Office of International Programs

Office of International Programs

International Campus Update

February 16, 2007

In This Issue:

Headlines

HAPPY NEW YEAR: The Chinese new year begins on Feb. 18, welcoming in the Year of the Pig.

NAFSA CONFERENCE: The annual conference of NAFSA: Association of International Educators will be held in Minneapolis May 27-June 1. Brian Atwood, dean of the Humphrey Institute, will be a plenary speaker. The Office of International Programs and its units are hosting several events, including a booth at the conference. OIP is interested in learning about other campus events being planned in conjunction with the NAFSA conference. Please send information about events to Jennifer Schulz at schul160@umn.edu or 612-624-0557.

IN MEMORY: Distinguished international alumnus Sir Bent Skovmand died Feb. 6. He was director of the Nordic Gene Bank and a tireless advocate for conservation and use of plant genetic resources of cultivated species and their wild relatives. Skovmand came to the U in 1966 in the Minnesota Agricultural Student Trainee (MAST) program and then earned degrees in plant pathology, culminating with a Ph.D. in 1976. A Danish citizen, he was knighted in 2003 for scientific achievements in wheat research and for conservation of wheat genetic resources.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT: A bill in the Minnesota legislature calls for world languages to be a required academic subject. This bill strongly encourages language learning to begin in elementary school, enabling many students to meet the high school graduation requirement early and possibly continue and/or add another language. MORE: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S0654.0.html&session=ls85

GOVERNOR’S TRADE MISSION: Gov. Tim Pawlenty has announced that he will lead a trade mission to India in October. Pawlenty and about 30 business leaders will travel to New Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai. MORE: http://www.startribune.com/587/story/969287.html

VISA REFORM: A coalition of exchange, trade, and research organizations is calling for urgent reform of visa-approval procedures, which they claim are slow and unfriendly for international students and scholars. The proposal calls on the administration to “articulate a clear, operational visa policy” containing reforms “that address legitimate security concerns and keep our nation a welcoming nation.” MORE: http://www.nafsa.org/_/Document/_/visa_policy_coalition_s.pdf

Program News

CARLA: The University’s Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) and the Minnesota Department of Education announce a new listserv dedicated to promoting and supporting Chinese K-12 language education in Minnesota. SUBSCRIBE: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=MN-k12Chinese&A=1

CROOKSTON: Sean Shin was recently named program director of English as a Second Language and international student recruitment at the Crookston campus. MORE: http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story443.html

ISSS: International Student and Scholar Services has formed a new discussion group for GLBT international students and scholars. Participants will have a comfortable, confidential, and supportive environment to discuss gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues, such as dealing with coming out, family relationships, re-entry to their home country, and understanding domestic GLBT culture. MORE: 612-626-4797 (The call will be confidential.)

Professional Notes

DAVID CHAPMAN, professor of educational policy and administration, has been awarded a Fulbright New Century Scholars grant for the 2007-08 academic year. Along with 35 other international scholars, he will address the topic, “Higher Education in the 21st Century: Access and Equity.”

MARTHA BIGELOW and ROBERT DELMAS (CEHD) and KIT HANSEN and ELAINE TARONE (CLA) were selected as the 2007 recipients of the TESOL Award for Distinguished Research for their study: “Literacy and the processing of oral recasts in SLA,” TESOL Quarterly, Vol. 40 No. 4.

Study, Service Learning, Intern, Volunteer, Work, and Travel Abroad

LEARNING ABROAD FAIR: The annual Learning Abroad Spring Fair will be Feb. 21, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Great Hall of Coffman Memorial Union. The fair is a chance for students to learn about the many international opportunities available to them, meet with program advisers from around the world, and find out more about curricular fit and scholarships. Students can also vote for their favorite international photos at the photo contest.

