fulbright Scholar grants during the 2002-03 academic year – Sarah Chambers, history; Susan Marie Galatowitsch, horticulture; and Mary Jane Madden, health care management. Ten faculty members from other countries received a Fulbright Scholar grant to do research at the University of Minnesota. See University news release at http://www1.umn.edu/urelate/newsservice/newsreleases/02_10fulbright.html. For more information about the faculty Fulbright program, go to http://www.international.umn.edu/funding/fulbright.html.

FULBRIGHT DIRECTORIES: OIP has a limited number of Fulbright directories (both the U.S. scholars and the visiting scholars directory). Call 612-624-5580 if you would like a copy of either directory. The directories are also available online at http://www.cies.org/.

MUCIA BOARD: Robert Jones, vice president and executive vice provost for faculty and academic programs, has been named a new board member of the Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities (MUCIA). MUCIA is a consortium of five major U.S. research institutions with the goal to undertake human resource development and institution-building projects involving teaching, research, and extension. The consortium's international activities span all disciplines, and the member institutions offer academic programs at the undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, professional, and visiting scientist level. For more information about MUCIA, go to http://www.international.umn.edu/MUCIA.html.

NEW GRANT: The Department of Curriculum and Instruction has been awarded a new grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Title III National Professional Development Program. TEAM UP: TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS ACTION MODEL TO UNITE PROFESSIONALS is designed to aid professional development for educators so as to improve classroom instruction for limited English proficient students. Funding will be provided for five years for a total of $1.3 million. The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) will provide assistance in coordinating grant activities and was instrumental in preparing the grant for submission.

LANGUAGE CONFERENCE: Proposals for papers and symposia on all aspects of the education and professional development of language teachers are being sought for the Third International Conference on Language Teacher Education to be held May 29-31, 2003, in Minneapolis, sponsored by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition. Papers and symposia may report on data-based research, theoretical and conceptual analyses, or best practices in language teacher education. The priority deadline for submission of proposals is November 1, 2002. Submission guidelines are available at: http://carla.acad.umn.edu/conference2003/CALLFORPAPERS.html.

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 the OIP September 11 Web site.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ENROLLMENT: The number of new international students enrolled at the University this fall is down 18 percent from last fall. Kay Thomas, director of International Student and Scholar Services, says the decline is most likely due to the increasing length of time it takes students to obtain visas. Other universities are experiencing similar declines. See Minnesota Daily story: http://www.daily.umn.edu/article.php?id=3584&year=2002.

SEVIS TRACKING SYSTEM: Many education officials and members of Congress are concerned that the federal government’s SEVIS international student and exchange visitor tracking system will not be ready by the January 30, 2003, deadline. Staff in International Student and Scholar Services continue to work with University administration to develop systems to ensure compliance with SEVIS by the deadline. See StarTribune story: http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/3368087.html or Arizona Republic story: http://www.arizonarepublic.com/news/articles/1015ins-computers.html.

ISEAS SYSTEM: On September 11, 2002, the Department of State announced and mandated immediate implementation of the Interim Student and Exchange Authentication System (ISEAS), a temporary system that will be used until the SEVIS tracking system is fully operational. ISEAS requires the office that issues the visa document for an F-1, M-1, or J-1 nonimmigrant visa, (i.e. International Student and Scholar Services, Admissions, and similar offices) to enter additional data about the student or scholar into an electronic system that will be reviewed by embassy or consulate staff before they issue a visa. This mandate applies to both current and new students and scholars applying for visas or visa renewals after September 11, 2002.

Campus and College News

CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES: The University of Minnesota Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Holocaust Educational Foundation of Illinois are sponsoring "Lessons and Legacies Conference on the Holocaust," November 1-4, Radisson Metrodome. For more information, go to: http://www.chgs.umn.edu/Educational_Resources/Events/
Lessons___Legacies_VII/lessons___legacies_vii.html.

GRADUATE SCHOOL: The Guy Stanton Ford Memorial Lecture will feature Paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey, who will speak on "The Future of Conservation and Wildlife." The lecture is Wednesday, November 6, at 10:15 a.m. at the Ted Mann Concert Hall. For more information about the lecture and Leakey, go to http://www.grad.umn.edu/events/ford2.html.

HUMPHREY INSTITUTE: The Humphrey Institute’s Center for Nations in Transition is leading efforts to train the first generation of free enterprise business leaders in the Ukraine by teaching educators Western-style business practices to help them start their own accredited MBA programs in Ukraine. The project is supported by a five-year, $9.5 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development. The initial program ran from 1999 until May 2002. The new program is designed to build on the success of the past three years and is led by the University and various partners.

Karim Kawar, ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the U.S., will speak on "Crisis and Peace in the Middle East," Tuesday, October 29, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Cowles Auditorium in the Humphrey Center.

MINNESOTA ENGLISH CENTER: William Hellriegel is the new director of the Minnesota English Center. Hellriegel previously worked at the University of California - Santa Barbara. The center offers several programs of English instruction, primarily for students who need to improve their English skills before studying at the University. The programs are also suited to students who wish to improve their English for personal or business reasons. The center, as part of the Department of English as a Second Language, also acts as a place of practice for ESL master's students. Center’s Web site: http://www1.umn.edu/mec/.

MISA: The Minnesota International Student Association (MISA) has started International House, a place where international and U.S. students can live together. With the help of this new and unique experience, MISA hopes to promote more interaction between students of diverse backgrounds at the University. For more information, contact sulieman@hotmail.com.

Funding Opportunities and Announcements

OIP: The following funding opportunities are administered by the Office of Interational Programs. For more information, go to http://www.international.umn.edu/funding or call 612-624-5580.

ISTC: Paulo Freire International Community Service Grant Program, $2,000 for students to work on an individually designed international community service project. Applications are available in ISTC at 94 Blegen or the Career and Community Learning Center (CCLC). Application deadline: November 1. Sponsored by ISTC and CCLC. For more information, contact Laura at 612-625-0161 or lauravt@umn.edu.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION:

University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 3, No. 6

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.