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Office of International Programs

Office of International Programs

International Campus Update

October 16, 2008

International Campus Update is a monthly e-mail and online newsletter about international issues, events, and announcements at the University of Minnesota, compiled by the Office of International Programs.

In This Issue:

Headlines

INT'L EDUCATION WEEK is Nov. 17-21. All student organizations, colleges, campuses, and departments are encouraged to plan activities and events that highlight international education at the University. Organizers are encouraged to submit their events using the online form. All submitted events will be included on the calendar, poster, and other publicity. (MORE)

INDIA CENTER INITIATIVE WEBSITE: The University's India Center Initiative has launched a website to provide information about the Initiative and South Asian-related activities at the University. The India Center is envisioned as a builder of bridges between the University and Minnesota and various academic, intellectual, cultural, and business interests in South Asia. (WEBSITE)

GLOBAL FOOD SYMPOSIUM: A University symposium, "Future Food Scarcity: Global Causes and Local Consequences," will feature a discussion on the causes and consequences of rising food prices and their impact on food supplies, food companies, consumption, health, and public policy in the United States and around the globe. Oct. 23, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center. Sponsored by the Food Industry Center and the Center for International Food and Agricultural Policy. (MORE)

INT'L COMPLIANCE: The Office of International Programs has created the new position of International Health, Safety, and Compliance Coordinator to centralize international health, safety, and liability issues for all U of M international activities systemwide. Stacey Tsantir has been named to fill this position, expanding on her former duties with risk and liability in the Learning Abroad Center. She will be responsible for crisis management, emergency preparedness, training, policy development and review, and serving as the OIP liaison to other offices such as the Office of the General Counsel, Risk Management, and the Compliance Office. OIP has also convened a systemwide Risk and Liability Committee as well as a number of working groups with members from across the University to address these important issues.

UMTC INT'L ENROLLMENT: Enrollment of new international undergraduates is up 100% from last year, bringing the total international undergraduate population to 851 or almost 40% higher than last year. New international students in the Graduate School are up 3%. A major recruitment effort by the Office of International Programs and the Office of Admissions has been working to increase the number of international undergraduates on campus. In total, there are 3,665 international students on the Twin Cities campus, an increase of 15% since 2003. Students come from 131 countries, with the largest number from China, India, and Korea.

NORWEGIAN VISITORS: Several high-ranking Norwegian officials visited the University recently.

Program News

CHINA CENTER: On Sept. 4, the China Center hosted a delegation of 25 people from Taiwan led by Chiang Pin-kung, vice chairman of KMT (The Chinese Nationalist Party, Taiwan). The delegation was accompanied by Jason C. Yuan, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO). The delegation met with President Bruininks, International Programs Dean Meredith McQuaid, and Humphrey Institute Dean Brian Atwood. The delegation was in Minnesota to attend the Republican National Convention.

EDUCATION:

HUMPHREY: The Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs hosted a series of 16 panels on critical policy challenges and American political dynamics during the Republican National Convention. Leading experts joined a host of senior policy makers including Henry Kissinger, members of Congress, and prominent political analysts. Panels included "Democracy and America's Role in the World," "The Future of U.S. Foreign Assistance: Effective Development and National Security," and "Climate Change and Energy Security." Video recordings of the panels are now available online. (VIDEOS)

JOURNALISM: The School of Journalism and Mass Communication hosted eight journalists from China, Singapore, and Taiwan Oct. 10-15 as part of the U.S. Department of State's Edward R. Murrow Program. The program brings journalists from around the world to examine journalistic principles and practices and interact with professional journalists and experts in the field. (MORE)

UMC: Crookston's English as a Second Language (ESL) program will be coordinated by Ki-tae Kim. Kim earned a doctorate in linguistics with distinction from Georgetown University and a Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages certificate from The American University in Washington, D.C. His master's and bachelor's degrees are from Korea University. The ESL program became part of the Crookston curriculum in June 2006 and has grown significantly over the last several years, currently enrolling around 30 international students learning English in preparation to enroll in degree programs. (MORE)

UMD: Dr. Alice Gail Bier was named the new director of the International Education Office at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Bier came from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she was associate director for the Center for International Education and had primary responsibility for the Programs Abroad Office. Prior experience includes international program administration at Tulane University and the University of Akron, and sixteen years in Spain where she researched on internal migration, taught at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona in the Department of Sociology, worked with the Fulbright Commission, and was the educational adviser for the U.S. Consulate in Barcelona.

