College of Letters and Sciences International Education Committee

Minutes

September 9, 2011

White Hall 6C

Present:Larry Neuman (chair), Xueqing Chen, Charles Cottle, Bruce Eshelman, Liz Hachten, Rex Hanger, Matt Lange, Xia Lollar, Jalal Nawash, Molly Patterson, Alyson Prude, Ellie Schemenauer, David Simmons, Hassimi Traore, Sheila Turek and Akiko Yoshida

Larry Neuman called the meeting to order at 2:17 pm.

  1. The minutes of the April 29, 2011 meeting were approved.
  1. The meeting began with attendees introducing themselves, so that members in continuing terms and those beginning new terms could get acquainted. 
  1. Announcements:
  • Anne Hamilton was appointed interim director of the Center for Global Education. The search committee for a permanent director has been formed, but no representative from our committee is on it.
  • There was some discussion of international student recruitment and retention in light of the fact that L&S has no recruitment plan. The campus has disproportionate representation of international students from certain countries (e.g. Saudi Arabia, Burkina Faso and Cameroon—despite the absence of recruitment efforts there), while China remains underrepresented. A balance of world regions across academic programs would be more desirable. Eau Claire and Stevens Point use ESL programs as both a marketing tool and a way to integrate international students. One tool might be lowering the cutoff TOEFL score, but we need to find a better way to make us of faculty and student resources to recruit and retain international students.
  • There were a number of announcements about our ongoing relationship with Oaxaca, including the exhibition Viva Oaxaca in the Fiskum Art Gallery featuring students’ works from mono print class in Oaxaca, prints by Max White & UW-W student Irasema Villarreal, photos by Charlie Cottle and drawings by Mike Flanagan (through September); and the opening reception of Sobreviviendo: Manejese con Cuidado (Surviving: Handle with Care) at the Crossman Gallery, September 12 from 5-7 pm, featuring prints from the same workshops on the theme of endangered species (through October 9).
  • Liz Hachten announced that the proposal for the Global Engagement Certificate is on the next College Curriculum Committee agenda, and that the strengthened language requirement for the B.A. will go into effect for high school students graduating in 2012 and after. Liz and Peter Hoff will meet with testing services about implementing placement tests—we will be moving toward relying on system tests.
  1. Rex Hanger gave a report about the Wisconsin in Scotland program and his experience with the WiS Advisory Board, the primary body that chooses faculty to teach there. UWW was not originally part of the consortium of UW campuses that send faculty and students there until Eau Claire and LaCrosse dropped out, but now there is a general need for all the campuses to increase recruitment of students and faculty from a wider array of departments than has historically been the case (a handout was distributed listing the number of students and faculty sent to the program from each campus since 1984). Among the challenges facing the program: courses are no longer offered on a semester basis, but rather in modules of several weeks each, and the location itself imposes certain limitations on the kinds of courses that might be offered. The committee pointed out that it will be difficult to meet recruitment targets within individual departments, and Liz suggested there needs to be greater predictability in the array of courses being offered, and the assurance of “maximum transferability” of credits, in order to successfully attract students to the program.
  1. Further announcements:
  • Matt Lange announced opportunities for students to study in Germany by applying for DAAD fellowships, and over the summer through Hessen’s International Summer Universities programs.
  • Anne Hamilton is seeking information about international activities and initiatives from each department in order to prepare a report for an international education consultant visiting campus in October at the request of Provost Kopper (an e-mail with details will arrive soon).
  1. New business:
  • The committee voted to keep meetings for the semester at the same time, Fridays at 2:15.
  • A subcommittee tasked with developing a rubric for, and overseeing the evaluation and advising of, the Global Engagement Certificate portfolios was formed. Matt Lange, Seth Meisel, Ellie Schemenauer and David Simmons volunteered and were confirmed by assent.
  • The deadline for Fall 2012 and Winterim 2013 travel study proposals is October 14; for Spring 2013, March 16, 2012.
  • L&S should be taking the initiative in establishing exchanges with China. Mary Pinkerton would like to know what kinds of programs L&S faculty are interested in before she flies off to China signing agreements. Based on his experience in Australia, Bruce Eshelman recommends direct enrollment if possible. Xia Lollar, Hassimi Traore, and Bruce will follow up with Mary.
  • Final announcement: The International Film Appreciation course meets Monday nights from 6:15-8:45 in Heide 101.

7. The meeting was adjourned.

Minutes respectfully submitted by David Simmons, 10/24/11