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International and Off-Campus Studies
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2003-2004 Year End Report
June 2004
The 2003-2004 academic year continued the trend of the past five years of increasing numbers of students participating in off-campus study programs. Efforts by the faculty and off-campus staff coupled with the importance that the St. Olaf College mission statement places on this integral aspect of a St. Olaf College degree is borne out in the 973 students who have spent a portion of their academic program in an off-campus study site.
This report attempts to provide the reader with an overview of the significant pieces necessary to implement this strong program of St. Olaf College that assists students in gaining a global perspective within a cross-cultural learning program.
Student Participation
All Students
228 students studied at one of the 64 international program sites during a semester or year long program, and 570 students studied at one of the 25 international sites during the January 2004 interim. Adding 17 students at one of the 15 domestic semester or year-long program sites and 158 students on one of 16 domestic interims, the total number of students studying off-campus in the 2003-2004 academic year was 973. This is an increase from the total numbers from the 2002-2003 academic year (886 students). The larger number was due to an increase in the students enrolled in international interims in January 2004 (from 448 to 570) and a slight increase of 14 more students on semester or year-long international programs. The large increase in the numbers of international interim participants is due in part to an increased number of interim offerings by the faculty and the inclusion of the St. Olaf College band study-travel-concert program in Mexico, adding a significant number of participants to the normal January interim.
Seniors Only
Of the 698 seniors who graduated in May 2004, 484 students (69% of the class) had studied on an international off-campus program at least once during their undergraduate career. 173 students (24.6% of the class) had enrolled in a domestic program at least once during their four years at St. Olaf. A total of 560 students or 80% of the class of 2004 had studied on an off-campus program at least once during their undergraduate career.
The information below indicates the numbers of students who have participated in one, two, three, four, and in some cases, 5 off-campus study programs:
In the class of 2004: (698 graduates)
295 students participated in one (1) off-campus study program during their four years
202 students participated in two (2) off-campus study programs during their four years.
56 students participated in three (3) off-campus study programs during their four years.
7 students participated in four (4) off-campus study programs during their four years.
In the class of 2003: (694 graduates)
253 students participated in one (1) off-campus study program during their four years.
200 students participated in two (2) off-campus study programs during their four years.
66 students participated in three (3) off-campus study programs during their four years.
5 students participated in four (4) off-campus study programs during their four years.
In the class of 2002: (700 graduates)
288 students participated in one (1) off-campus study program during their four years.
154 students participated in two (2) off-campus study programs during their four years.
48 students participated in three (3) off-campus study programs during their four years.
1 student participated in four (4) off-campus study programs during their four years.
In the class of 2001: (643 graduates)
268 students participated in one (1) off-campus study program during their four years.
157 students participated in two (2) off-campus study programs during their four years.
40 students participated in three (3) off-campus study programs during their four years.
2 students participated in four (4) off-campus study programs during their four years
The data prepared by Karen Engler, Coordinator of Budgets and Project Assistant, appears in APPENDIX A of this report and contain information on participation in 2003-2004 (along with comparative data on participation for students on off-campus programs during previous years:
Participation Tables
Participation by term of study (year-long, semester or interim)
Participation by area of the world
Participation by gender
Participation by multicultural students
Participation by academic major and faculties
Participation by graduation year (seniors, juniors, sophomores, first-year students)
An analysis of the data contained in these reports indicates that:
- The number of students participating in off-campus study increases each year. However, the numbers of students participating in interim programs are significantly greater than the number of students participating in semester or year-long programs. One of the goals of the Cross-Cultural Learning initiative is to increase the number of students selecting year-long and/or semester length programs. Designing and implementing strategies toward this goal will continue to be a priority of the Off-Campus Office and IDOCS in future years.
- The participation rates for multicultural students indicate an increase in the number and percentage of multicultural students participating in international off-campus study programs and a decrease in the number and percentage of multicultural students participating in domestic off-campus study programs compared to the previous year.
- There has been little change in the percentage of male students participating in off-campus (international) study programs, reflecting the same demographics as the student body population as a whole. In 2003-2004 the percent of males participating in semester or year-long international programs rose slightly from 30.4% in 2002-2003 to 30.7% in 2003-2004. Participation for males on international interim programs dropped slightly. These figures reflect the current enrollment patterns at higher education institutions in the United States.
