Session Descriptions:
Concurrent Sessions:
9:30 - 10:45
Student Disciplinary and Academic Considerations for Study Abroad
Presenter(s): Melissa Watkins, Lead Advisor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Denita Acker, Campus Relations, The Education Abroad Network
Description:Academic probation and disciplinary records are important topics to consider in the evaluation of a student’s candidacy for study abroad. A panel discussion will explore academic and disciplinary issues as they occur before, during and after study abroad. This panel will outline the policies established to request the release of student disciplinary records, and the decision to accept or deny a student based on the findings of the record. Additionally, disciplinary and academic actions are often taken while students are abroad. The panel will explore the following questions:
- What actions can/should be taken by the host institution and/or program provider?
- What is the appropriate response from the home institution?
- What are the academic repercussions?
- How will this impact the student after studying abroad?
The session will close with a group exercise. The exercise will divide the attendees into small groups to discuss a Case Study. The goal of this exercise is to challenge the groups with various disciplinary and/or academic problems. They will be asked to respond to questions including:
- What would you do?
- Who are your stakeholders on campus? (example: Dean of Students, Campus Police, Academic Advisor, University Council)
- How is FERPA a consideration?
This session is relevant to all professional levels. The attendees will learn how other offices/programs ensure that critical information is communicated to all stakeholders involved in the study abroad process, how to verify academic and disciplinary records and which departments on campus can assist them when academic and disciplinary issues arise while abroad.
Recommended for: Education AbroadTop Ten Recruiting Pitfalls
Presenter(s): Kelly Franklin, Director - English Language Training Institute, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Description: This session will look at recruiting practices that probably don’t belong on any “Best Practices” review. The presenter, who spent many years recruiting for two very different types of institutions, will review various tactics used to recruit international students in light of how effective they are in yielding students.
Recommended for: RAP - ESL & RAP - AdmissionsDeveloping a Global Partnership Model: Lessons Learned in Connecting Schools in Brixton, England with Schools in Durham, North Carolina
Presenter(s): Dr. Timothy Siegler, North Carolina Central University
Dr. Laurell Malone, North Carolina Central University
Description: The presentation intends to focus on 1) the value of development partnerships between North Carolina schools and schools abroad, 2) present strategies for building such partnerships, 3) and share some experiences and visual of team members who participated in the 2006 and 2008 partnership implementation experiences.
Recommended for: AllExtraordinary, Outstanding, or Merely Exceptional: The State of the Art for International Scholars
Presenter(s): William A. Stock, Region VIII Regulatory Ombud, Attorney - Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Description: Many doctoral-level students and scholars want to know how they can most quickly obtain permanent resident status so as to be able to pursue their research in the United States. The employment-based first preferences and the National Interest Waiver provide the mechanism through which many international scholars obtain permanent residence, but scholars often have one of two misconceptions about these categories – either that they are impossible until one is well established in one’s career, or that they are so easy anyone can qualify. This panel will explore what USCIS is actually looking to see in these petitions, and how to spot scholars who may be able to take advantage of these opportunities to become permanent residents early in their careers.
Recommended for: ISSS - Immigration
11:00 - 12:15
Mythbusters: Is Curriculum Integration as Complex as it Sounds? We Say No!
Presenter(s): Brooke Ashley, Assistant Director - Study Abroad Office, North Carolina State University
Elizabeth Yaros, Curriculum Integration Coordinator - Study Abroad Office, North Carolina State University
Description: Over the last two years, NC State has developed the Curriculum Integration Project, a partnership between the Study Abroad Office and academic departments to help students make intentional study abroad program decisions that enhance their degrees. Modeled after the University of Minnesota, NC State has implemented a scaled-down version of this initiative to accommodate limited resources and to fit the needs and goals of NCSU colleges and departments. NC State will present the successes and challenges of implementing Curriculum Integration “on a shoestring.” Project coordinators will give an overview, provide resources, offer lessons learned, suggest future directions, and invite a dialogue amongst colleagues on curriculum integration efforts throughout the state.
Recommended for: Education AbroadUseful technology tools to connect your office with students and colleagues
Presenter(s): Sam Morris, Systems Administrator/Assessment Coordinator - Study Abroad Office, North Carolina State University
Emily Sharples Marketing Coordinator - Study Abroad Office, North Carolina State University
Description: NC State's Study Abroad Office is using technology in an innovative way to help coordinate collaboration and streamline marketing through a number of online tools including Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Google, and a number of other free online tools. Come learn how these tools can help your office!
Recommended for: AllInternational Student Involvement and Its Importance from the Institutional and Student Stakeholder Perspective
Presenter(s): Craig Curty, Director - Academic Services Center, High Point University
Description: International students are an integral component of college campuses. From the student development perspective, Astin’s (1984) Involvement Theory states when college students are more involved, there becomes a greater potential these students will learn more and see more growth in their personal development. This presentation will cover the benefits of involving international students from the institutional and student stakeholder point of view and how frequency of involvement can lead to positive student outcomes.
Recommended for: ESLPrevailing Wage Determinations Using the ETA 9141
Presenter(s): Elizabeth James, Attorney - Ogletree Deakins Law Firm
Dr. Robert Locke, Director - Office of International Student and Scholar Services, UNC Chapel Hill
Description: This session will cover the new procedures associated with the new centralized prevailing wage determination system through the OLFC National Prevailing Wage and Helpdesk Center using form ETA 9141. We will also review filing LCAs using the iCert system and provide an update on the proposed PERM process through iCert.
Recommended for: ISSS - Immigration
2:00 - 3:00
Historically Black College and Universities Roundtable
Presenter(s): Olivia Jones, Assistant Director, Office of International Affairs North Carolina Central University
Description: Join us for a roundtable discussion of the issues and concerns facing HCBUs regarding International Education.
