Office of International Programs

Office of International Programs

International Campus Update Newsletter

October 12, 2004

Headlines

ENROLLMENT OF NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Enrollment of new international students in the Graduate School increased two percent over last fall, despite a decrease in applications, concern over increasing homeland security measures, and competition from foreign universities. Enrollment of new international undergraduates dropped 15 percent, despite an increase in applications. The enrollment data and surveys of students who did not enroll will be analyzed to help determine the reasons behind the changing numbers.

PRESIDENT BRUININKS: President Bruininks will lead a University delegation to China Oct. 24-Nov. 5. This will be the first official delegation the president has led abroad. The purpose of the trip is to strengthen the University’s ties with alumni in China; to foster existing academic exchange programs; and to pursue opportunities to enhance education, government, and industry partnerships to create collaborative research and academic programs. The delegation will visit Hong Kong, Taiwan, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Beijing.

DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR INTERNATIONALS: Nominations are now being accepted. Award recognizes int'l alumni, former students, and friends of the University who have attained unusual distinction as professionals and demonstrated sustained outstanding achievement and leadership or demonstrated promise of such. Andrés Gil, a 2004 honoree and alumnus of the College of Veterinary Medicine, will receive his award at a ceremony at Eastcliff on Oct. 13.
MORE: http://www.international.umn.edu/awards/leader/leader.html

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL WEBSITE: The U.S. Department of State has launched a newly designed website with information for U.S. citizens who travel abroad and foreign visitors and immigrants to the U.S.
MORE: http://travel.state.gov

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK 2004: International Education Week 2004 will be Nov. 15-19. Mark your calendars and start planning! All departments, campuses, organizations, and student groups are encouraged to plan events that highlight the University's support of international education.
To see a list of events planned so far, or to submit your events, go to: http://www.international.umn.edu/IEweek/
CONTACT: Jennifer Schulz, Office of International Programs, 612-624-0557, schul160@umn.edu

Program News

CENTER FOR AUSTRIAN STUDIES: Several Austrian visitors are joining the University community this fall:

CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT: Dean Larry Benveniste is leading a group of CSOM faculty and staff to Guangzhou, China, Oct. 11-17, to inaugurate the start of the academic year for students in its China Executive MBA (CHEMBA) Program.
Learn more about the CHEMBA program: http://www.carlsonschool.umn.edu/Page3281.aspx

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH ADVOCATES: In an effort to better serve the University’s international student community, Boynton Health Service has introduced the International Health Advocate (IHA) program. IHAs are available to offer information on available health care services and to provide students with medicine and first aid supplies for common ailments.
MORE: http://www.bhs.umn.edu/iha

NEW INTERNATIONAL MINOR: The Board of Regents has approved a new undergraduate minor in Austrian and Central European Studies. The minor will be administered by the Department of German, Scandinavian, and Dutch.
MORE: http://www.folwell.umn.edu/gsd/ugrad/a_minor.html

Professional Notes

DAVID GOOD, GERHARD WEISS, and BARBARA KRAUSS-CHRISTENSEN: David Good, Gerhard Weiss, and Barbara Krauss-Christensen of the Center for Austrian Studies were awarded medals of honor from the Austrian government for their contributions toward Austrian Studies in the U.S.

EVELYN SCHERABON FIRCHOW: Professor Evelyn Scherabon Firchow (Department of German, Scandinavian and Dutch) was appointed McKnight Research Professor of Germanic Philology. She also has published a diplomatic edition of Gottfried von Strassburg: Tristan and Isolde by the Hirzel Verlag in Stuttgart, Germany, and had articles published in Zukunftschancen der deutschen Sprache and The Proceedings of the 16th Congress of the ICLA in Pretoria, South Africa.

JUAN MORENO: Juan Moreno, a diversity program director and inclusion specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, will head a new Ecuadoran consulate in the Twin Cities. In August, Moreno was named to the post of honorary consul of Ecuador for the state of Minnesota. The consulate will have its grand opening later this year or early next year.

Study, Work, Intern, Volunteer, and Travel Abroad

PEACE CORPS: A Peace Corps adviser will hold office hours at the Learning Abroad Center, Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 230 Heller. The adviser is ready to answer questions and discuss opportunities abroad through volunteering with the Peace Corps.

GLOBAL LINK STUDENT GROUP: Interested in a global perspective? Join the Global Link Student Group. All students are welcome to join!
MORE: Scott Daby, daby0005@umn.edu or 612-626-7561

SPAN: Recruitment is underway for The Student Project for Amity among Nations (SPAN), a unique, international research opportunity for students to travel to India, Spain, or Uruguay in summer 2005. Students earn eight academic credits for an in-depth research project on a self-chosen topic.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Nov. 12, 2004
MORE: http://www.mnspan.org
APPLICATION: span@umn.edu or 612-626-1083

Funding Opportunities and Announcements

FULBRIGHT AWARDS: Fulbright awards have been given to Twin Cities faculty Teri Caraway, political science (Indonesia); Catherine Liu, cultural studies and comparative lit (Taiwan); and David Samuels, political science (Brazil).

GILMAN SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: U of M student Ruth Barta received the Gilman International Scholarship and will study abroad this fall in Denmark. The Gilman Scholarship Program supports undergraduates who have been traditionally underrepresented in U.S. study abroad and those with high financial need.
MORE: http://www.iie.org/gilman

IRSEP EXCHANGE PROGRAM: IRSEP is a full scholarship exchange program to China, Germany, Iceland, Malaysia, Senegal, and Tanzania. IRSEP is a full academic year program. Application deadline is Nov. 22, 2004.
MORE: http://umabroad.umn.edu/programs/study.html

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

PAULO FREIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT PROGRAM: Selected students will receive $2,000 to work on an individually designed international community service project.
DEADLINE: Nov. 31, 2004
APPLICATIONS: http://www.UMabroad.umn.edu/financial/scholarships/pauloFreireApplication.pdf, Learning Abroad Center (230 Heller Hall), or Career and Community Learning Center (345 Fraser Hall).

Events

CENTER FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH ON LANGUAGE ACQUISITION:

CEHD INTERNATIONAL PIZZA & TALKS: “Exploring the Internationalization of Higher Education in Two Cultural and National Contexts: Nagoya University and the University of South Australia” by Michael Paige, Educational Policy and Administration. Free and open to all; no reservations necessary. Nov. 1, noon-1:30 p.m., 250 Wulling Hall.
MORE: http://www.cehd.umn.edu/IntEduc/pizza03-04.html

CENTER FOR AUSTRIAN STUDIES: MORE: http://www.cas.umn.edu/ or 612-624-9811

LATIN AMERICAN BROWN BAG LUNCH TALK: “Brazil Under the Lula Administration: How much change and What kind of change?” by David Samuels, Department of Political Science. Oct. 14, 12:15-1 p.m., 246 Social Sciences.

MINNESOTA INTERNATIONAL CENTER:

TRAINING FOR GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING: Training for Global Understanding workshops that help faculty and staff cross cultural barriers when working with international students and scholars are being offered by International Student and Scholar Services, Oct. 13-Nov. 10.
MORE: http://www.isss.umn.edu/programs/itc/GlobalUnd.html

University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 5, 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.