- We have significantly increased the enrollment of students in second term programs in relationship to first term programs. For the 2003-2004, 47% of the students participated in second term programs. That compares with the data from the 2002-2003 year when 41% of students participated in second term programs. Our goal has been to aim for an equal balance of participants for each of the two semesters and in the past year we have come very close to meeting that goal!
- A significant change in the data for the 2003-2004 was a larger than normal increase in the number of students selecting non-western destinations for study both for the year long/semester programs and the interims. In 2002-2003 a total of 263 students studied in non-Western locations and in 2003-2004, 313 students studied in non-Western locations.
- Students with majors in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Humanities, Social and Applied Sciences, and the Fine Arts continue to dominate participation in both international and domestic programs during both semester/year long and interim programs. For International semester or year-long programs the Natural Science and Mathematics majors constituted 36% of the participants with the Humanities claiming 23% and Social and Applied Sciences holding 18% of the total participants. During domestic interims, the Natural Sciences had 44% of the participants with Social and Applied Sciences having 21% and Fine Arts 13%.
- We are now beginning to track student graduation rates. The most recent figures are for the class of 2002, 93.4% of the students who participated in an off-campus study program still graduated with their cohort year (year entering St. Olaf). This indicates that students selecting off-campus study programs are able to complete all requirements for graduation within the four-year time frame.
Faculty Participation
During the 2003-2004 academic year the participation levels for faculty involved in off-campus program activities included:
Program Advisers: 52 faculty members (APPENDIX B)
Field Supervisors for Term Programs: 3 faculty members
Ed and Lois Langerak (Global Semester)
Mary Griep and Randy Jennings (Term in Asia)
Ted and Michelle Johnson (Environmental Science in Australia)
Off-Campus Interims: 41 faculty members + 4 mentees
MENTEES:
Mary Sue Lovett with Karen Achberger (Vienna) and
Friederike von Schwerin-High (Germany)
Julie Legler with Bill Poehlman (Rome) and Nancy
Thompson (Florence)
Joseph McClanahan with Leon Narvarez in Costa Rica
Rika Ito with Pin Wan in China and Japan
Faculty, Administrators and Staff Serving as Hosts to International
Visiting Scholars:
Karen Engler, Off-Campus Studies Office
Bill Sonnega, Communications
Kathy Shea, Biology
Diane Leblanc, Interdisciplinary Studies
Karil Kucera, Art
Eric Nelson, English
Jim Farrell, History
Karen Wilson, Theatre
Rita Glazebrook, Nursing
Myron Solid, Education
Greg Kneser, Dean of Students
Peter Sandberg, Director of Facilities
Eric Lund, Religion
Patrick Quade, Off-Campus Studies Office
Plus many other faculty, staff, administrators and in more informal contacts during the year.
A TOTAL OF OVER 125 FACULTY MEMBERS WERE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN OFF-CAMPUS STUDY AND CROSS-CULTURAL LEARNING DURING THE 2003-2004 ACADEMIC YEAR.
In addition, during the 2004 interim, the following administrative/staff members accompanied faculty on off-campus interims:
Jeff McLaughlin (Admissions) in Cuba with Jeane Delaney and Richard Buckstad (two separate interims)
Bill Green (Multicultural Student Affairs Office) in South Africa with Eric Lund.
President Christopher Thomforde visited three program sites (Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, MOROCCO, Bogazici University in Istanbul, TURKEY and The American University in Cairo in Cairo, EGYPT. Patrick Quade accompanied the President from September 16-30, 2003. Formal meetings were held at each University and President Thomforde and Pat Quade spent four days with the Global Semester group and their field supervisors, Ed and Lois Langerak. A copy of their itinerary appears at the end of this report in APPENDIX C
Assessment Initiatives
Assessment of off-campus programs comes from the following sources:
1. Analysis of statistical data as per information in Appendix A.
2. Field Supervisor's and Interim Instructor's narrative and budget reports submitted within one month following completion of program. These continue to be a rich source of comprehensive information analyzing the off-campus learning experience.
3. Oral debriefing of students completing all field supervised programs and all semester programs and year long programs with Field Supervisor, Assistant Field Supervisor, and/or Program Director and Helen Stellmaker.
4. Every student enrolled on an off-campus study program is asked to complete an evaluation dealing with the logistics and support for their program. The completed evaluations are read by staff members in IOS, discussed in staff meetings and changes made for the following cycle of applicants.
In the 2003-2004 academic year the Off-Campus Studies Office instituted a new system of electronic assessment for all off-campus study programs. The response rate and efficiency have improved the system.
