Office of International Programs

Office of International Programs

International Campus Update

April 27, 2007

In This Issue:

Headlines

SCHOLARLY INTIATIVES FUNDING: The Office of International Programs is pleased to announce the first recipients of its new grant program to promote a global network of scholarship and engagement and encourage interdisciplinary and transnational partnerships. More than $470,000 was awarded to faculty and graduate students through the following grants (click to see a list of the recipients):

INT'L PROGRAMS ASSOC VP & DEAN SEARCH: Applications and nominations are now being accepted for the position of Associate Vice President and Dean of International Programs. This position promotes and supports the global dimensions of teaching, research, and engagement in all colleges and coordinate campuses of the University. MORE: http://www.academic.umn.edu/system/international/avp.html

CHINA CENTER DIRECTOR SEARCH: Three finalists for the position of China Center director have been announced: Dr. Xiaobo Hu, Clemson University; Dr. Xun (George) Wang, University of Wisconsin Parkside; and Dr. Yongwei Zhang, Missouri State University. Each finalist will visit campus and speak at a public forum in May. Dr. Hu will be the first to visit with a public forum on May 3. MORE: http://www.chinacenter.umn.edu/director_search/index.html

Program News

AFRICAN STUDIES: The Department of African American and African Studies hosted a community celebration on April 21 honoring the return of Swahili language instruction in their department. “Swahili Open Day” featured language lessons from University students, cultural presentations by area youth, and a talk by Dr. Maulana Karenga, the creator of Kwanzaa. The department also offers Arabic and Hausa language instruction.

ASIAN LANGUAGES: A team of students from the Department of Asian Languages and Literatures won six gold and one silver medals at the College Student Chinese Speech Contest in the Midwest on March 31. Ling Wang is lead teacher for the U's Chinese program, which has grown from 109 students in fall 2001 to 262 in fall 2006. The event was sponsored by the China Consulate General’s Education Section. Students from 21 colleges and universities competed. MORE: http://www.all.umn.edu/news/postcards/speechContest.html

CARLA: The 5th International Conference on Language Teacher Education, sponsored by the U’s Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, will be held at the Radisson Metrodome, May 31-June 2, 2007. The conference features the theme Bridging Contexts, Making Connections and will include 120 individual presentations, eight symposia, and four plenary presentations. Graduate student volunteers are needed; volunteers receive free conference registration. Contact lteconf@umn.edu for more information about volunteering. MORE: http://www.carla.umn.edu/conferences/LTE2007/index.html

HUMPHREY: “Toward a Global Food and Agricultural Policy for an Open International Economy,” a symposium to honor Regents Professor Emeritus G. Edward Schuh, will be held May 2-3 at the Humphrey Center. Schuh has spent most of his professional career addressing the problems of global agriculture. To honor Schuh on the occasion of his retirement, the University has invited several of his former students and close colleagues to address some of the problems on which his work has focused. REGISTER: http://www.hhh.umn.edu/schuh_symposium/index.html

ISSS: The Board of Regents has approved an increase of the ISSS administrative fees for processing H-1B and permanent resident petitions. On July 1, 2007, the H1-B fee will go from $900 to $1,000 and the permanent resident fee will go from $2,500 to $2,700. The fees were last raised in 2002. MORE: http://www.isss.umn.edu/H1BEmployment/ISSSFee.html

JOURNALISM: The School of Journalism and Mass Communication hosted 13 journalists from East Asia April 12-17 as part of the U.S. State Department's Edward R. Murrow Program. The Murrow program is a public-private partnership between the State Department and 11 leading U.S. schools of journalism to bring nearly 200 journalists from independent media outlets around the world to the United States to examine U.S. journalistic practices.

Professional Notes

SRILATA ZAHEER, professor and chair of the department of strategic management and organization at the Carlson School of Management, has been elected to the Fellows of the Academy of International Business (AIB). The AIB Fellows recognize outstanding contribution to the scholarship and practice of international business.

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

PHOTO CONTEST: Winners of the Learning Abroad Center's annual photo contest have been announced. First place went to Britta Stein for her photo "Farmer" taken in India. WINNING PHOTOS: http://www.umabroad.umn.edu/news/contest07.html

TRAVEL PRODUCT SPRING SALE: The Learning Abroad Center is offering 20 percent off travel products with the purchase of two or more (rail passes and passport photos are not included). The sale runs through May 11. MORE: http://www.umabroad.umn.edu/products/index.html

Funding Opportunities and Announcements

SULLIVAN SCHOLARSHIPS: Three students have been selected for the University's Katherine E. Sullivan Scholarship for Study Abroad for 2007-08. The scholarship provides funding for outstanding undergraduates to enrich their academic experience with a fifth year of undergraduate study in another country.

Events

ARCTIC VOICES GLOBAL WARMING TOUR on April 30 will feature three Arctic indigenous spokespersons—eyewitnesses on the front line of global warming today. The evening event will include a special audio welcome from polar explorer Will Steger in Baffin Island. MORE: http://www.globalwarming101.com/content/view/673/88888907/

INT’L STUDENT GRADUATION CELEBRATION: International Student and Scholar Services will host its annual end-of-the-year and graduation celebration for international students and their colleagues, family, and friends on May 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Bistro West in the Humphrey Center. The event will include dancing, live music, refreshments, souvenir photos with Goldy, and a short program. All are welcome; no RSVP necessary. MORE: 612-626-7100

SOUTH ASIA SEMINAR: “Signatures of Memory ” by Venkat Rao, Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages, Hyderabad, India. May 2, 3:30 p.m., 710 Social Sciences. Sponsored by the Institute for Global Studies, the Consortium for the Study of the Asias, and the Department of Asian Languages and Literatures.

AROUND TOWN:

University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 8, No. 4