UMM: Sixty-six international students are studying at the University of Minnesota, Morris this year, representing 15 countries: China, Ghana, Canada, Nigeria, Korea, Singapore, India, France, Aruba, Malaysia, Kenya, Moldova, the Netherlands, Japan, and Taiwan. The International Student Association and Office of International Programs sponsored a reception for these students on Sept. 19.

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

GLOBAL AMBASSADOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: The Learning Abroad Center has launched a new Global Ambassador Internship Program, which is designed for learning abroad alumni to help spread the word about international experiences. Student volunteers will participate in a variety of activities, such as presenting to other students about studying abroad, submitting photos of their time abroad to the Learning Abroad Center, or working with the college career center to learn how to include international experiences on a resume. Participation in this first year has been strong, with more than 60 volunteers. (MORE)

PHOTO CONTEST: Entries are now being accepted for the 2008 International Photo Contest sponsored by Global Ambassadors, the student group for learning abroad alumni. Deadline is 4 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 29, 2008. Contest is open to University of Minnesota undergraduate and graduate students only (see COMPLETE RULES). The top ten photos will be determined by public vote during International Education Week at the Learning Abroad Center (230 Heller Hall) on Nov. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. Winners will receive prizes from Rail Europe, Midwest Mountaineering, Lonely Planet, and more! (LAST YEAR'S WINNING PHOTOS)

SCHOLARSHIPS: Each year the University distributes approximately $500,000 for study abroad scholarships. The scholarship deadline for Winter Break 2009, Spring Semester 2009, and Calendar Year 2009 is Oct. 22. Selection of scholarship recipients is not based on financial need or merit, but rather the essays that each student writes. Currently one-third of all students who apply receive a scholarship. If you know of students who will be studying abroad for Winter Break 2009, Spring Semester 2009, or Calendar Year 2009, please encourage them to visit the Learning Abroad Center’s scholarship webpage.

Funding Opportunities and Announcements

OIP: The following funding opportunities for students are administered by the Office of International Programs. For more information contact Meaka Henningsen at 612-626-9123 or meaka@umn.edu.

FULBRIGHT: The recipients of grants in the 2008-09 Fulbright Scholar Program and the Visiting Scholar Program have been named. (Student recipients are named through a separate program.) About 800 scholars in the U.S. are given the grants each year to lecture, consult, or conduct research abroad. Another 800 faculty and professionals from around the world receive grants for advanced research and university lecturing in the United States. Recipients from/to the University of Minnesota are:

Events

CEHD INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS: "Education Leadership in New Zealand" with Professor Viviane Robinson, University of Auckland. Oct. 27, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. (lunch served), 250 Wulling Hall. Sponsored by CEHD and the Center for Integrative Leadership.

CULTURE CORPS will be presenting the first in a series of international films, "Hula Girls," a heartwarming comedy about coal miners' daughters who took a once-in-a-lifetime chance to escape their monotonous lives, only to become unwitting heroes to their depressed mining town as well as their country. Oct. 17, 2 - 4:30 p.m., 425 Blegen Hall. (MORE ABOUT CULTURE CORPS)

EAST ASIA SEMINAR SERIES: All events are 3:30 - 5 p.m in 120 Andersen Library unless otherwise specified. Sponsored by the Consortium for the Study of the Asias.

KANN MEMORIAL LECTURE: "A Second Chance: Allied Attitudes and Reconstruction Policies in Post-World War II Austria" by Siegfried Beer, University of Graz. Nov. 6, 3:30 p.m., 215 Humphrey Center. Sponsored by the Center for Austrian Studies.

MINNESOTA INTERNATIONAL CENTER:

SOUTH ASIA SEMINAR SERIES: All events are 3:30 - 5 p.m. in 710 Social Science Building
unless otherwise specified. Sponsored by the Consortium for the Study of the Asias. (MORE EVENTS)

University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 9, No. 5

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