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Office of International Programs

Office of International Programs

International Campus Update

December 13, 2007

In This Issue:

Headlines

OIP GRANTS: The Office of International Programs is pleased to announce the continuation of its highly successful program of funding opportunities for international scholarly activities. This all-University funding will support international institutional partnerships and research circles for faculty and departments, and international research for graduate and professional degree students.
Deadline: Feb. 15, 2008 GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION MATERIALS

mohamed benaissaHONORARY DEGREE: An honorary Doctor of Laws degree was awarded to former Moroccan ambassador and foreign minister, and University alumnus, Mohamed Benaissa at a ceremony held at the Humphrey Center on December 4. Benaissa, who earned a bachelor's degree in communications in 1963, was honored as a man of diplomacy, a man of culture, and one of the University's most accomplished alumni in building strategic relationships between the United States and the Arab world. Read the NEWS RELEASE and an ARTICLE by the State Department.

OPEN DOORS: The University ranked highly in the 2007 Open Doors, an annual report of study abroad participation and international student enrollment released in November. Among research institutions, UMTC ranked 6th in study abroad participation and 22nd in enrollment of international students. OPEN DOORS WEBSITE

NORWAY CONSULATE: Despite protests from local Norwegians and state officials, the Royal Norwegian Consulate in Minneapolis will be changed to honorary status. Walter Mondale will serve as honorary consul general. The office serves the states of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. MINNEAPOLIS CONSULATE WEBSITE

TAPESTRY AWARD: Silvia Alvarez, a graduate student from Guatemala, is the 2007 recipient of the University of Minnesota Women of Color Tapestry Award, which is granted to individuals who help create a thriving campus community where diversity is welcomed and supported. Alvarez is credited with promoting the Latino culture and Spanish language by creating a bilingual radio show on RadioK, the student-run radio station at the University. NEWS RELEASE

YEAR OF LANGUAGES: The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2008 the International Year of Languages, recognizing that genuine multilingualism promotes unity in diversity and international understanding. In related news, the Modern Languages Association recently released its report, "Enrollments in Languages Other Than English in United States Institutions of Higher Education, Fall 2006." The report shows the fastest increases in enrollments between 2002 and 2006 were in Arabic (+126.5%), Chinese (+51.0%), and Korean (+37.1%).

Program News

ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTER and the Keio University School of Medicine (Japan) have received a grant from the Medtronic Foundation to develop an e-learning program for clinical research personnel in the United States and Japan. The program will allow U of M researchers to share their clinical research expertise with Japan, whose clinical research lags behind that of other developed nations. NEWS RELEASE

COLLEGE OF DESIGN:

  • Arthur Chen and Benjamin Ibarra Sevilla of the University's Center for World Heritage Studies recently returned from the Philippines, where they advised the state party on the development of a world heritage site nomination for the Batanes province—a sparsely populated, 10-island archipelago of historic significance and natural beauty.
  • The School of Architecture will host an international symposium on architecture, ethics, and spiritual geography April 4–6, 2008, in Rapson Hall. "Sacred Sites | Sacred Sights: Past/Present/Future" will bring together scholars, design practitioners, and local communities for lectures, panels, and workshops examining sacred space, how it is perceived, and ethical engagement with local communities' sacred land. MORE: saloojee@umn.edu

CARLA:

  • The three finalists for the position of director of the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition have visited campus and given public presentations. VIDEOS OF THE PRESENTATIONS AND CVs
  • CARLA had an active presence at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) conference in San Antonio in November. CARLA staff and faculty presented several sessions and staffed an exhibition booth, where many language teachers expressed their appreciation for CARLA and its resources.

CARLSON SCHOOL: The International Programs Office has created its first ever international calendar, which features photos from around the world and highlights the international experiences of Carlson faculty and students. All proceeds will support scholarships for students in future study abroad opportunities. Calendars are $12 (plus tax) and will be available for sale in 4-104 Carlson School. MORE

Professional Notes

J. BRIAN ATWOOD delivered the keynote address at AFS Intercultural Programs' World Peace Forum, in honor of the organization's 60th anniversary in October. Atwood is chair of the AFS board.

LAURA MUSACCHIO, Landscape Architecture, was a member of an international scientific panel at the closing plenary session of the 2007 World Congress of Landscape Ecology in the Netherlands in July. She also organized a symposium at the Congress, "The Scientific Basis for the Design of Landscape Sustainability."

G. EDWARD SCHUH, Regents Professor Emeritus, Humphrey Institute, is in-residence at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. He is teaching about economic development and agricultural policy in the applied economics graduate program, considered the strongest program of its kind in Latin America.

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

INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS: The results are in! First place in Global Link's contest went to Allison Hugill for her photo "When I Grow Up" taken in Senegal. Thanks to everyone who submitted their best shots and to the prize sponsors: Rail Europe, STA Travel, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, and Midwest Mountaineering. WINNING PHOTOS

CURRICULUM INTEGRATION GRANT RECIPIENTS: Recipients of the Learning Abroad Center's grants for Innovation for Broader Engagement are Paula Pedersen, UMD psychology; Matthew Goode, Carlson School; Adam Pagel, IT; Mark Pedelty, journalism; and Seth Werner, Carlson School. Recipients of the Intercultural Engagement Grants are Paula Pedersen, UMD psychology; Mary Moga and Rebecca Dosch Brown, CLA honors; Adam Pagel, IT; Jenise Rowekamp, CLA; and Wendy Witherspoon and Deirdre Opp, Carlson School.

TRAVEL PRODUCTS SALE: Shop the Holiday Sale at the Learning Abroad Center (230 Heller Hall), Dec. 4–Jan. 4. Receive a 20% discount on any Lonely Planet travel guide with the purchase of a rail pass or 20% off the purchase of two or more travel products. MORE

Funding Opportunities and Announcements

NSEP: The National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship for study abroad is an opportunity for undergraduate students to learn a language abroad. The NSEP Scholarship can be used in countries other than Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, and a foreign language must be part of the study abroad experience. The maximum award is $8,000 for a summer program, $10,000 for a semester, or $20,000 for a full academic year. The U of M campus deadline is noon on Jan. 22, 2008. MORE

INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC POLICY Fellowship Program is accepting applications. The program provides students from underrepresented minority groups with intentionally designed education and training experiences critical to entry and advancement in international affairs careers. IIPP is a comprehensive program of summer policy institutes, study abroad, intensive language training, internships, graduate study, and student services, including mentoring and career development. Additionally, the program provides students with the education and training needed to enter successfully, advance within, and lead international affairs careers. DEADLINE: March 15, 2008 MORE

SULLIVAN SCHOLARSHIP: Applications are now available for the 2008–09 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. DEADLINE: Feb. 8, 2008 MORE

See also OIP GRANTS in HEADLINES section above.

University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 8, No. 10

Office of International Programs
Associate Vice President and Dean: Meredith McQuaid
Editor: Jennifer Schulz