During June 2004 we have a graduate student working in the office of Off-Campus Studies (Erin Carson) completing an evaluation of all of the instruments currently in use for student assessment. Erin is also analyzing the results of the evaluations in terms of the specific program and/or course based on the responses from the students. Results of that study will be shared with the IOS office staff and the IDOCS committee in the fall of 2004.
5. During the 2003-2004 academic year, two major efforts were undertaken to examine the utility and effectiveness of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) as an instrument to measure the growth and development of a student in terms of cultural competency.
The first test was done comparing the before and after on-campus course results from a Level II Political Science course and a Level II German language course. The same two instructors also administered the IDI (before and after) to similar courses offered off-campus during the 2004 interim. Helen Stellmaker and Christopher Brooks (Political Scientist) examined the results and prepared two conference sessions to describe and discuss the results. A copy of the conference presentations of both Helen and Chris are appended to the end of this report. (APPENDIX D)
Beginning in May 2004, Patrick Quade administered the IDI to the students enrolled in the fall, 2004 Term in the Middle East program. The course taught by the Field Supervisor (Quade) for the TIME program is a study of Cross-Cultural Competency in Context and will draw heavily on the IDI results as theory and as individual assessment tools during the five months of the program. Students will re-take the IDI after completion of the Term program and the before and after results will be assessed. The hypothesis is that with a focused attention to developing cross-cultural competency, students will exhibit strong growth and development in all areas tests with the IDI.
6. The International and Domestic Off-Campus Studies Committee (IDOCS) continues to review all off-campus programs. See IDOCS report for listing of program reviews conducted in 2003-2004.
7. Full reports of all program reviews are available in the Office of International and Off-Campus Studies.
The staff of the International and Off-Campus Studies office works with information for the sources listed above and faculty program advisors and directors and takes the following actions:
- If the sources indicate a problem with the academic component(s) of a program, the appropriate staff member works with the program advisor and the host institution in resolving the problem.
- If the sources indicate a logistical problem, the staff works with the appropriate contacts (air carrier, travel agent, host institution, housing provider, etc.) to resolve the problem prior to the next scheduled program offering.
- If the sources indicate problems with orientation and/or re-entry, the staff of IOS develops new methods of conducting and providing these services.
- The International and Domestic Off-Campus Study Committee (IDOCS) handle policy issues for all off-campus programs. Policy Manual revisions are made through this committee.
The staff of the International and Off-Campus Studies meets regularly to discuss issues related to the operation of the office and programs. Issues that assessment indicates are in need of attention are dealt with quickly and decisively. We feel confident that we are responding to both strengths and weaknesses of our off-campus studies programs by using the variety of information sources (formal and informal) to precipitate change in a timely fashion.
The current use of the electronic assessment coupled with the study being completed by the summer intern should facilitate the analysis of all data in an attempt to respond to the growing call from those in International Education of accountability in all facets of off-campus study: discipline based courses, language development, cross-cultural competency, program assessment and institutional strengths and weaknesses of off-campus study.
New Initiatives
Integration of Global Perspective (Cross-Cultural Learning)
The Office of International and Off-Campus Studies and the International and Domestic Off-Campus Studies Committee (IDOCS) has been working on issues related to internationalization for 4 years. Since January 2002, the IDOCS Committee has worked with the IOS office to complete the North Central Association Accreditation Review Chapter on Cross-Cultural Learning. The result of that process was to form the framework for continued efforts in this area. The current status is on hold depending budget action from the Administration of the College.
The priority of the Off-Campus Studies Office, the IDOCS committee, the NCA on-site Review Panel and, to a large extent, the faculty of the institution support the initiatives of the NCA accreditation review recommendations. Although some recommendations in the report can move forward without budgetary support, much remains to be done that will require a more substantive commitment on the part of the institution to make St. Olaf a truly cross-cultural learning environment. Since Cross-Cultural Leaning was NOT included in the most recent Strategic Plan of the College, this will be a major challenge.
Diversity Initiatives
St. Olaf College is in the final year of working with the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation grant to support a Multicultural Immersion interim program. The grant assisted in the organization and implementation of new January interim courses from different academic disciplines that spend a portion (two weeks) in the Twin Cities area and the first and last week on the St. Olaf campus. The off-campus portion of the course in the Twin Cities was coordinated by HECUA (Higher Education Consortium on Urban Affairs) in the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas. These initiatives also offered intensive training and preparation for faculty and students prior to the courses. During the 2004 interim there were 3 Hewlett interim courses and during the summer of 2004, 10 faculty and staff members will participate in the summer immersion program in Minneapolis and St. Paul. We are currently engaged in planning how to continue these offerings at the end of the grant period (December 31, 2004).
