International Dateline
Winter 1996
- Committee Will Advise on U's International Strategy
- Curriculum Revision Project
- Campus News
- Teaching & Advising Information
Committee Will Advise on U's International Strategy
President Nils Hasselmo has appointed a committee to advise him on a long-term international strategy for the University of Minnesota. Vernon Ruttan, Regents' Professor in the departments of applied economics and economics, will chair the committee, which will report in June.
"The University of Minnesota has an enviable record in international activities," President Hasselmo said, citing extensive work in development on several continents, a number of collaborative ventures through several colleges in the University with sister institutions in many countries, one of the largest international student bodies in the nation, and important international opportunities for students.
Regents Professor Vernon Ruttan will head a committee to advise on a broad and long-range international strategy for the University of Minnesota.
"It is extremely important that we continue to maintain the University's very strong international position to the benefit of our students, our faculty, and the state's economy. Building on our considerable strengths, we must make additional strategic contacts and investments."
The urgency of the need to establish such a committee became apparent after a University delegation traveled to East Asia, where the president and members of the delegation were impressed by the enthusiasm and loyalty of international alumni, opportunities for important research partnerships, and overwhelming evidence of long-term benefits from educational ties.
Members of the East Asia delegation met in November and December to discuss follow-up and make recommendations to the president. President Hasselmo responded by appointing two committees, one to advise on the University's long-term international strategy, and one to make recommendations on a University strategy for activities in East Asia that addresses immediate opportunities.
The first committee, according to Ruttan, "will produce a broad strategic document that will serve as a roadmap for our thinking about where the University belongs in the changing international arena in the next ten to fifteen years."
Ruttan has worked in the field of international development since the early 1960s and at the University of Minnesota since 1965. He is a widely published author and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Faculty Invited to Take Part in Curriculum Revision Project
The Center for Advanced Feminist Studies (CAFS) and the Institute of International Studies (IIS) invite University of Minnesota Twin Cities faculty members to submit proposals to participate in the "Ways of Reading" curriculum development project.
CAFS and IIS received a grant from the Ford Foundation to support the project, a three-year, interdisciplinary effort to create, revise, and update core, required, and elective undergraduate courses in women's studies, international studies, and area studies. It is intended to lead to a more thorough integration of gender issues within international and area studies and a stronger international perspective across the women's studies curriculum.
The project involves collaboration by interdisciplinary working groups of faculty in the social sciences and humanities. The working groups will read and discuss fictional and theoretical texts in order to compare the disciplinary lenses and "way of reading" that faculty members bring to the project and to generate new ways of reading, doing reearch, and teaching. Working groups will jointly undertake major revisions of designated undergraduate courses to incorporate gender issues and international perspectives more effectively. These groups will assist in revising courses within the individual teaching responsibilities of each member.
The project also includes support for visiting scholars whom the group may identify and bring to campus, funding for a one-course release for one quarter for each faculty member who takes part in the year-long project, and some research assistance for the group's collaborative work.
Proposals for the 1996-97 academic year should include a statement of relevant curricular goals and the knowledge and experience faculty members would bring to the project. The deadline is February 23.
Campus News
New text addresses reentry of students and professionals educated abroad
The Handbook of Intercultural Training, widely regarded as a standard-setting text for international educators, has been published in its second edition (Sage, 1996). A chapter titled "Re-Entry and Professional Integration," which addresses issues of U.S. and international student and professional sojourners returning to their home countries, was co-authored by Professor Judith N. Martin, Department of Communications, Arizona State University, and Dr. Teresa Harrell, assistant director of the University of Minnesota's International Student and Scholar Services.
MIC names new director
Carol Engebretson Byrne has been named executive director of the Minnesota International Center (MIC) in Minneapolis. Byrne will lead MIC's community outreach and programming to promote global exchange and understanding as the Center moves into a new and significant strategic planning period.
A Minnesota native and graduate of the University of Minnesota's international relations program, Byrne obtained her master's degree in international administration from the former School of International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont. Her experience includes managing educational exchange programs for AFS Intercultural Programs in New York City, directing educational travel programs for the YMCA International Branch, and working as a legislative correspondent for Rep. Martin Sabo (D-MN) on Capitol Hill.
Byrne replaces Cynthia Threlkeld, who has accepted an advanced Peace Corps placement working with small business development in Costa Rica.
Byrne can be contacted at (612) 625-8646 or by e-mail.
Teaching opportunities In Papua New Guinea
The Papua New Guinea Higher Education Project announces two-year visiting faculty positions at the University of Papua New Guinea and the University of Technology.
Positions will be available in the priority areas of education, business, engineering, agriculture, science, and environment. Faculty with a general interest in the priority disciplines are encouraged to contact the Minnesota project office.
