Faculty Senate International Education Committee
Annual Report
2006-2007
Below are the minutes of the monthly meeting of our committee. Next year the committee will have co-chairs, Patricia O’Neill and Li Li. We need more members on our committee please.
Faculty Senate International Education Committee
September 21, 2006 (12:30-1:30PM) Conference Room of School of Music
Minutes
New Business
l. Patt O’Neill invited members to introduce themselves commenting on their international involvements and interests.
2. Patt O’Neill Read of IEC’s Charge from the Faculty Senate and discussion of each area followed:
- To select tuition exemption scholarships for international students; Natalie Rigby, Jeannine Nelson and Christine Day informed new members of the process the committee follows in selecting the recipients of these awards.
- To screen prospective LSU student Fulbright applicants; Harald Leder clarified the Fulbright screening process.
- To act in advisory capacity to administrative units of LSU in areas which affect international students and LSU students studying abroad; a lively discussion ensued between Lakshman Velupillai and Louay Mohammed concerning the disconnect that exists in the managing of international endeavors campus wide. Patt O’Neill promised to place discussion of this issue prominently on October’s agenda.
- To develop and promote international exchange programs (study, research, service) between LSU and universities, and institutes in other countries.
3. A permanent meeting time was set for 2nd Friday of each month at 12:30PM in Conference Room of School of Music
4. Jane Chandler discussed the schedule of activities for International Education Week November 13-17. She also introduced copies of Informal Self-Assessment of the Level of Campus Internationalization to the committee with the hope that it might facilitate the work of this committee.
Old Business
- Patt O’Neill informed the committee of the IEC’s focus last year-‘Internationalizing the Campus-A Proposal’ and informed the committee that Meredith Veldman will present a report on the committee’s work at our October meeting as well her position as liaison between our committee and Committee on International Studies and Programs with the hope of collaboration between our two committees and avoiding duplication of efforts.
Meeting was adjourned at 1:30 until October 13 at 12:30. Following the meeting Maureen Hewitt reminded the Chair that the next meeting will be at the InternationalCulturalCenter. Lunch will be served.
Members Present:
Faculty: Patricia O’Neill, Chair (Music), , Li Li (Kinesiology), Louay Mohammed (Civil & Environmental Engineering), Robert S. Silverman (Art), Andrew Sluyter (Geography & Anthropology), Y Jun Xu (Renewable Natural Resources)
Members Excused: Meredith Veldman, Secretary (History),Chris Papageorgiou (Economics), John Malone (Pathobiological Sciences)
Students Present: Venancio Goulart (Undergraduate-International Trade & Finance), Munir Darwish Nazzal (Graduate-Civil Engineering)
Ex officio members present: Jane Chandler (Director of International Development),Maureen Hewitt (Manager International Cultural Center), Harald Leder (Interim Director Academic Programs Abroad), Jeannine Nelson (Admissions Representative, Admissions Office), Natalie Rigby (Director of International Students) Lakshman Velupillai (Director International Programs/Ag Center), Christine Day (Student Aid and Scholarships), Joshua Callegan (Admissions Representative, Admissions Office), Mandy (Student Aid)
Minutes of the Faculty Senate International Education Committee
Oct. 13, 2006
3:00 pm, Music Building Conference Room
Those attending are in bold:
Faculty: Li Li (Kinesiology), Jack Malone(Vet. Med.), Louay Mohammed (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Patt O’Neill (Music), Robert Silverman (Art), Andrew Sluyter (Geography and Anthropology), Meredith Veldman (History), Y Jun Xu (Renewable Natural Resources-Ag).
Students:Venancio Goulart (Undergrad), Munir Darwish Nazzal (Grad)
Ex officio: Joshua Callaghan (International Admissions), Jane Chandler (International Development), Christine Day (Student Aid and Scholarships), Maureen Hewitt(ICC), Mandy Hoffman (Student Aid), Harald Leder (APA), Jeannine Nelson (International Admissions), Deborah Parker (International Admissions), Natalie Rigby (ISO), Lakshman Velupillai (International Program-Ag Center).
Next meeting: Friday, November 10, 12:30, at the InternationalCulturalCenter on Dalrymple Drive. Lunch will be provided. Maureen Hewitt, the Director of ICC, will give a short presentation on the work of the ICC. This meeting will also include selection of international award recipients; committee members should expect to receive a packet of materials from Jeannine Nelson the week before the meeting.
