Office of International Programs

Office of International Programs

International Campus Update

February 3, 2005

Headlines

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS ASSEMBLY: College of Liberal Arts Assembly voted Jan. 27 to drop the Graduation Proficiency Test as part of the college’s second-language requirement.
MORE: http://langtest.umn.edu or http://www.class.umn.edu

LEARNING ABROAD CENTER: Learning Abroad Center travel services office has moved to 230 Heller Hall. Products and services available to the University community include passport photos, railpasses, international ID cards, travel guides, insurance, group travel assistance, etc.
MORE: http://www.umabroad.umn.edu/products/index.html

INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI AWARD: The nomination deadline for the 2004 Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals is Feb. 16. The January-February issue of UMAA’s Minnesota Magazine features an article on psychologist Fanny Cheung, alumnus and 2003 recipient of the award.
ARTICLE: http://www.alumni.umn.edu (Click on “Read selected stories from the January-February issue”)
AWARD INFO: http://www.international.umn.edu/awards/leader/leader.html

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Relocation Assistance Program can help faculty and staff who will be away from the Twin Cities during the next academic year and would like to rent their homes to new U faculty or staff.
MORE: rapland@umn.edu or 612-626-0775

TRAINING FOR GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING: ISSS will again sponsor these popular sessions, designed to help faculty and staff better understand the University’s international community and learn specific strategies for crossing cultural barriers in meetings, classrooms, and service settings. All sessions are in 110 Heller Hall.
MORE: http://www.isss.umn.edu/
REGISTER: email isssstaf@umn.edu

Program News

CHINA CENTER: China Center celebrated its 25th anniversary with a Chinese New Year’s celebration on Jan. 21. Event was attended by more than 400 people and included a traditional lion dance.
ARTICLE, PHOTOS: http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2004/01/22/7957

ITALIAN AMERICAN FESTIVAL: More than 100 UMD students, faculty, and members of the Duluth community traveled to Palermo, Sicily, from Dec. 28 to Jan. 10 as part of the yearlong Italian American Festival. They performed “Guys & Dolls” and a big band show in the Teatro Politeama and set-up the American Art Exhibition at the Palazzo Sclafani. All performances were very successful and well received by the Italian audiences. The Art Exhibition entailing works from the Tweed Museum collection and Duluth Community artists opened on Jan. 14 and will run until Feb. 7. In late-April, the festival moves to Duluth with musical performances, art exhibits, an international academic conference, and an Italian American Heritage Celebration.
MORE: http://www.italiafest.us

MINNESOTA ENGLISH CENTER: Minnesota English Center offers semi-private tutoring courses for University staff and students. The seven-week course is designed to help participants sharpen the English language skills they need for academic and professional success. Clerical and bargaining unit employees can take this course for free, and some graduate students are subsidized by their departments.
MORE: http://www.cla.umn.edu/mec/

Professional Notes

FREDERICK ASHER: Frederick Asher, art history, received the Outstanding and Inspiring Leadership Award from the Consulate General of India for his leadership in promoting stronger relations between India and the U.S.

SUBHASH BASAK: Subhash Basak, UMD Natural Resources Research Institute, recently traveled to India as an invited speaker at Delhi University and to present the Distinguished Professor Ashis Chandra Memorial Lecture, "Drug Discovery in the Postgenomic Era," at the University of Calcutta in Kokata.

GARY McLEAN: Gary McLean, College of Education, was appointed external adviser, master’s degree in applied humanities for development, Mahidol University, Thailand, in October. McLean also presented “Business Driven HRD/HRM” at Dhurakijpundit University, Bangkok, Thailand, on Nov. 26.

PAULINA RAENTO: Paulina Raento, University of Helsinki, is the David and Nancy Speer Visiting Professor in Finnish Studies. Raento’s area of interest includes political, cultural, and regional geography, and the geography of leisure and recreation.

