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International cooperation
LAS takes a more organized approach to international activities.
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On one hand you have the International Studies major, a program that
has existed for a number of years. It was however, a program that has
experienced a period of dormancy for many of those same years.
Then there are the study abroad programs within the College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences. Numerous academic departments offer some form of study
abroad experience for its students. Yet, many times these efforts were
not coordinated within the College.
Numerous exchange agreements between foreign colleges and universities
exist. International research and outreach efforts by LAS faculty are
too numerous to mention.
But there was no coordinated effort to bring international studies, study
abroad, exchange agreements, research and outreach together.
That is until now because Michael Whiteford, associate dean of administrative
affairs, has been charged with these responsibilities.
Whiteford's first order of business was the formation of new faculty/staff
committees within LAS to focus individually on the International Studies
major, study abroad programs, exchange agreements, and research and outreach
activities.
"We needed to take a more organized approach to international programs
and activities," said LAS Dean Peter Rabideau, "and decide what
we want to accomplish in these programs."
The first step to a more organized approach has been the establishment
of a LAS International Programs Cabinet. Whiteford will chair that group,
which will also include the chairs of the individual committees (Steffen
Schmidt, International Studies; Warren Dolphin, study abroad; Ardith Maney,
exchange agreements; and Shu-min Huang, research/outreach).
"The rationale for creating the LAS International Programs Cabinet
is to promote international efforts and activities within the College
in as effectively a manner as possible," Whiteford said. "These
efforts will include curriculum development, research and outreach."
The second step will be goals for each committee including:
* The International Studies Committee will be responsible for establishing
the curricular integrity of the undergraduate major and minor in International
Studies;
* The Study Abroad Committee will promote faculty and student participation
in international programs and assist faculty in organizing these ventures;
* The Exchange Agreements Committee will monitor, track and assess the
types of memoranda of agreements LAS and Iowa State has with different
international institutions and provide information to faculty and departments
that wish to establish these type of accords; and,
The Research/Outreach Committee will promote international research and
outreach by assisting in locating sources of funding, suggesting methods
of institutional and international collaboration, and (in conjunction
with other committees) promoting symposia and visiting lectures on topics
of mutual interest.
One particular outcome in the Research/Outreach Committee could be a faculty
directory placed on the LAS web site that will maintain an “inventory”
of what type of international activities faculty are undertaking.
That "inventory" listing would seemingly allow faculty who are
working in the same country, although on different projects, an opportunity
to collaborate.
"For several years, Lynn Clark (professor of botany) and I both were
conducting research projects in Colombia," Whiteford said. "But
we didn't know that each other was working there and that's unfortunate.The
notion of finding out who does what and where, has to be a good idea."
Whiteford's vision extends far from LAS collaborations.
"We can be much more effective if we tie our efforts into what is
going on on the rest of campus," he said. "We're trying to bring
people together who will be excited about alliances with any type of project,
whether it be in research, exchange agreements or study abroad programs."
Semester in Florence
Around LAS
April 1-14, 2002
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