New Business:
Jane Chandler presented the plans for International Education Week, which will be held Nov. 13-17. Andrew Sluyter moved that the FSIEC co-sponsor the Week; the motion was seconded by Robert Silverman, and approved by unanimous vote.
Old Business:
I. Meredith Veldman reviewed “Internationalizing the Campus,” the report produced by the FSIEC over the last year. [A copy of the report is attached.] She noted that an earlier draft of the report included a number of very concrete proposals. She suggested that the committee review these proposals and decide which, if any, should be pursued over the coming year. [These proposals are attached.]
Veldman presented the report to the Faculty Senate on October 11; the reception was positive. She also noted that in the question-and-answer session that followed her report to the Senate, two senators suggested areas of action for the committee to pursue:
1. to meet with international students themselves, and
2. to investigate the current status of the English Language and Orientation Program (ELOP). ELOP is now without a fulltime director and its four fulltime instructor lines have been reduced to two. ELOP has traditionally served a very important role in bringing international students to the LSU campus.
II. Veldman reported on the work of the Committee on International Studies and Programs (CISP), chaired by Prof. David Lindenfeld (History). CISP is working on three projects of interest to the FSIEC:
1. compiling a central listing of all international programs (undergrad, grad, and faculty) already underway at LSU. As the FSIEC report on “Internationalizing the Campus” notes, a lack of communication and coordination characterizes LSU’s international efforts–few of us know what the others are doing.
2. working with the Admissions Office to reduce the obstacles faced by undergraduates who wish to study abroad. One important part of this effort is the compilation of a data base of credit equivalencies for courses frequently taken abroad by LSU students.
3. establishing a Faculty Oversight Committee for the Chinese Culture and Commerce program. CISP’s investigation of this program has revealed a lack of faculty input as well as what can be kindly characterized as a rather loose administrative chain of responsibility for the program.
III. Patt O’Neill introduced the main item on the day’s agenda: discussion of “what next”–what should be the focus of the FSIEC over the coming year?
Veldman suggested that the FSIEC not duplicate the work already underway by CISP. She will continue to attend CISP meetings and will report on their efforts regularly.
Leder suggested the the committee focus on developing the International Faculty Exchange programs. These programs exist on paper, with all the administrative mechanisms already in place, but few faculty members are aware of them, and even fewer utilize them. FSIEC could work on publicizing these programs, and on gathering information on faculty responses to these programs. If few faculty members take advantage of these programs, what are the obstacles? What can be done to remove these obstacles?
In the ensuing discussion, the problem of housing for international exchange faculty was brought up. The committee discussed the possibility of partnering with both the Baton Rouge community and with Residential Life in developing a housing listing. Munir Nazzal suggested the Nicholson Apartments as a possibility.
Veldman suggested that the committee invite the director of the new GlobalStudiesResidentialCollege to report on the college. She also suggested that the committee pursue the two suggestions raised during her report to the Faculty Senate–meeting directly with international students and investigating the status of ELOP.
The meeting adjourned at 4:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Meredith Veldman
Secretary
Minutes of the Faculty Senate International Education Committee
November 10, 2006
1:30 PM at the International Cultural Center
Those attending are in bold:
Faculty: Li Li (Kinesiology), Jack Malone(Vet. Med.), Louay Mohammed (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Patt O’Neill (Music), Robert Silverman (Art), Andrew Sluyter (Geography and Anthropology), Meredith Veldman (History), Y Jun Xu (Renewable Natural Resources-Ag).
Students:Venancio Goulart (Undergrad), Munir Darwish Nazzal (Grad)
Ex officio: Joshua Callaghan (International Admissions), Jane Chandler (International Development), Christine Day (Student Aid and Scholarships), Maureen Hewitt(ICC), Mandy Hoffman (Student Aid), Harald Leder (APA), Jeannine Nelson (International Admissions), Deborah Parker (International Admissions), Natalie Rigby (ISO), Lakshman Velupillai (International Program-Ag Center), Bryan Buckner (Student Aid), Margaret Jo Borland(ELOP)
Next meeting: Friday, December 8, at 12:30PM, at the School of Music Conference Room on Dalrymple Drive.