Literary Contest
Students who participated on off-campus study programs during the 2003-2004 academic year were invited to submit literary pieces based on their study-travel programs. 26 entries were submitted and the winning selections were published on the website:
http://www.stolaf.edu/international/literarycontest/index.html
Photo Contest
The 21st annual Gimse International and Off-Campus Study Photo Contest was completed in late April 2004. The contest is named in honor of the Gimse's for their longtime service to Off-Campus Studies programs at St. Olaf College. 425 photographs were submitted this year. The winning selections have been exhibited in the Buntrock Commons and appear on our website at:
http://www.stolaf.edu/services/iso/photos/index.html
See the Dean of the College web site for the complete IDOCS report, listed under Annual Reports, Committees or click on the above link.
Visiting Scholars
During the 2003-2004 academic year, St. Olaf College hosted 12 Visiting Scholars. This was an extraordinarily unusual year for welcoming Visiting Scholars. The reputation of St. Olaf College for maintaining a strong Cross-Cultural Learning Opportunity attracted both the United Board for Christian Higher Education (UBCHE) and the Fulbright Foundation to seek partnership with the College for the placement of specialist scholars.
Visiting Scholars at St. Olaf College for Academic Year 2003/2004
1. Mr. Li Tongxing from East China Normal University in Shanghai, China - 9 months
2. Mr. Li Hongqing from East China Normal University in Shanghai, China - 9 months
3. Ms. Wenx Xuefang from East China Normal University in Shanghai, China - 9 months
4. Mr. Bordin Chinda from Chiang Mai University in Chiang Mai, Thailand - 4 months
5. Dr. Henrik Eriksson from Maladarlens University in Sweden - 4 months
6. Dr. Marianna Hagberg from Karlstad University in Sweden - 4 months
7. Ms. Somporn Vardado from Chiang Mai University in Thailand - 1 month
8. Ms. Pannatipar Thongdee from Chaing Mai University in Thailand - 1 month
9. Ms. Thanapun Kulachan from Chiang Mai University in Thailand - 1 month
10. Mr. Christopher Chandran from Madras Christian College in India - 1 month
11. Dr. Yinliang Ma from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China - 3 months
12. Dr. Abdessalam Ben Maissa, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco - 2 weeks
Mr. Li Tongxing is an Associate Professor in the Dissemination Department (Communications) at ECNU. He was hosted by Professor Bill Sonnega in the Theater Department at St. Olaf College. While at St. Olaf, Mr. Li finished a book on high school education on the Web, worked on a textbook on social science, and he wrote a paper on TV program comparisons between U.S. and China. He also gathered much audio and video data for his future research. During winter break, he traveled to California, where he visited radio and TV stations owned by the Chinese. He also visited New York, Washington DC, and Boston, where he met with faculty who use the book he edited, "Teaching Chinese Through Way of Symbol," to teach Chinese at Wellesley College.
Mr. Li Hongqing from the School of Life Sciences at ECNU, was hosted by Kathy Shea of the Biology Department of St. Olaf College. While at St. Olaf. Mr. Li attended Asian Conversations, Visual Culture of Modern China and some Chinese language classes, worked on research in the St. Olaf library, and visited herbarium collections and colleagues at the Missouri Botanical Garden, Harvard Herbarium and NY Botanical Garden. He specifically continued his studies on specimens of Rehmannia (Chinese foxglove) and related genera in Scrophulariaceae, he took numerous photos of plants, and gathered useful resources related to his botanical studies.
Ms. Weng Zuefang, Foreign Language Department of ECNU, was hosted by Diane Leblanc in Interdisciplinary Studies. She attended classes at St. Olaf, including an Asian art history class taught in the Spring by Karil Kuchera, in order to prepare to teach a similar course to U.S. students next fall at ECNU. Ms. Weng participated in three conferences on language teaching: two in San Francisco and one in Minneapolis. She gathered useful materials from the Brooklyn Library in New York and from the St. Olaf Library. She finished one professional paper and compiled audio resources to bring back to China to assist with her teaching of English.
