System Council on International Education - Meeting Agenda
Friday, 21 April 2000, 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
President's Dining Room, Lower Level, Library Building
Macon State University
The meeting of the System Council for International Education took place on Friday, April 21, 2000, at Macon State College. The Council consists of 34 representatives appointed by the presidents of each USG institution, joined by the chairs of the World Regional Councils and other special committees. Richard C. Sutton, the System's Director of International Programs and Services, chaired the meeting.
Present: Joseph Adams (AASU), Dwight Call (GC&SU), Harvey Charles (GIT), James Cook (FLD), Sidney Davis (SPSU), Gaye Elder (ABAC), Lyn Fidelli (Americas Council), Sherry Foster (USG), Chaudron Gille (GAN), Tracy Harrington (VSU), John Hicks (GSU), Brenda Hodges-Tiller (ALB), Dorothy Joiner (WGC), Watson Holloway (BRK), Thomas Keene (KSU), Jennifer Lund (USG), Neal McCrillis (CSU), Carl McDonald (SGC), Gerald McIntosh (FVS), Brian Murphy (NGC), Harold Nichols (GSW), Harriet Nichols (GPC), Howard Potts (WAY), Richard Reiff (UGA), John Ricks (MID), Gwendolyn Sell (MAC), Amit Singh (DAR), Richard Sutton (USG), Stan Webb (BAN), Robert Welburn (CSC)
Not present: Beth Biron (DAL), John Derden (EGC), Lovett Elango (KSU), Tom Fitts (MCG), Karen Guffey (GDN), Jeanne Jensen (AUG), Janis Reid (AMC), Nancy Shumaker (GSO), Joseph Silver (SSU)
Guests: Nancy Gratten (GPC), Charlotte Janis (SPSU)
At 10:05 AM, Richard Sutton convened the third meeting of the System Council for International Education.
- Approval of Minutes of 24 September 1999
So moved and approved. - New BOR Policy on Gratuities: Policy Manual Section 802.14 as amended 4/19/00
Handouts of the policy were distributed, and discussion centered on how the policy affects study abroad. Concerns were voiced regarding tickets and free trips, transportation, cash incentives, etc., when taking a group abroad. The SCIE determined that each campus would work with its own administrators rather than asking for an international exclusion within the policy. - Reinterpretation of BOR Policy Manual Section 403.01 related to BOR action on 4/12/95 limiting enrollment of out-of-state students to Spring 1995 percentages
A number of institutions are out of compliance based on the April 1995 adoption of the tuition policy directive. Discussion ensued regarding how the 5% would affect the two-year colleges, and that the policy did not make a distinction between undergraduate and graduate students. A motion was made to request a 5% total for the system as a target rather than a ceiling. However, it was decided by unanimous vote to table any action for the time being. In the meantime cases should be brought to the Chancellor for approval. - Potential Accountability Indicators and Benchmarking Indexes for International Education
Sid Davis gave the SCIE's Benchmarking Committee's report and discussed the questionnaire that had been sent out by email. There were several questions regarding how to respond; several thought it would be beneficial if they could see how others were responding to the questionnaire. Though no institution likes to be compared to another, it is believed that the promotion of internationalization will benefit from the Benchmarking Index. The committee was commended on the work they have done. - Budget Issues
Global Partnerships: Discussion ensued regarding a deadline for the FY2000-2001 competition. The possibility of a summer deadline was raised, enabling a full academic year to carry out the project. However, the majority of the Council was concerned that the quality of proposals would suffer with so many faculty gone during the summer. September 15th was chosen as the deadline; award announcements to be made mid October. Questions were raised regarding the review process of the proposals. The point system was explained and the process defined. Review Committee members recuse themselves from their own institution's proposals. It was explained that only new proposals would be funded from this year's Global Partnership competition; funding for continuing previous projects has a different source of funding.Title VI Grant Proposal: The Council was advised that the proposal that had been submitted had been turned down [the US Dept. of Education ruled that the system is not a consortium]. A new proposal will be submitted to NSEP.