The committee met at the InternationalCulturalCenter. A light lunch was served. The committee also viewed several fliers advertising International Education Week which will be held November 13-17. Prominently displayed was a resolution from Mayor Kip Holden acknowledging International Education Week.
New Business:
- Maureen Hewitt introduced a short video presentation on the work of the ICC.
- Margaret Jo Borland, Representative from ELOP-English Language Orientation Program informed the committee about the work of ELOP, which is to teach English to internationals. ELOP also offers a Toefl preparation program. Enrollment is down for various reasons, primarily because of English language schools opening abroad and the difficulties many encounter when trying to enter the United States since 9-11. Borland asked to become an ex-officio member of the committee.
III(This portion of new business occurred at the end of the meeting so that those not involved could leave.) Selection of international award recipients; committee members lamented receiving their packets of materials only the day before. Though the information provided made it fairly simple to select the recipients. That information included the students’ country of origin, ratio, toefl scores, and ACT and SAT scores. Not all students had ACT, SAT, or Toefl scores listed. Since the only constant seemed to be the ratios, the committee chose the recipients according to the ratios. The committee awarded Golden Oaks scholarships which include tuition and non-resident fees, Tiger Scholarships of $7,500 and $5,000 to incoming freshmen, and scholarships totaling $2,500 to transfer students.
Old Business:
I.In Jane Chandler’s absence the update on International Education Week was offered by Maureen Hewitt.
II.Internationalizing the campus
A.In the absence of a report by Venancio Goulart, O’Neill suggested that ‘stripes’, an orientation program for incoming students might be a way to help international students get acclimated to LSU. Harald Leder informed the committee that ‘Stripes’ is not just for international students, but for all incoming students and many international students participate.
B.O’Neill further suggested a ‘big buddy-big sister’ program be started between American and international students. Maureen Hewitt informed the committee that one already exists through ICC.
C.Further discussion ensued with the committee seeking to find a way to plug itself into the efforts being made by different groups on campus to internationalize LSU.
The meeting adjourned at 2PM
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia O’Neill
Chair
Minutes of the Faculty Senate International Education Committee
December 8, 2006
12:30 PM at the International Cultural Center
Those attending are in bold:
Faculty: Li Li (Kinesiology), Jack Malone(Vet. Med.), Louay Mohammed (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Patt O’Neill (Music), Robert Silverman (Art), Andrew Sluyter (Geography and Anthropology), Meredith Veldman (History), Y Jun Xu (Renewable Natural Resources-Ag).
Students: Venancio Goulart (Undergrad), Munir Darwish Nazzal(Grad)
Ex officio: Joshua Callaghan (International Admissions), Jane Chandler (International Development), Christine Day (Student Aid and Scholarships), Maureen Hewitt(ICC), Mandy Hoffman(Student Aid), Harald Leder (APA), Jeannine Nelson (International Admissions), Deborah Parker (International Admissions), Natalie Rigby (ISO), Lakshman Velupillai (International Program-Ag Center), Bryan Buckner (Student Aid), Margaret Jo Borland(ELOP)
Next meeting: Thursday, at 12:30PM, at the School of Music Conference Room on Dalrymple Drive.
New Business
I.O’Neill apologized for the delay in issuing the minutes for the last meeting. Her digital voice recorder had failed to record and she was trying to piece together some of the discussion. Finding a new meeting time was discussed. O’Neill lamented not being able to find a time when all could meet this semester and suggested a lunch time. Those present agreed that 12:30 on Thursday would work for them.