The following positions are currently open:
- Home Economics Specialist
University of Papua New Guinea, Goroka Campus (specialties of interest include home economics education, consumer education, textiles and design) - Director, Land Studies Center
University of Technology
Interested faculty should contact
Kathleen Sellew, Project Manager, MUCIA Papua New Guinea Higher Education Project, ISP, 149 Nicholson Hall, 216 Pillsbury Drive S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455,
Phone: (612) 626-9644, Fax: (612) 626-1730, and email.
The PNG Higher Education Project is a project of the Asia Development Bank and the Government of Papua New Guinea, administered by MUCIA (Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities) and the University of Minnesota.
Look for PNG Higher Education Project Update in March issue of Research Review, the newsletter of the Office of Research and Technology Transfer Administration (ORTTA).
Travel alert!
The shut-down of the U.S. Government in December and January was an unusual but impressive reminder of travel hazards for international travelers. International Student and Scholars Services (ISSS) on the Twin Cities campus reported a number of University students and staff stuck overseas, unable to return in time for class and teaching responsibilities at the start of winter quarter. Efforts are in the works to provide tuition refunds for students forced to forego winter classes.
ISSS staff members routinely urge scholars and students to renew their visas as a first order of business when they leave the United States temporarily.
Winter quarter is the time to attend financial aid information sessions
The staff of International Student and Scholar Services International Student Financial Aid Program will present annual information sessions during winter quarter. Dates and times are listed below. International students in need of funding must attend one of the sessions to get an application and guidelines on how to complete it correctly. The application will be explained page by page.
"Come to the information meeting promptly at 4 o'clock and stay until it is over," says Dr. Teresa Harrell, the program manager for international student funding. "You will have the opportunity to benefit from questions that other students raise. You will find it much easier to complete the application after attending one of these sessions".
If you have more questions after you start completing the application, you are welcome to attend another session. Students and faculty who want to learn more about financial aid opportunities for international students are also welcome to attend.
International Student 1995-96 Financial Aid Program
INFORMATION MEETINGS
Winter Quarter
Tuesdays in 122 Nicholson
Feb. 21, 28, Mar. 7
Wednesdays in 209 Nicholson
Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
...all at 4 p.m.
Applications will be available only at these workshops until February 15. After that date they will be available in 20 Nicholson.
DEADLINE: MAY 1
Information for International Teaching and Advising
Liberal Ed in England approaches second year
by Kathy Allen
Faculty and students have found a creative and interesting way to satisfy six liberal education requirements through study abroad. After a successful first year in 1995, the University's Liberal Education in England program will mark its second year this summer with Angelita Reyes as the program faculty leader.
Reyes, associate professor in the Department of Women's Studies and the Department of Afro-American and African Studies, will teach U.S. Minority Women Writers, one of four courses offered through the program. In addition to Reyes' course, participants will enroll in three other courses taught by British faculty from Nottingham Trent University.
Nottingham Market Square bustling with pedestrians.
Over six weeks from mid-June to late July in Nottingham and London, the program allows students to earn 10 quarter credits and fulfill the following six liberal education requirements: Cultural Diversity, International Perspectives, Environment, Citizenship and Public Ethics, plus a practicum in the theme requirements, and a Literature core requirement.
Financial aid and tax workshops
Every winter quarter two issues loom large at ISSS — financial aid and taxes. These and other issues were covered in the student edition of International Dateline.
Tax help now for international scholars and students
All international scholars and students must file income tax reports for the 1995 tax year by April 15, whether or not they earned income in the United States. Assistance is available on Thursdays through April 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Business Reference Room of Wilson Library, Minneapolis-West Bank.
Forms are available at the following locations:
The forms are available at the following locations:
Duplicating Services in Coffman Union: both forms and instructions are available for purchase.
ISSS office: forms will be available at no cost.
Post Offices: forms will also be available at no cost.
Assistance is available
Forms and instructions can be found at two World Wide Web sites. These forms are in Portable Document Format (PDF), you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download them into a form that you can print out and fill in. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader and the tax forms off of the web.
Adobe Acrobat
- The 1040NR form
- 1040NREZ form
In late January and February volunteers from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota will be available to assist in completing income tax forms. International Student and Scholars Services cannot provide assistance or information for completing these forms. If you have specific questions regarding your Federal Income Tax forms, you can call the Internal Revenue Service Tax Helpline at 1(800) 829-1040.
MIC offers many opportunities for international scholars
The Minnesota International Center (MIC) in Minneapolis offers opportunities throughout the year to promote cultural exchange between Minnesotans and international participants.
Dinner visits and other opportunities
MIC can arrange for international scholars and their spouses to visit a Minnesota home for dinner and conversation. As a scholar, you get to sample a bit of life "beyond the campus," and your hosts learn about your country and culture.
You will be asked to supply brief information about yourself to assist in referring you to a host. For more information call Carol Steinberg at (612) 625-0620.
MIC also offers:
- Spanish conversation group--meets twice a month, for Minnesotans and international participants who enjoy speaking Spanish together.
- weekly English conversation classes--a monthly literature discussion group for international women who are spouses of students or scholars.
- world affairs events that focus on significant global issues.