Office of International Programs

Office of International Programs

International Campus Update

March 9, 2004

Headlines

APPLICATIONS FROM INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS DOWN: The number of applications to the University from international graduate students is down 18 percent since last year. The largest drop is in computer science and electrical engineering, which accounts for 52 percent of the decrease in applications. Nationwide, the number of applications is also down, according to a recent survey. Of the 25 research institutions surveyed (including the University), 100 percent reported declines in international applications from graduate students. The decline is attributed to competition from other countries, homeland security policies that have made international students feel unwelcome, visa delays, testing difficulties, and several other theories. The number of applications from international undergrads is similar to last year.
SURVEY RESULTS: http://www.nafsa.org/content/PublicPolicy/FortheMedia/appssurveyresults.pdf [PDF]
WALL STREET JOURNAL COLUMN: http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB107818512147343519,00.html [registration necessary]

LEGISLATORS QUESTION OFFICIALS ABOUT VISA DELAYS: Members of Congress told national security officials on Feb. 25 that too many international students and scholars are having trouble receiving visas to study science. They suggested the officials work together more closely to reduce the number and length of visa delays. A General Accounting Office report confirmed the delays.
GAO REPORT: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04371.pdf [PDF]

TRAVEL TO LIBYA: The U.S. has lifted a 23-year ban on travel to Libya. Economic and other sanctions are still in place. MORE: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040226-1.html

Program News

CULTURE CORPS: Norwegian-speaking international students are needed to work with conversation groups in Intermediate Norwegian 1004 (class meets MWF 9:05; conversation groups usually occur once per week). If interested, please contact Arsena Ianeva-Lockney at ianev001@umn.edu or Charlotte Melin at melin005@umn.edu.
MORE ABOUT CULTURE CORPS: http://www.isss.umn.edu/onestopservices/programs/culturecorps/

EDUCATION ALUMNUS HONORED: Ismael Abu-Saad, who earned a Ph.D. in educational policy and administration in 1989 from the College of Education and Human Development, will receive
the University's Outstanding Alumni Award April 1 from President Robert Bruininks. Abu-Saad, a professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, is being honored for his extraordinary efforts in establishing educational opportunities for Bedouin students in Israel.
MORE: http://www.cehd.umn.edu/alum/link/2001spring/abu-saad.html

MEDICAL SCHOOL: LAMB Hospital in northwestern Bangladesh is a new clinical rotation site for University medical students. Dr. Maynard Jacobson, professor emeritus of medicine, recently visited Bangladesh. As a result of that visit, Dr. Jacobson has generously provided funds to partially cover costs for one or two students each year to visit the LAMB Hospital and gain experience in pediatrics, infectious diseases, and complicated obstetrics.

MEDICAL SCHOOL: Faculty representatives from the University of Manitoba, the University of Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic recently met to discuss collaboration efforts in Karnataka, India, regarding the prevention of HIV/AIDS. These partnerships are vital in dealing effectively with the global HIV epidemic, which is rapidly spreading to India and Southeast Asia.

NEW CARLA WEBSITE: The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition has launched a newly designed website at http://www.carla.umn.edu. The site includes updated content and many new features to make navigating the site easier. Please update your bookmarks with the new URL.

Professional Notes

ARTHUR AUFDERHEID: Research on Peruvian mummies, led by UMD School of Medicine professor Arthur Aufderheid, has identified Chagas Disease, a parasitic blood illness for which the Red Cross will soon start screening donated blood. The research could provide clues for combating the rare but deadly disease.
MORE: http://www.d.umn.edu/news

ALEXANDER BRAGINSKY: Alexander Braginsky, School of Music, taught and gave master classes at the International Summer Courses in Vienna in August and September. He also received the Josef Dichler Gold Medal at the Vienna City Hall for his contributions as a performer and teacher.

ASMAA ELBADAWY: Asmaa Elbadawy, Egypt, and BENGI YANKI, Turkey, have joined the Humphrey Institute as Economic Research Forum Fellows and will be working on research related to gender, work, and family life in the Arab countries, Iran, and Turkey.

DOUG GEERS: Doug Geers, School of Music, presented a paper, “Mad Love for New Performance Technologies,” at the World Music Days festival in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in September.

DAVID GRAYSON: David Grayson, School of Music, read the paper, “Reimagining Pelléas and Debussy’s lost ideal” at the Pelléas in French Art and Politics symposium at the Center for European Studies at Harvard University in October.

JOHN RADZILOWSKI: Joan Tadzilowski, Center for Nations in Transition, is co-editor of a new book, “Spanish Carlism and Polish Nationlism: The Borderlands of Europe in the 19th and 20th Centuries,” a collection of articles on Catholic traditionalist politics in two countries considered on the “margins” of Europe.
MORE: http://www.aulam.org/leopress.htm#carlism

Study, Work, Intern, Volunteer, and Travel Abroad

STUDY & INTERNSHIPS IN SYDNEY: Summer deadline is March 15. Students can spend part of their summer participating in an internship in Sydney, Australia, gaining practical experience in a workplace setting and learning more about Australian work culture. A broad range of fields are available. In addition, students take “The World of Work,” which examines Australian work and social structure.
MORE: http://www.UMabroad.umn.edu or speak with program staff in 230 Heller Hall

NEW 2004 SUMMER ISEP-DIRECT PROGRAM: “Spanish Language, Community Service, and Latin American History and Culture,” Universidad Católica del Uruguay, June 6–July 4, 2004. This International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) is appropriate for intermediate-level students. Apply by April 1, 2004.
MORE: http://www.isep.org/nus/summer.html

JUST FOR FUN: NCAA Division III football player of the year Blake Elliott of St. John's won the longest surfing ride competition among Hula Bowl players in Hawaii, prompting Johnnies coach John Gagliardi to ask the running back and receiver, "How does a guy from Melrose (Minnesota) learn to surf?" Elliott confided that he had learned while studying in South Africa but didn't reveal his background before the contest.