Old Business
- Jane Chandler offered a written and verbal report on International Education Week. She deemed it a success, also acknowledging that she hoped for better attendance. About 300 students attended. She was pleased that so many faculty participated. Among the dignitaries attending were Mayor Kip Holden, Anne Bodine, U.S. Diplomat in Residence-Tulane and Larry Collins, Director of International Economic Development, State of Louisiana. International Education Week was recognized officially by the Governor, the Mayor and the LSU Chancellor. Publicity was excellent because of the efforts of Billy Gamello, Public Relations office. Only $200 spent. Approximately 600 e-mails, 1000 handouts, 50 door prizes donated from various community establishments. Best attended event was Africa—Unity in Diversity. Least attended event was China Initiative. Credit for classes inspired students to attend, as well as food. She discussed areas that need improvement. Heading the list was ‘more faculty involvement’. Finally, Chandler hoped the IEW would begin to inspire the following: cross-cultural dialogs for students and staff/faculty; regular guest speaker on international topics; LSU sponsored workshop on transfer credit and grades; monthly presentations on various countries by involved faculty; a search for a lead department for international activities; a student international initiative fee; more information of faculty international activities. Xu commented that many attempts to gather faculty international activities. But the faculty doesn’t see what the need is for this information. Leder observed that this is a two-pronged problem. First, the administration’s lukewarm interest in international engagement of its faculty and the faculty’s lack of interest in sharing their international contacts. Silverman suggested that the department heads urge faculty to respond to requests to share information about their international activities in faculty meetings, offering reasons why the gathering of this information is so important. Chandler said that the provost was attempting to establish a database on faculty expertise, including international ultimately creating a map, whereby one could click on a country and see a list of faculty working there and their contacts. Chandler is interested in having this information to help other faculty begin research and other work internationally. Expand research grant possibilities. She has prepared a power point presentation on exchange agreements, and legal pitfalls to watch out for, which she will offer to present at faculty meetings. Finally Chandler wants to make noise on this campus about all the international activity going on, so that the administration will have to acknowledge that there is interest on this campus. We cannot do that if there is no comprehensive information about what is truly happening abroad among faculty and students. How can we compete with our peer institutions if we have no idea what is happening on our campus. Silverman said that the study abroad in his department is so specific to Art, that others can’t see how that information would benefit others fields. Leder offered that the contact still might be expanded to include other disciplines. He agreed with Chandler, that as long as each department or school in gazing only inward, we will not be able to catch up to our peer institutions who are way ahead. This comprehensive information about international activity is vital to persuading the leadership of its importance. Xu observed that faculty from each country know each other and are acquainted with each other’s work abroad. O’Neill offered that other faculty might also want to know what they are doing. Xu opined that in spite of all the distinguished Chinese professors and their Chinese connections, none were consulted for the LSU China Initiative. Leder agreed that the leadership was woefully prepared to begin the China Initiative. Xu spoke of a Korean scholar at LSU on a grant, who took classes at LSU and wanted a certificate to recognize that he took those classes. Chandler agreed that there is a disconnect, and loved to hear Xu’s passionate frustration over the disconnect.
- O’Neill opened up a continuation of the discussion on how the committee might involve itself in internationalization of the campus. Silverman suggested that the faculty in the department of Art and Design were totally unaware of the international push occurring on campus, as was he until he joined this committee. Leder observed that the information just doesn’t seem to trickle down. Li Li suggested that students who study abroad participate in a breakfast where they tell of their experience, similar to what CELT and Campus Federal do. And at the end, vote on winner offering him $50. Li’s second suggestion which raised a good deal of enthusiasm, was that LSU offer a class similar to the one on TV called Inside the Actor’s Studio, in which various speakers would address international topics. Leder suggested that we do something about the China Initiative since the administration began it. Malone suggested creating interest groups—like Latin America, which is woefully neglected. Leder suggested we include areas such as Latin America, Europe, Africa and gather for brown bag lunches. Goulart thought the focus should be to facilitate awareness. Xu suggested bringing these issues we have been discussing to the highest leadership in a very focused conversation-perhaps three things-to get the university involved on a high level. Leder reiterated that internationalization has been overlooked in the flagship agenda and that it is incumbent on the committee to speak out strongly. O’Neill charged the committee to revisit the Proposals for Action prepared by Meredith Veldman and last year’s committee. It was decided that each committee member would choose 10 suggestions from these proposals and that the committee would vote on three to be presented to the chancellor. O’Neill also charged each member to work within their department on encouraging their colleagues to respond to requests for information about their international work and contacts. Chandler said LSU needs to establish a protocol for visiting international professors. This would be something easy for the committee to do and would give us a quick success. Chandler also suggested that over the break each member allow his/her mind be free to explore ideas without censoring them so that when we come back to together each member would have 10 things to be narrowed down to three by the committee. The meeting was adjourned with well wishes for the holidays.
Respectfully Submitted,