NEW SHORT-TERM PROGRAMS: Students can broaden their horizons and gain a new perspective by spending this May or summer session in a different culture through UMD's newest short-term study abroad programs in Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Mexico, and Poland. MORE: http://www.d.umn.edu/ieo/shorttermprogs.htm

Funding Opportunities and Announcements

OIP INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL GRANTS for faculty will increase in number and dollar amount; the average award for individuals will be $1,000 to $1,500. Travel grants are also available from the McKnight Arts and Humanities Fund. Deadline for both is April 2 for activities beginning May-August. A new online application system will be available in early March. MORE: http://www.international.umn.edu/travelgrant/

FACULTY TRAVEL GRANTS: Through Title VI grants from the U.S. Department of Education, the University’s Institute for Global Studies, the European Studies Consortium, and the Consortium for the Study of the Asias offer faculty travel grants to Twin Cities campus faculty and instructors in support of projects that enhance the internationalization of the curriculum and international interdisciplinary research linkages and participation in national or international professional conferences or meetings, coupled with additional activities contributing to the internationalization of the university. Preference will be given to activities that are linked to the strategic goals of ESC, IGS, or CSA. DEADLINE: April 4 for travel occurring June to December 2007

COURSE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS: Through Title VI grants from the U.S. Department of Education, the University’s Institute for Global Studies, the European Studies Consortium, and the Consortium for the Study of the Asias support faculty interested in developing new international courses or adding international content to existing courses.

FULBRIGHT: Competition for 2008-09 Fulbright Scholar grants for faculty and professionals opens March 1. Application deadline is Aug. 1, 2007. MORE: http://www.cies.org/us_scholars/us_awards/ (Note: Fulbright grants for students are coordinated through the Graduate School’s fellowship office. See http://www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships/.)

MEDICAL SCHOOL: International Study Awards are given to U of M medical students taking an international elective abroad during their fourth year or the latter part of their third year. In some cases, scholarships are provided for students in their final year of medical school at the reciprocal institution. Applications are reviewed April 30 and Dec. 31 of each year. The amount of the awards varies. MORE: http://www.med.umn.edu/imer/awards/home.html

Events

CARLA PRESENTATIONS hosted by the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition. MORE: http://www.carla.umn.edu/conferences/

GLOBAL DISCUSSION ON CAMPUS is a series of activities sponsored by Culture Corps, an initiative of International Student and Scholar Services. MORE: zhang429@umn.edu

GLOBAL POTLUCK: The Global Studies Student Association will host the 4th Annual Global Potluck, Feb. 28, 7 p.m. at the Nolte Center lounge. Everyone who wishes to share an international dish is invited. MORE: igspeer@umn.edu or 612-624-2886

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA: Feb 23, noon-1:30 p.m., 202 St. Paul Student Center. The presentation will include the history, economics, social challenges, and education system in India. Lunch is included. This is a Culture Corps event sponsored by the Department of Work and Human Resource Education and the Taiwan Student Association. RSVP: niehx002@umn.edu

INTERNATIONAL PIZZA & TALK: Monthly session sponsored by the Committee on International Education in the College of Education and Human Development, noon-1:30 p.m., 250 Wulling Hall. March 5: “International/Intercultural Future of the College” by Dean Darlyne Bailey. Complimentary pizza and beverages served at noon. No reservations necessary. MORE: 612-624-1006

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY is March 8. A celebration will be held March 3, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Coffman Union. The day will feature film, performances, a keynote speaker, panels, and workshops on a variety of human rights issues. Sponsored by the Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights and the Human Rights Program at the University of Minnesota. Free and open to the public. MORE: http://www.mnadvocates.org/International_Women_s_Day.html

MINNESOTA INTERNATIONAL CENTER:

SOUTH ASIA SEMINAR: Sponsored by the Institute for Global Studies, the Consortium for the Study of the Asias, and the Asian Languages and Literatures Department. Each event held at 3:30 p.m. in 710 Social Science.

University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 8, No. 2

Office of International Programs
Interim Associate Vice President and Dean: Meredith McQuaid
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 by Friday, March 9, to schul160@umn.edu or call 612-624-0557