Office of International Programs

Office of International Programs

International Campus Update

December 19, 2005

Headlines

STRATEGIC POSITIONING: The preliminary recommendations of the “International University” task force were made public on Dec. 16. The first three steps recommended are for a Presidential Initiative affirming the centrality of international concerns to the University’s stated goal; the appointment of a Vice President and Dean for International Programs; and an initial three-year, $6 million budget that would transform teaching, research, and public engagement programs. Interested people are encouraged to review the recommendations and to participate in the public comment process that will extend through Jan. 27. REPORT: http://www1.umn.edu/systemwide/strategic_positioning/

LINCOLN COMMISSION ON STUDY ABROAD released its report on Nov. 15. The commission was set up in 2003 to formulate a program to greatly expand the opportunity for students at U.S. universities to study abroad. The report sets a goal for one million U.S. students to study abroad annually by 2016 and requests an initial $50 million for scholarships. The commission held a regional conference at the Twin Cities campus in October to seek support from area universities. REPORT: http://www.lincolncommission.org/report.html

YEAR OF STUDY ABROAD: On Nov. 10, the U.S. Senate approved a resolution declaring 2006 as the “Year of Study Abroad.” Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman was one of the bill’s co-sponsors. MORE: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.RES.308:

TC CAMPUS #7 IN STUDY ABROAD: A report released Nov. 14 by the Institute of International Education (IIE) ranks the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities campus among the top schools in sending students to study abroad. According to IIE’s Open Doors report, the University ranks seventh with 1,644 students studying abroad in 2003-04, moving up from 14th place in 2002-03 when 1,294 students studied abroad—a 27 percent increase. Nationwide, study abroad participation increased 9.6 percent.

INT’L PROGRAMS ASSOC. VP SEARCH COMMITTEE members have been announced: Fred Morrison (chair), professor, Law School; Jasna Burza, graduate student, Humphrey Institute; John Finnegan, dean, School of Public Health; Gerald Fry, professor, Educational Policy and Administration; Michael Houston, interim co-dean, Carlson School of Management; Vince Magnuson, vice chancellor for academic administration, Duluth campus; Kathleen Sellew, associate director, Office of International Programs; Arlene Teraoka, associate dean for undergraduate programs, College of Liberal Arts; and John Vreyens, director, International Agriculture Programs. POSITION DESCRIPTION: http://www.academic.umn.edu/system/search/avp_ip.html

REMINDER—EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: All faculty and staff and their dependents who are enrolled in a UPlan medical option have access to MEDEX worldwide emergency medical assistance—including assistance with emergency evacuations and repatriations—and other travel assistance services when 150 or more miles away from home. There is no cost to enroll in the program, nor is there any annual fee. Retirees over age 65 have a separate travel program. MORE: http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/eb/uplan/medex.htm

Program News

CARLSON SCHOOL celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Warsaw Executive MBA Program in October. The program, a joint partnership with the Warsaw School of Economics, has graduated 303 people and has been ranked number one among similar programs in Poland by BusinessWeek Polska.

JOURNALISM: A new State Department program will bring about 100 young reporters to six U.S. journalism schools—including the Twin Cities campus—to study U.S. journalistic practices. The Edward R. Murrow Journalism Program will take place in April and is expected to bring a dozen journalists to the Twin Cities campus. MORE: http://exchanges.state.gov/news/2005/Murrow_Journalist_Program_121405.pdf or http://www.sjmc.umn.edu/pdfs/Murrow_program.pdf

MEDICAL SCHOOL: Phil Peterson, MD; Paul Quie, MD; and Mark Schleiss, MD, visited Hong Kong University in October to discuss a potential exchange program with Yu-Lung Lau, MD, chair of pediatrics.

Professional Notes

FULBRIGHT RECIPIENTS: Five University of Minnesota faculty and staff were awarded Fulbright Scholar grants for special research projects during the 2005-06 academic year: John Gulliver, head of the department of civil engineering; Roberta Hunt, teaching specialist, School of Nursing; Sally Kenney, professor and director of the Center on Women and Public Policy in the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs; Kathleen Sellew, associate director, Office of International Programs; and Jole Shackelford, adjunct assistant professor, History of Medicine.

JOSEF MESTENHAUSER, Distinguished International Professor Emeritus, College of Education and Human Development, received the Jan Masaryk silver memorial medal from the Czech Republic on Oct. 28. The medal is in recognition of Mestenhauser’s significant contributions in developing and strengthening relations between the Czech Republic and the U.S. Mestenhauser also received the University’s new Award for Global Engagement in November.

Study, Work, Intern, Volunteer, and Travel Abroad

TRAVEL PRODUCTS HOLIDAY SPECIAL: For a limited time when you purchase two travel products from the Learning Abroad Center, you will receive 20 percent off. Make your selection from a variety of travel guides, money belts, sleepsacks, and travel alarm clocks. Or when you purchase a regular-priced railpass, get 20 percent off of the travel guide of your choice. MORE: http://www.umabroad.umn.edu/products/holidaySpecial.html

PASSPORT PHOTOS: The Learning Abroad Center has invested in a new digital camera for taking photographs for passports, visas, or other ID purposes. Photo services are available in 230 Heller Hall. Prices are $7 for black and white and $8 for color (students receive a $1 discount). MORE: http://www.umabroad/products/index.html

GLOBAL LINK STUDENT GROUP, a student initiative of the Learning Abroad Center, aims to facilitate international awareness among students through on- and off-campus activities and events. Global Link is open to all students with an interest in global issues and events. Join today to meet students with similar interests and to help shape the events and activities for the upcoming year.
MORE: tschi066@umn.edu or 612-626-7561
APPLICATION: http://www.umabroad.umn.edu/alumni/application.pdf

STUDY ABROAD REENTRY EVENT: Students who studied abroad in the past two years gathered at Coffman's Great Hall on Nov. 2. They enjoyed a warm welcome by Vice Provost Jerry Rinehart and a video highlighting the diverse experiences students have had abroad. Many students attended breakout sessions about incorporating international experience into a career search in resumes and interviews, volunteering locally, Global Link student group, Portfolio, and planning re-departure.

Funding Opportunities and Announcements

RHODES SCHOLAR: A University student has been selected as a Rhodes Scholar for the third time since 2000. Diana Xuan Fu, a senior from Calgary, Alberta, in the College of Liberal Arts honors program, has been named a 2006 Rhodes Scholar. MORE: http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/U_student_named_2006_Rhodes_Scholar.html

SULLIVAN SCHOLARSHIP: Applications are now available for the 2006–07 Katherine E. Sullivan Scholarship for Study Abroad. This scholarship provides full or partial support for a fifth year of undergraduate study in another country for outstanding students from any campus of the University of Minnesota. It is intended to support credit-bearing and usually classroom-based study abroad that immerses the student in the host university as well as in the host culture for a full academic year or equivalent. One or two scholarships will be awarded. DEADLINE: Feb. 6, 2006 MORE: http://cla.umn.edu/honors/sullivan.htm

University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 6, No. 8

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 January. International Campus Update welcomes submissions. Please send items to be included by January 6 to schul160@umn.edu or call 612-624-0557.