Mr. Bordin Chinda was hosted by Eric Nelson in the English Department at St. Olaf He audited Film Narrative with Professor Nelson, Aspects of American Cultural Studies with Professor Jim Farrell, and Voice and Phonetics with Karen Wilson. Apart from auditing classes, he visited Indiana University where he gave a short presentation to share tips on how he teaches English as a Foreign Language at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. He also visited museums and art institutes in the U.S. He delivered several presentations to classes and informal groups at St. Olaf on Thai culture.
Dr. Henrik Eriksson was hosted by Rita Glazebrook in the St. Olaf Nursing Department. He was funded by STINT, the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education in the program for Teaching Excellence. Dr. Eriksson participated in faculty meetings and he attended the Family Health course for senior nursing students, in which he contributed a Scandinavian perspective on the material presented in the course. He also attended Health Assessment and Nursing Concepts class. He participated in nursing faculty meetings at St. Olaf and Gustavus Adolphus Colleges two times every month. He served as a translator and "teacher" in a Swedish choir performance in the Music Department. He participated in two conferences during his time here: the Nobel Conference at Gustavus Adolphus and the MANC conference at the University of Minnesota. To conclude his time here, he offered a seminar to faculty in the MINC consortium about his experiences while at St. Olaf. Dr. Eriksson brought his family with him and became very involved in the community with his wife, three children, and parents they met through their children. The older children attended middle school in Northfield.
Dr. Mariana Hagberg was also a STINT scholar from Sweden. She was hosted by Myron Solid in the Education Department. She is currently working on a new teacher education program at Karlstad University in Sweden and while at St. Olaf she interviewed teachers, students, administrators and citizens of Northfield. She participated in lectures, labs, poster presentations and seminars for various courses, including teacher education and biology courses. She also took part in one internal symposium and two external conferences, one on interdisciplinary science and one on teacher education. In addition she had several discussions with teaching faculty in the St. Olaf Education and Biology departments. Dr. Hagberg also attended many department and faculty meetings.
Ms. Thanapun Kulachan, Ms. Pannatipar Thongdee and Ms. Somporn Varnado visited St. Olaf from Chiang Mai University in January 2004. All three are faculty or administrators who work with St. Olaf students on the Term in Asia program. Ms. Pannatipar Thongdee is the Head of the Faculty Administrative Office at Chiang Mai and has served as the administrative facilitator of the Term in Asia program since 1973. She met with administrators at St. Olaf as well as former students who were on the Term in Asia program. Thanapun Kulachan teaches students how to access information resources at Chiang Mai and she met with staff in IIT and Library departments of St. Olaf to learn about our IIT resources. Somporn Varnado is an Assistant Professor in the English Department at Chiang Mai and she met with faculty in the English Department at St. Olaf.
Mr. Christopher Chandran was a visiting scholar funded by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia. He was mentored by Greg Kneser, Dean of Students at St. Olaf. While at St. Olaf he attended many meetings with the Dean of Students office, met with many colleagues around campus, and became fully engaged in the activities of the campus. He also began discussions about possible future exchanges with his college, Madras Christian College in India. He will submit a lengthy report of his time at St. Olaf to St. Olaf College and to the United Board.
Dr. Yinliang Ma was also a visiting scholar funded by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia. He was mentored by Peter Sandberg in the Facilities Department at St. Olaf. Dr. Ma attended Facilities meetings, Faculty Development meetings and other committee meetings to learn about the administrave structures of an American college. He was specifically interested in learning more about college administration and facilities management. He will submit a report to St. Olaf and the United Board upon completion of his studies in Northfield.
Dr. Abdessalam Ben Maissa came to St. Olaf as a visiting Fulbright Scholar for two weeks in May. He lectured to classes and student groups on issues related to Islam, Morocco, democratizing Islamic societies, freedom and secularism. He contributed to orientation sessions for Term in the Middle East and Global Semester.
All of the scholars listed above contributed to the St. Olaf community while they were here and completed work toward their research.
There are reciprocity agreements between St. Olaf College and Chiang Mai University in Thailand and East China Normal University in Shanghai, China. Both agreements involve student/faculty or scholar exchange. St. Olaf sends students to study in China and Thailand and they send faculty to do research at St. Olaf College. In 2003/04, St. Olaf sent 6 students on the Term in China Program and 13 to Thailand on the Term in Asia Program.
All of the scholars have contact with many people on the St. Olaf Campus. Some get involved in the Northfield community through their assigned friendship families. They all travel to at least one other location in the U.S. They also participate in International Night on the St. Olaf campus. All of the above scholars were provided health insurance by St. Olaf except for Henrik Eriksson and Mariana Hagberg who provided their own insurance or were funded by another organization.