Funding Opportunities and Announcements

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL GRANTS: International Travel Grants for faculty are available from the Office of International Programs and the McKnight Arts and Humanities Fund. Deadline is April 1 for activities beginning May-August.
MORE: http://www.international.umn.edu/travelgrant/

RHODES, MARSHALL, & MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIPS: Outstanding University of Minnesota juniors, seniors, and recent graduates are invited to submit preliminary applications by April 2, 2004. The Rhodes Scholarship supports 2–3 years of study at Oxford University, the Marshall supports 2–3 years of study at any British university, and the Mitchell supports 1 year of study in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Application forms and instructions are available from the CLA Honors Division office, 115 Johnston Hall.
MORE: http://cla.umn.edu/honors/natschol.htm

FACULTY FULBRIGHT DEADLINES: Fulbright Scholar Program's annual competition opened March 1 for lecturing, research, and lecturing/research grants in more than 140 countries. Faculty, administrators, retired faculty, and adjunct faculty are eligible to apply. Traditional Fulbright awards vary from two months to an academic year or longer. While foreign language skills are needed in some countries, most lecturing assignments are in English. Application deadline is Aug. 1.
MORE: http://www.cies.org

Events

“ACADEMIC ALLIANCE AGAINST AIDS IN AFRICA:”: April 8, 12:15 p.m., 2-650 Moos Tower. Merle Sande, M.D., professor and chair, Department of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, will give the 2004 Wesley W. Spink Lecture.
MORE: imer@umn.edu

CARLA SUMMER INSTITUTES: Registration is currently being accepted for the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition's ninth annual series of summer institutes for language teachers, held at the University.
REGISTER: http://www.carla.umn.edu/institutes/

CENTER FOR AUSTRIAN STUDIES: “More Female Politicians, but Less Equality: Shifts in Austrian Women’s Politics since the 1990s” by Sieglinde Rosenberger, visiting fellow, Harvard University. March 11, 3:30 p.m., 710 Social Sciences Building.

“COLLABORATIVE DIALOGUE AND SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING”: by Merrill Swain, University of Toronto, March 11, 3:30-5 p.m., 140 Nolte, informal reception to follow. Sponsored by the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition in celebration of its 10th anniversary.

“A CONVERSATION WITH AARON BROWN: WORLD EVENTS AND THE MEDIA,” : March 27, 2-4 p.m., Cedar Exchange, 500 Cedar Avenue, St. Paul. Free and open to the public. No reservations are required. This event is co-sponsored by the Minnesota Fulbright Association and the Minnesota Journalism Center at the University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. MORE: 612-626-1723 or 651-290-6385

“INTERNATIONAL HEALTH ROTATIONS”: by Dr. Joia Mukherjee, a U of M Medical School alumnus and medical director of Partners in Health. April 2, 12:15 p.m., 2-650 Moos Tower. Dr. Mukherjee will present information for medical students on international health.
MORE: imer@umn.edu

ITALIAN AMERICAN FESTIVAL: In late-April, the yearlong Italian American Festival moves to Duluth and UMD with musical performances, art exhibits, an international academic conference, and an Italian American Heritage Celebration. Most events take place April 29-May 1. More than 120 UMD students, faculty, and staff and members of the Duluth community visited Palermo, Sicily, in January and performed “Guys and Dolls” and launched an art exhibit of works from Duluth artists.
MORE: http://www.italiafest.us

MINNESOTA INTERNATIONAL CENTER:

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

NIGERIAN ACTIVIST & WRITER: Nigerian activist and writer Annie Brisibe will visit the Twin Cities campus April 14-15. Events include a public lecture, reception for University women, and a meeting with General College students. Sponsored by General College, with support from the Office for University Women.
MORE: 612-625-2531 or butur001@umn.edu

STUDY ABROAD CURRICULUM INTERGRATION CONFERENCE: April 15-17, 2004, the University of Minnesota hosts the Study Abroad Curriculum Integration Conference. More than 380 will be in attendance to learn about the work of our University’s advisers, faculty, administration, and learning abroad staff and to share best practices in study abroad curriculum integration happening at institutions nationwide. More than 100 institutions will be represented at the conference.
MORE: http://www.UMabroad.umn.edu/conference

TRAVEL WORKSHOPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS & SCHOLARS: With peak travel times for international students and scholars approaching, ISSS will offer a travel workshop before spring break, March 9, 3-4 p.m., 5 Blegen Hall. Dates for additional travel workshops near the end of the semester will be announced soon. A variety of travel issues for F, J, and H visa holders will be discussed, including background and security checks, documentation to carry when traveling, and implications for dependents.
MORE: http://www.isss.umn.edu/INSGen/Travel_Advisory.html

WORLD LANGUAGES DAY: The College of Liberal Arts will host its first World Languages Day on March 15. The event is an opportunity for high school juniors to explore the languages and cultures of the world and to experience life at the University. The event is sold out.
MORE: http://worldlang.cla.umn.edu/

University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 5, No. 2

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