Spring 2005 Faculty Newsletter

Photo Contest

The Pprograms Abroad Office recently held the first annual Programs Abroad Photo Contest. Students who had studied abroad were invited to submit their best photos from their experience. First Prize was a $75 gift certificate to the UT Book Store. Second prize was a $50 gift certificate. A reception was held at the International House.

An online exhibit of the winning photos is available.

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New Study Abroad Opportunities

There are lots of new study abroad programs available for students, including

• Canberra University, Australia
• Tec de Monterrey, Mexico
• Sichuan University, China
• Hogeschool van Utrecht, Netherlands
• Sorbonne, France
• University of Oslo, Norway

Learn more about these and other exciting programs.

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Student Information Sessions

Monday through Friday throughout the academic year at 2 p.m. in the Programs Abroad Office, 1620 Melrose Ave. (west of the library).

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Students Available to Speak to Classes

The UTK Programs Abroad Office (PAO) has study abroad alumni available to speak to your class. Talks can be as short as ten minutes. If you would like to arrange for someone to visit your class or other meetings, contact the PAO at studyabroad@utk.edu or call 974-2168.

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Opportunities for Students on UTK Faculty Led Programs

Information about faculty led summer programs is now available on the Programs Abroad website. If you are working with students who might be interested in a summer experience for UTK credit, encourage them to visit the site. If you are interested in leading a program abroad, we have information for you as well..

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Interning Abroad: The HOT Option

Interning has become the hot option in study abroad and this summer, UTK in cooperation with EUSA, is sponsoring an internship program in Dublin. As you speak with students about internship experiences, remember the option for interning abroad. It’s a great way to combine an internship experience and an abroad experience, providing students with something that will benefit them both personally and professionally. For information on other opportunities for interning abroad, visit our website, or stop by the Programs Abroad Office. We'll be happy to talk to you.

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Scholarships Available to UTK Students

There are a number of UTK scholarships and national scholarships available and we ask that you encourage students to apply. More information about the scholarships mentioned below and others is available from the PAO.

UTK students are encouraged to learn more about the W.K. McClure Fund for the Study of World Affairs. The scholarship is to be used for study or research abroad in the summer to help enhance and promote education for world responsibility. February 15th deadline.

Students interested in studying abroad at the graduate level should review the information on nationally awarded scholarships such as the Marshall, Rhodes, and Fulbright.

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Former Exchange Student Returns to UTK

Johanna Rinta-Kanto first came to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville from the University of Kupio in Finland as an exchange student in 1998-99. She has returned to UTK to pursue her PhD, and was recently recognized for her work. A doctoral candidate in microbiology, she has been awarded the Helsingin Sanomat Centennial Foundation Scholarship of $53,000 for her research into molecular tools as rapid diagnostics for toxic algal blooms. She works with UTK Associate Professor Steven Wilhelm in the Aquatic Microbial Ecology Research Laboratory. http://web.bio.utk.edu/wilhelm/

Johanna is an example of how our one-for-one international exchange programs are responsible for many students -- who came to UTK for one or two semesters and returned home to complete their degrees -- coming back to our campus for graduate study. Undergraduate student exchanges are recruiters of well-qualified graduate students for UTK, and we thank both faculty and staff for creating an environment to which students want to return.

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Summer Teaching Opportunity in China

This summer students, staff and faculty at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville will have the opportunity to assist in the teaching of English at a summer camp for students entering Tsinghua University this fall. The summer camp is a wonderful chance to spend three weeks, June 27th through July 17th, working with some of China’s best students. The weekdays will be filled, 8 am to 8 pm, with teaching and activities which encourage interaction and the chance for students to practice speaking English with native speakers. Teachers and volunteers will be expected to participate fully in all programs. Weekends will be free to explore the Beijing area. Those with bachelor’s degrees will receive room, board five days/week and $1,200. Those who have not yet completed their bachelor’s degree will receive room, board five days/week and a stipend of approximately $120. More information on this unique opportunity is availble online. Application deadlines: foreign teachers—Feb. 10, volunteers—March 10.

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Academic Advising and Study Abroad: Course numbers

Often students have questions about course numbering abroad. As a general rule of thumb, courses beginning with 1 (100 or 1000) will only transfer as lower division. Courses beginning with a 2 or 3 (200/300 or 2000/3000) are considered upper division. As part of the transfer credit planning form for study abroad, students can see the transfer credit evaluator in the Admissions Office for confirmation.

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Faculty Fulbright Scholar Program

The U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program provides grants for about 800 scholars each year to more than 140 countries, including visiting scholar grants to the United States and fellowships for college students. The foundation of the Fulbright program at its establishment immediately following World War II was the premise that people who know each other better and have a better grasp of other countries’ cultures, mores and languages are less likely to carry arms against one another. This year four UTK faculty and a former UTK student received Fulbright Scholar grants.

• Jack Barkenbus, to Greece and Turkey, UT's Energy, Environment and Resources Center;
• William Fox, to Germany as a Distinguished Chair, Center for Business and Economic Research;
• Carol Harden, to Ecuador, UT Department of Geography;
• Naima Moustaid-Moussa, to France, European Institute for Chemistry and Biology in Bordeaux/Pessac, UT Department of Nutrition;
• Jenessa Hunter is a student Fulbrighter from UT who this year is studying at the University of Hamburg in Germany.

More information about the Faculty Fulbright Scholar program is available on the the PAO website or by contacting Jim Gehlhar at gehlhar@utk.edu. Note: Applications are due on August 1st.

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Program Development Grants

The Center for International Education (CIE) and Programs Abroad Office (PAO) encourage proposals from University of Tennessee, Knoxville faculty for the development or strengthening of study abroad courses or campus-based courses that have a study abroad component. In support of this, the Center is making funds available for site visits to faculty planning such programs. More information is availble online or contact Jim Gehlhar at gehlhar@utk.edu.

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Faculty Led Programs

Faculty interested in leading programs abroad during the 2005-06 academic year can find information and forms online.

Proposals are due:

• March 1 for New Programs
• April 1 for Repeat programs

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Global Hour

As you know, the I-House (International House) sponsors many events during the semester one of which is Global Hour held on Thursday evenings throughout the semester at 7 p.m. in the living room of the I-House. Global Hour is a chance for the university community to come together to discuss specific topics. Past discussions have been Afghanistan... through a soldier's eyes; US Elections: The World Reacts; Beslan: local disaster... global implications; and open discussions of current world events. Information on this semester's calendar and other I-House programs is available on the I-House website. We hope you can join us to participate in the often lively discussion.

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Is your department considering hiring an international full-time, or an international student employee?

To ensure your process will not be delayed, contact the Center for International Education (CIE) BEFORE inviting the candidate to campus. Phone: 974-3177 or email: cie@utk.edu

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Quality Enhancement Plan

As all of you know, UTK has selected as the Quality Enhancement Plan for the next five years the “International and Intercultural Awareness Initiative .“ The Center for International Education is very enthusiastic about the chance this initiative presents to expand the international and intercultural opportunities for students, staff and faculty both on and off campus. The primary goal of the QEP is to improve institutional performance on behalf of internationalization and intercultural relations, and to ensure that all University of Tennessee, Knoxville undergraduates gain the knowledge, perspectives, and skills necessary to succeed in today’s complex, pluralistic world.

We look forward to working with others on campus as, together, we implement the goals outline in the initiative.

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