Submitted by Karen Engler, Visiting Scholar Coordinator - June 15, 2004
Activities
(In addition to normal responsibilities listed on calendar of events for 2003-2004, APPENDIX E.)
Continued efforts on the Cross-Cultural Learning Project and Assessment activities, including Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) initiatives.
Selection of Field Supervisors and Assistant Field Supervisors for future St. Olaf College Field Supervised Programs. (See APPENDIX F)
2003-2004 year - Meetings with delegations from:
Mark Tiedemann, Nagasaki College in Japan
Stavanger University College in Norway
Agder College in Norway
STINT program for Visiting Fellows from Sweden
Representatives from Flensburg University in Germany
Representatives from Lancaster University in England
Representatives from Yonsei University in South Korea.
August 8-14, 2003: Hewlett/HECUA summer immersion for 10 faculty/staff members
November 17-21, 2003: International Education Week activities
February 19-21, 2004: Peace Prize Forum and World Wide Service Fair
April, 2004: Philip Moeller, World Bank as guest speaker at Field Supervised programs orientation.
Awarded the following Development Grants in 2002-2003 to:
Program Development
Rich DuRocher Ireland Site Visit
Anne Walter India Site Visit
Bob Entenmann Japan Site Visit
Mentor Program
Mary Sue Lovett to Austria and Germany
Julie Legler to Italy and Geneva
Joseph McClanahan to Costa Rica
Rika Ito to Japan
Administrative Development Support
Jeff McLaughlin to Cuba
Bill Green to South Africa
Interim Second Person Back-up
Judy Holt in Australia
Lindsey Johnson, student to France
Staff Development
Kathy Tuma, Karen Engler and Helen Stellmaker to NAFSA in Baltimore.
Helen Stellmaker to Guatemala for AAPLAC and Conference on Best
Practices in orientation/re-entry at Birmingham Southern in Alabama.
Pat Quade to Turkey, Morocco and Egypt with President Thomforde.
See APPENDIX G for copies of published materials used during the 2003-2004 year.
Incidents
Continuing conflict caused suspension of the Term in the Middle East for the 2002-2003 and the 2003-2004 years.
We had to terminate a student's participation in the Term in Asia program after almost two months on the program.
3 students on the ACM Tanzania program (not St. Olaf students) assaulted, one of whom was sexually assaulted.
A St. Olaf student of the Budapest Semester Math program was having adjustment problems but managed to complete the program.
A student strike in Rennes, France occurred but all students of the CIEE program were able to complete the program.
University strikes in Ghana interrupted the CIEE program, but all students were able to complete the program.
A St. Olaf student on an English University program was "missing" for a brief period of time. When he was "found" he decided to return home to sort out problems and eventually returned to the University to complete his studies.
A St. Olaf student on the Fall ACM Costa Rica program had her wallet stolen. The off-campus study office also received two parent complaints about the ACM program, but all issues were resolved.
A St. Olaf student on the LCCT Tanzania program contracted malaria but fully recovered.
A student on the St. Olaf Global Semester program was denied departure from New Delhi en route to Thailand until she was able to obtain a new visa. Situation resolved after a 24 hour delay.
Two St. Olaf students were groped on their way to their homestay family on an Interim program in Ecuador.
A student on the Tahiti program broke a toe on a catamaran excursion.
A student on the Ireland program was depressed and felt he could not complete the program. He eventually came home one day early but completed the course.
A student on the interim on the Czech Republic interim had her wallet stolen on a subway train.
A student on the South African interim had her purse stolen
Two students on a St. Olaf interim raised some damaging issues regarding the instructor. After a complete investigation, it was determined that the students' complaints were groundless and unsubstantiated.
A student enrolled for the second term at Curtin University in Australia was unhappy upon arrival, primarily with the housing and orientation activities. All issues resolved.
A St. Olaf student on the second term Budapest Semester Math Program returned to him home prior to completing the program.
The threat of suspension of work by Teaching Faculty at schools in Great Britain created a great deal of anxiety but the issues were resolved and all students completed programs.
A St. Olaf student on the HECUA Guatemala and Cuba program was detained for 3 days in Havana because of a suspicion of a forged passport. The intervention of the American Interests Section in Havana and HECUA staff successfully resolved the problem.
The suspicion of an issue regarding forgery of a grade report was successfully resolved due to the efforts of the Registrar, Dean of Students and Off-Campus Studies Office. The student was not accused.