- Foreign Language and Technology Initiative
The Council was informed that Japanese and other less commonly taught languages will be on-line, available, and relatively easy to tap into, whereas the upper-division French program is specifically for four institutions and not open to any other institution. Questions were raised regarding the procedure and funding for adding other languages (for example, Arabic, Hausa, Swahili). - CIPRIS
The sixty-day comment period on the proposed rule to collect immigration-related fees from international students to be remitted to the INS has generated several thousand letters from higher education across the United States. Governor Barnes also signed and sent a letter on behalf of Georgia's institutions of higher education. In the handouts is a copy of Dr. Sutton's letter on behalf of the University System as well as the responses to his letter by Senators Cleland and Coverdale and the two representatives. - H-1 B
The H-1 B quota or cap permitted for the employment of international faculty and scholars in 2000 was reached in March for this year resulting in potential problems for campuses wanting or needing to hire non-immigrant faculty this coming fall. Several pieces of legislation are before Congress to exempt higher education from the H-1 B cap or to expand the cap. A recent "Advocacy Alert" regarding proposed H-1 B legislation was distributed. - J-1 Exchange Visitor Program
The System's J-1 Exchange Visitor Program approved by the Department of State permits any of the USG's institutions to bring exchange visitors in J-1 non-immigrant status. Fourteen exchange visitors have come to five USG institutions, which were previously unable to bring and host J-1 exchange visitors. A handout on the visitors, their country of origin and the hosting USG institution was distributed. - European Union Center
Brian Murphy provided the information that 13 grants of $1,500 each are given to faculty members to enable them to travel to Europe to do research. This is relatively easy grant money for faculty, and the only real stipulation is to focus on the European Union, not European studies. There are various EU scholars who are available to visit USG campuses; they have been to several already. A USG Desktop Initiative grant was received to develop EU on-line courses. A discussion ensued regarding the Web-based EU certificate and which institutions would carry it. - USG Degrees, Majors, Minors, Certificates in International Fields
Although the system does track degrees and majors, it does not track minors or certificates in international fields. Therefore, the SCIE was instructed to let the OIE know when there are minors or certificates not currently listed on the Degree handout. CIP (Classifications of Instructional Programs) codes are a national list and assigned by the Academic VP or registrar of each institution. May 1st is the deadline for getting corrections or additions of the Degree handout to the OIE. - Systemwide Memberships in International Organizations
Southern Center for International Studies: the agreement is that the SCIE member at each institution is identified as the contact who should receive information from SCIS. There are four regional seminars that will be open to all faculty and staff at no cost. This is a two-year agreement. Questions were raised about the budget implications of being a co-sponsor and the leadership role for the regional conferences. It was noted that advantage should be taken of the SCIS's considerable resources.International Student Exchange Program: Dr. Harrington reported that ISEP is a twenty-year old organization that incorporates years of experience in providing study abroad opportunities worldwide. Due to the prohibitive cost of institutional membership, a suggestion that an USG-OIE membership on behalf of USG institutions be explored.
Association of International Education Administrators: Dr. Charles advised that AIEA is a twenty-year old organization that deals with policy issues as opposed to the nuts and bolts of NAFSA. Most of the membership are senior international education administrators. The membership cost is $250 per institution. The idea was discussed of getting a reduced rate for participation of all the USG's institutions; membership for the system office was suggested.
Georgia Council for International Visitors: It was stated that they have the Great Decisions Program, a turn-key operation for infusing the curriculum as well as a monthly listing of international visitors who might be available for campus visits.
Council for International Educational Exchange: the programs are prestigious but very costly.
Institute for International Education: the general consensus is that this organization would be a good one to belong to.
- Study Abroad Issues
Handouts were distributed regarding participation in Study Abroad programs for Summer 1999, Fall 1999, and Spring 2000; scholarships awarded for Spring 2000 by institution and country; scholarships awarded for Summer 2000, Fall 2000 and AY2000-01 by institution and country.Questions were raised as to the limit of matching funds from the BOR and strategies for raising funds. Continued funding for a second three year cycle will be received from the AIFS Foundation. The Coca-Cola Foundation has not responded to the May 99 USG proposal for continued funding.
A suggestion was made to get system coordination to track alumni of study abroad programs and their parents. Study abroad programs are life-changing and enriching; the USG institutions should exploit that very positive feeling.
The Study Abroad catalog information has been updated; the catalog will be produced mid to late August. A preference for continuation of producing hard copies as opposed to the web site was made known. The catalog will continue to be placed on the web site. Appreciation was expressed to the USG institutions for getting the catalog information to UGA's OIE.
To avoid any conflicts with USG Study Abroad Fair, the Study Abroad Conference will be held on September 21.
- Summer 2000 Faculty Development Seminars
Summer 2000 Faculty Development Seminars will include seminars to the Czech Republic, Ghana and Panama.Regarding the Czech Republic seminar, Dwight Call stated that there were 21 participants going. Orientation went smoothly; the participants were told everything that they were expected to participate in, that the seminar is a package.
Rotational structure for 2001 and subsequent seminars: The Central Office cannot invest as much in Faculty Development Seminars as before, necessitating that the Regional Councils rotate: Asia and Americas in 2001; Europe and Africa in 2002. A discussion ensued regarding the advantage of funding other programs; most of council believed that funding should not be spread out any further. It was also pointed out that the various councils could submit proposals for additional funding through the Global Partnerships program.
- SCIE Organizational Issues
A proposal was made to add a third SCIE meeting into the yearly schedule: early fall, January, end of spring was suggested. By a show of hands it was determined that a third meeting is needed.A suggestion was made for a meeting this summer for goal setting and strategic planning; however, it was determined that there would not be time due to scheduling conflicts. A suggestion was made to have the next SCIE meeting in conjunction with the Study Abroad Conference in September.
Dr. Sutton advised the SCIE that letters would be going out to the presidents regarding reappointment to the SCIE. He raised the issue of rotating individuals from time to time. The issue was raised that some campuses do not have International offices, and it would be counter-productive to appoint someone else. However, it was also pointed out that the decision of whom to appoint belonged to the presidents.
- Adjournment