LAS International Programs
Newsletters
LAS
International On-line
Vol. 5, No. 7
December 1, 2006
Affirming a Commitment to Global Learning
www.las.iastate.edu/students/international/
LAS International On-Line is the bi-monthly on-line publication
of the International Programs of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. LAS
International is part of LAS' on-going efforts to coordinate all aspects of
international activities within the College including international studies,
study abroad, exchange agreements, research and outreach.
From the Director
International students are an important resource for the LAS International
Programs. They are also an important element in the multicultural mix of Iowa
State University. As we go on break and celebrate the holidays it is good to
reflect on what is happening nationally and globally with international students.
Therefore, I'd like to share a few paragraphs from an interesting recent article
in the Christian Science Monitor.
From: "Foreign students trickling back to US:
A modest rise in new enrollees from abroad begins to stem the post-9/11 drop-off,
a report finds."
By Howard LaFranchi, Nov. 16, 2006
With just under 565,000 foreign students, the US remains the world's most popular
destination for students looking to further their education in another country.
But that number is still below the high point of 584,000 foreign students set
in 2002-03. US government efforts to streamline the visa process for foreign
students, after a post-9/11 tightening of access, is one factor in a return
to a rising number in the 2005-06 school year, experts say.
But a global market for foreign students means that American colleges and universities
face more competition today - in particular from countries like Britain, Australia,
and Japan.
"The fact is that we are in a different place now in the international
student market," says Victor Johnson, public policy director for the Association
of International Educators in Washington. "Competition from other countries
has increased, which means the US is actually getting a smaller share of the
market."
The hotter competition helps explain why Education Secretary Margaret Spellings
is in China, Korea, and Japan this week with a group of university presidents
- a first-of-its-kind mission - to tout the virtues of American higher education.
One reason to fire up more foreigners about US study: their impact on the economy.
International students pumped about $13.5 billion into the economy last year,
notes the Institute of International Education, whose annual "Open Doors"
survey this week reported the increase in foreigners studying in the US. That
makes higher education the fifth-highest service-sector export, according to
the Department of Commerce.
Graphic illustrating enrollment of foreign students available on-line at www.las.iastate.edu/faculty_and_staff/international/foreign
students.gif.
Happy Holidays! from Steffen Schmidt
Features
FRENCH KNIGHT - When he was first asked to be the managing editor of
the French Review, Clyde Thogmartin turned the offer down.
At the time he was putting the finishing touches on his book, The National
Daily Press of France, and didn't feel like he could devote the necessary
time.
Three years later, the flagship publication of the American Association of Teachers
of French was back at Thogmartin's doorstep asking him to reconsider the job.
"I thought I wouldn't get the opportunity again," said Thogmartin,
associate professor emeritus of French and linguistics.
So this time, Thogmartin said yes. Little did he know that after completing
a three-year term as managing editor of the French Review that he would
be recognized for that effort by the French government.
He has recently been named a "Chevalier dans l'ordre des Palmes Academiques,"
(Knight in the Order of Academic Palms), for his "contributions to French
culture." The decoration, given by the French Ministry of Education, is
the oldest civil distinction awarded in France.
Read more about Clyde Thogmartin on-line at www.las.iastate.edu/newnews/thogmartin.shtml.
News
BULGARIA - A new Memorandum of Understanding for the purpose
of scientific and technical exchange has been established between Iowa State
University, the University of Sofia, Bulgaria, and the Bulgarian Academy of
Sciences.
The new agreement came during a visit by Carl Chang, professor and chair of
the Department of Computer Science, at the IEEE 2006 John Vincent Atanasoff
International Symposium on Moderning Computing, Oct. 3-6, 2006, in Bulgaria.
Iowa State academic units initially involved in the signing are the College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Department of Computer Science and the Greenlee
School of Journalism and Communication.
Learn more about the exchange and an honor for Carl Chang on-line at www.las.iastate.edu/newnews/changbulgaria.shtml.
FIRST-EVER - The first-ever undergraduate certificate of study at Iowa
State University has been approved in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The Iowa State Faculty Senate approved the Undergraduate Certificate in Latin
American Studies at its Nov. 14 meeting.
The certificate is designed for undergraduate students in any major who wish
to enhance their degree and employment possibilities by adding expertise in
Latin America and linguistic competence in a primary and secondary world language.
Read more about the new offering on-line at www.las.iastate.edu/newnews/latinamcert.shtml.
LAS International On-line
Michael Whiteford, LAS dean
Steffen Schmidt, LAS director of international programs
Dave Gieseke, LAS public relations manager
Send submissions to dgieseke@iastate.edu