A student with psychological problems returned home early from the program in Lancaster but did return and complete the program.
In April, four (non-St. Olaf) students on the ACM Tanzania program were mugged while traveling on a break from Dar es Salaam.
Staff Professional Activity
Kathy Tuma: Associate Director
Worked with Alan Norton and Kathy Chadwick to represent International and Off-Campus Studies office interests in the development of a new college-wide travel management contract.
Continued as Dean for the NAFSA Professional Practice Workshops (PPW "Developing Short Term Education Abroad Programs").
Co-chaired and presented the above-mentioned workshop on Monday, May 24, 2004 at the National NAFSA: Association of International Educators Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
Was nominated and is running for the position of SECUSSA Representative to the Communications and Information Committee at the national level for NAFSA. Outcome of election will be known in August.
Co-wrote a chapter for the new NAFSA's Guide to Education Abroad for Advisers and Administrators.
Helen Stellmaker: Coordinator of Advising and Student Activities
June & Dec. 2003 Served on HECUA Scholarship Committee
Sept 2003 Implemented electronic evaluation forms for
returning off-campus study students
Sept-Dec 2003 Participated in Maximizing Study Abroad
Workshop and implementation from the
University of Minnesota
Sept 2003-Feb 2004 Assessed 4 (2 semester I and 2 Interim)
classes using the IDI testing instrument to
measure Cultural Competence
Oct. 1, 2004 Presented information on off-campus study
and cross-cultural learning to Professor Chuck
Huff's Psychology classes
Feb. 2004 Attended AAPLAC (Association for Academic
Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean)
Conference in Guatemala.
Site visit for programs in Guatemala.
May 2004 NAFSA National Conference - Baltimore, MD
Presentation: "Short-Term Study Abroad
Impacts on Student Learning and Global
Awareness"
June 2004 Best Practices Conference - Birmingham, AL
Presentation: "Re-entry at S. Olaf College"
Yearlong Served on St. Olaf College Benefits Committee
Yearlong Served on Community Life & Diversity Committee
Jane Weis: Office Manager
Continued to serve as webmaster for IOS home page
Implemented a new web system for the IOS homepage and related links
Analyzed materials for an alternate, less-expensive insurance program for students, faculty and staff traveling abroad.
IOS office liaison with Registrar's Office for developing and implementing a new campus-wide computer system.
Karen Engler: Coordinator of Budgets and Project Assistant
Coordinated the visits of 12 international scholars, including 3 scholars from Shanghai, China; 1 scholar from Chiang Mai, Thailand; 2 scholars from Sweden; 3 January scholars from Chiang Mai, Thailand; 2 United Board for Christian Higher Ed scholars; and 1 Fulbright scholar from Morocco.
Managed Sovik resident for international scholars.
Coordinated 8 interim programs.
Served as the St. Olaf representative to LCCDT and hosted the annual LCCDT meeting at St. Olaf College in February.
Managed 2003/2004 budget and prepared 2004/2005 budget for IOS office.
Attended NAFSA conference in May, including 1-day workshop on J-1 visa regulations and SEVIS documentation.
Prepared 2003/2004 statistics for year-end report.
Continued to learn her job over the course of her first year in the IOS office.
Roseanne Galegher: Coordinator of Support Services
Continued to develop full competency on:
Visa issues affecting all students and faculty in over 100 countries
Database issues related to record keeping and interfacing with the College systems
Full support for all 900+ students participating in all off-campus programs in terms of all documents and required materials for participation.
Patrick Quade: Director
2003-2004 Conduct Faculty Training Sessions for Field Supervisors and
Interim faculty
2003-2004 Continued to develop Korean Cohort with Yonsei University
2003-2004 Continued work on Intercultural Development Inventory
implementation
2003-2004 Continued work on Electronic Assessment initiatives
2003-2004 Served on HECUA Finance Committee
2003-2004 Served on Registrar's Advisory Panel
2003-2004 Served on Phi Beta Kappa Members in Course Committee
2003-2004 Served on Guthrie Theatre Education Committee
2003-2004 Served on the International and Domestic Off-Campus Study
Committee (IDOCS)
2003-2004 Administrator for Mel George Fellowship Award Selection
process
2003-2004 Committee for selection of Commencement Senior Speaker
2003-2004 Multiple presentations to prospective students and parents
for Off-Campus Studies
2003- Member of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Mellon
current Funded Global Partners organization (ACM, GLCA, ACS)
June 2000- Member of Global Partners Best Practice Task Force
current
2003
June 13 Presentation to Presidents of private institutions for the
Minnesota Private College Council in St. Paul
June 23-27 Presentation for Private College Counselors Tour
Aug 7-13 Hewlett Diversity Program Summer Immersion Program
in the Twin Cities
Sept 16-30 Arranged and accompanied President Thomforde on
visit to Morocco, Turkey and Egypt, visiting and
conducting talks with representatives from Cadi Ayyad
University in Marrakech, Bogazici University in Istanbul
and The American University of Cairo in Egypt.