Study, Work, Intern, Volunteer, and Travel Abroad

LEARNING ABROAD CENTER SPRING FAIR: Feb. 18, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Willey Hall Concourse

LEARNING ABROAD CENTER: Learning Abroad Center has moved to one centralized location. Students can now visit 230 Heller Hall for help with study, work, intern, volunteer, and travel abroad. First Step Meetings are now offered in 230 Heller Hall, with the Resource Center open 9 a.m.–6 p.m. on Mondays and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
FIRST STEP SCHEDULE: http://umabroad.umn.edu/academic/FirstStepSchedule.html

NEW SUMMER SCIENCE IN ICELAND PROGRAMS: “Arctic Biology in Iceland: Life Under Extreme Conditions” and “Geology of Iceland: Volcanoes, Glaciers, and Plate Tectonics,” June 21–July 30, 2004. Faculty from the University of Iceland, Icelandic research institutions, and the University of Minnesota provide lectures and field trips in and around Reykjavik and support students’ fieldwork.
MORE: http://UMabroad.umn.edu/programs/EUROPE/iceland1.html

GLOBAL SEMINARS: Three-week Global Seminars are offered during May session in Amsterdam, Paris, Florence, Toledo, Dublin, London, and Ghana.
MORE: http://www.UMabroad.umn.edu/programs/globalSeminars.html

ISEP: ISEP, the International Student Exchange Program, has placements available at universities around the world. While the priority deadline for competitive sites was Jan. 15, there is rolling admission for non-competitive sites.
MORE: http://www.isep.org

FIRST YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS: The IMER Office and the Learning Abroad Center have developed a new international health opportunity in Ecuador for medical students the summer after their first year that will provide an extraordinary hands-on experience with many aspects of international health in resource-poor countries. The program is set up for two groups of four students, one in July and one in August.
MORE: email imer@umn.edu

Funding Opportunities and Announcements

ZACHERY COELIUS: Zachery Coelius, a political science and history major (Twin Cities), has won a George J. Mitchell Scholarship to study in Northern Ireland next year. The prestigious award honors America’s top students and supports one year of study in Ireland or Northern Ireland for 10 Americans.

GRADUATE SCHOOL: Applications are available upon request in the Fellowship Office (314 Johnston Hall) or online at http://www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships/

OIP: The following funding opportunities are administered by the Office of International Programs.
MORE: http://www.international.umn.edu/funding/ or 612-624-5580

SCHOLARSHIP EXCHANGE IN MALAYSIA: The Learning Abroad Center is still accepting applications on a rolling basis for the 2004–05 Scholarship Exchange in Malaysia. Students would be abroad for the Malay Academic Year (May 2004-March 2005).
MORE: http://www.UMabroad.umn.edu/programs/ASIA/malaysia1.html

Events

CENTER FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH ON LANGUAGE ACQUISITION:

CHINESE DOCUMENTARY: Minnesota Film Arts, University Film Society, and the China Center present “Morning Sun,” a new feature-length documentary that explores the psychological impact and cultural intricacies of the Cultural Revolution. Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 7:15 p.m., Bell Auditorium.
TICKET INFO: http://www.ufilm.org or 612-331-3134
FILM INFO: http://www.morningsun.org

INTERNATIONAL PIZZA AND TALK SERIES: Sponsored by the College of Education, noon-1:30 p.m., 250 Wulling Hall

MINNESOTA INTERNATIONAL CENTER: MORE INFO or to REGISTER: 612-625-4421 or http://www.micglobe.org/

INTERNATIONALIZING THE CURRICULUM CONFERENCE: Registration is now open for the Study Abroad Curriculum Integration conference to be held at the University April 15-17, 2004. Conference will provide an international showcase for the shared efforts of all four University campuses to integrate study abroad into the culture of the institution. Poster presentations are still being solicited, and registration is open until March 1.
REGISTRATION and STUDY ABROAD RESOURCES: http://www.UMabroad.umn.edu (Click on "Curriculum Integration")

MEDICAL SCHOOL EXCHANGE: Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG) representatives from Bangalore, India, recently visited the University of Minnesota. A faculty/student exchange agreement has been proposed and is anticipated to be signed in the near future. MEMG has five medical schools (three in India, one in Nepal, and one in Malaysia).

SMALL WORLD COFFEE HOUR: Small World Coffee Hour gives international and U.S. students, staff, and faculty opportunities to meet and socialize. Participants can drink coffee or tea, enjoy snacks, listen to music from countries around the world, play games, and learn about other cultures. Next coffee hour is Feb. 6, 4-6 p.m., 110 Heller Hall. Come and celebrate Valentine’s Day!

LEARNING ABROAD FAIR, see “STUDY, WORK, INTERN, AND VOLUNTEER ABROAD” below.

University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 5, No. 1

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 March. International Campus Update welcomes submissions. Please send items to be included to schul160@umn.edu or call 612-624-0557.