Recommended for: All - HBCUThe Rhetoric and Reality of Intercultural Contact-A Case Study of Indian Students in the United States
Presenter(s): Rohini Thakkar, AIEA Conference Coordinator, AIEA - Duke University
Lauren Ball, Program Coordinator, North Carolina State University
Description: One of the preferred outcomes of study abroad programs is intercultural competency that results from increasing intercultural contact. This panel examines the intercultural contact between Indian students and other internationals as well as American students in one university. The panelists argue that Indian students do not develop intercultural contact and seven hypotheses are put forward as possible reasons: perceived cultural distance, stereotyping by Indian students, experience of racial discrimination, the presence of large Indian community in the university, the higher priority given by Indian students to the educational and professional goals, the lack of orientation prior coming to the US, the lack of initiatives by American students and few opportunities for internationalization available in the university. Survey data collected from 70 Indian graduate students studying at North Carolina State University indicate that Indian students fail substantially to develop intercultural contact. Implications of the study findings and ways to enhance intercultural contact are discussed.
Recommended for: ISSS - Community ProgrammingSpreading Intercultural Awareness through Service-Learning
Presenter(s): Tara Muller, Program Coordinator and Affiliate Faculty, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Muriel Smith, Student, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Laura Arias-Gomez, Student, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lindsey Hensler, Student, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Description: The service-learning class "Intercultural Education in K-12 Classrooms" at UNC- Chapel Hill provides an opportunity for international and returned study-abroad students to make use of their international experiences through engaged academic learning and service by sharing their international knowledge in K-12 classrooms through the Carolina Navigators outreach program. In this session students share their intercultural learning experiences and diverse service projects involving research, festivals, lesson plan development and classroom presentations. Overarching project goals, challenges, and suggestions for replication will be discussed.
Recommended for: ISSS - Community ProgrammingInternational Service-Learning and Master’s Thesis Research: An Early Intervention Inclusion Preschool in Kingston, Jamaica
Presenter(s): Jessica Milton, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Johnavae Campbell, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Description: In this paper student teaching experiences overseas are outlined and used to explore the possibilities of using International teaching experience as a precursor to teaching our increasingly diverse society. These teachers (and I) stress the importance of the overseas experience as a means of increasing cultural understanding, awareness, and sensitivity as well as personal growth. Society expects that schools teach students to be knowledgeable on core subjects within the curriculum. The expectation on schools and teachers has increased because the diversity in classrooms has increased. Now, students are encouraged to no longer be just citizens of their home country but also citizens of the world. This process Banks labels the Transformation Approach that “enables students to view concepts, issues, themes and problems from different perspectives and points of views” (p. 31, Banks). The paper highlights interviews from four classroom teachers who participated in an overseas student teaching experience. The paper visits questions like, “Does an educative international experience have a place in the transformative learning process highlighted by scholars in the field of multicultural education” and “Is there a link between a cross cultural teaching experience and cultural sensitivity?”
Recommended for: Education Abroad
3:15 - 4:15
Financing International Opportunities for Students, Faculty and Colleges/Universities
Presenter(s): Dr. Peter Appleton, Associate Professor, Mount Olive College
Dr. Phil Hamilton, Professor, Mount Olive College
Description: Even before the current economic crisis hit, universities and colleges were struggling to finance the overseas opportunities for students, faculty and the institution itself. With the current economic situation travel abroad for students, faculty and institutional advancement has been severely curtailed by most North Carolina institutions of higher education. In this paper the authors present unique ways of funding international initiatives with the enthusiastic involvement of the business and non profit sectors. Building on the premise "direct or indirect returns on investments heighten enthusiasm" the authors have prepared a plan of attack in expanding international activities during "tough" times.
Recommended for: AllWorking with Korean Students & Scholars
Presenter(s): Julia Coleman, Office Coordinator - International House, Duke University
Lisa Giragosian, Sr. Assistant Director - International House, Duke University
Description: The number of Korean students attending U.S. universities and colleges continues to grow. What are some of the challenges Koreans face while studying in the United States? How might we, as international educators, work more effectively with our Korean student body? Come join several Korean students & scholars from Duke University to discuss these issues and more. Recommended for: ISSS - Community ProgrammingPredeparture Orientation: Creative Ways to Prepare Students for a Study Abroad Experience
Presenter(s): Lisa Baum, Assistant Director - Education Abroad, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Kristi Parker, Assistant Director, UNC Exchange Program
Description: This session will look at ways to make the basic components of predeparture orientations interactive, fun, and effective. Current practices, examples, and resources will be presented. Ample opportunity for audience participation and group discussion is expected.
Recommended for: Education AbroadInternational Institute, Brazil Concentration: An Exchange Program between CCC & TI in North Carolina and Impacta University, in Sao Paulo Brazil
Presenter(s): Dr. Regina Hartley, Department Chair - Business Department, Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute
Description: This session discusses the ongoing partnership between Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute and Impacta University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The summer of 2009 the first group of professors and students arrived from Impacta, and the second group arrived February of 2010. Students successfully completed course work in English as a Second Language, Information Technology, and Business Leadership receiving college credit for all three topics. Courses in English as a Second Language continue on a regular basis via the Information Highway Room at CCC & TI. Information Technology, and Business Leadership courses will begin in July 2010 with a planned visit to Sao Paulo, Brazil by the Instructors from CCC & TI. Expansion of this program is planned, and will involve Impacta University’s Master’s degree programs in Business Administration and Information Technology. This particular exchange program provides added benefits to students in terms of awarding college credit in addition to going abroad and experiencing other cultures.
Recommended for: ISSS - Community Programming & SECUSSA