Fall, 2003 Prepared application and worked on course and student
selection as Field Supervisor for 2004-2005 Term in the
Middle East Program.
Oct 21-23 Prepared and hosted two representatives from Yonsei
University in Korea to develop final agreements on the
new Cohort Exchange Program.
Oct 30 Recognized for 35 years (Fall 1968-Spring 2003) of
service to the College.
Oct. 30 Developed workshop for 2004 Interim instructors with
consultant, Brenda Ellingboe.
Oct-present Worked with representatives from Tumaini University
in Iringa, Tanzania and Kathy Chadwick of St. Olaf on
new Exchange Program.
Nov 14-16 Attended PKAL Conference on Science and Internationalism
in Irvine, California
November Served on Selection Committee for St. Olaf faculty and staff
applying for Freeman Grants in Asia.
Dec. 1-2 Participated in Global Partners Strategic Planning
Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
2004
Jan 1-28 Worked on arrangements for three guests from Chiang
Mai University in Thailand. These three individuals served
as hosts for the homestays for St. Olaf students on the
Term in Asia program.
Jan 14-15 Global Partners Planning Committee in Atlanta, Georgia.
Jan 27 Judge for Region One-Act Play Contest in Egan, Minnesota.
Feb 25-28 Chair of Accreditation team for the National Association of
Schools of Theatre (NAST) at Hobart and William Smith
Colleges.
May 3 Meeting of Study Abroad Directors of all Minnesota Private
Colleges in St. Paul, Minnesota.
May 4-23 Developed proposal and hosted Dr. Abdessalam Ben Maissa,
philosopher from Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco.
New Fulbright program in Visiting Specialists in Islam.
May 8-29 Led study-tour (Bio and Human Diversity Down Under) to
Australia and New Zealand for 34 people under the auspices
of the Center for Lifelong Learning.
Conclusion
The staff of the International and Off-Campus Studies Office continues to serve students (and their families), faculty, administration, and staff in a professional and efficient manner. The staff does this while performing the myriad of details in the annual tasks of promoting programs, processing applications, issuing acceptances, orienting, planning and implementing logistics, working on re-entry, responding to emergency situations, keeping contact with students, parents, on-site providers and host institutions, faculty, St. Olaf administrative offices (registrar, business, Student Life, etc.). Each individual in the office responds with efficient speed and clarity using a professional approach that consistently demonstrates respect for both the student and the professional standards of International Education professional organizations. The result is a quality program for St. Olaf College.
Karen Engler, a past employee of the college, began her position with this office in June 2003 and has done a remarkable job dealing with the demands of the largest numberof Visiting Scholars in the history of the College in addition to managing a budget that involved the largest number of participants in the history of the College at the same time preparing for severe cuts in the 04-05 academic year. Her work in both of these areas has been superb.
Roseanne Galegher was hired in the position of Coordinator of Support Services in February 2003. We were delighted to welcome Rosie back to the office (previous employment in this office from 1989-1993) after her sojourn in the Family and Social Services Department. Rosie has gotten up to speed in a remarkably short period of time and is managing the responsibilities of this position in a way that serves students, faculty and the rest of the office. Rosie's work contributes substantively to the effective operation of the office.
We are all taking a deep breath after one of the busiest years in the office. All staff members have an unquestioned passion for the global perspective statement in the mission of the institution and take great pride in the growth and development in cross-cultural learning exhibited by students and faculty during the pat twelve months. Their commitment and talent account, in large part, to the success of International and Off-Campus Studies at St. Olaf College.
During the September 2004-January 2005 period of time, Susan Bauer, Associate Professor of Fine Arts will assume the position of Acting Director of the Office of International and Off-Campus Studies during the absence of Patrick Quade who will be serving as Field Supervisor for the Term in the Middle East.
Report submitted by Patrick Quade, Director
June 20, 2004
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