Central Europe/Russia Continued

The task force considered how to promote the Global Partners goal of collaborative consortial activities to enrich faculty activities in this region of the world. They recognized that three groups of faculty could be primary participants in faculty development activities: first, faculty who are not specialists but whose teaching and research has international elements; second, a group of faculty from less-represented fields without obvious international connections such as scientists; and third, faculty who are area specialists and can benefit from interdisciplinary study and re-conceptualizing teaching or research. The task force focused on faculty seminars in which participants would strengthen their interests in the region and pursue the development of new or revised courses to enlarge the curricular focus on the region. The task force agreed to sponsor a seminar in Central Europe in the summer of 2001 and a seminar in Russia in the summer of 2002. They also agreed to provide travel grants for faculty who wanted to work independently in Central Europe or Russia. These travel grants would serve both area specialists and those beginning or pursuing new interests in the region. Travel grants will be awarded for summer or academic year travel, with the awards being made in the spring of 2000, the spring of 2001, and the spring of 2002.

Most members of the task force met for a second time in Northfield, Minnesota on March 3, prior to an ACM conference on post-communist transition. At that meeting, the task force addressed procedures for selecting recipients of travel grants. Seven applications were submitted with five from ACM colleges, one from an ACS college, and one from a GLCA college. The task force considered criteria for selection, and a sub-committee was set up to carry out the selection process. After careful consideration, the sub-committee awarded travel grants to all seven applicants, covering basic travel expenses but not providing the full request from the individuals. The sub-committee concluded that it would be preferable to provide modest support to a wider number of applicants. While they were able to fund all seven applications for this year, they expect to be able to support up to ten in each of the two subsequent years at a comparable level. Most applicants had partial support from their own campuses as well.

The task force also talked more specifically about the seminar topic in Central Europe in 2001 and also about the seminar in Russia in 2002. They agreed to distribute an announcement for a facilitator for the Central Europe seminar and to announce the seminar through the Global Partners web page, the consortial offices, and the college deans.

The Center in Turkey -- led by the Associated Colleges of the South

The Turkey task force, with participants recommended from the three consortia, identified the creation of a study abroad program in Turkey as its highest priority. The study abroad program is planned to begin in the fall of 2001. The group also pursued faculty development opportunities, including possibilities for faculty research in the country, collaborative research with Turkish partners, and overseas conferences and seminars to be held in the country.

Within the task force planning for the study abroad program, one committee worked on an electronic core course that would begin in the summer before the fall term, through which students can prepare independently for their experience overseas. A number of faculty, representing all three consortia, will play a leadership role in offering the course.

A second group worked on the orientation program, to begin on the site in Turkey approximately one month before the official courses begin. The orientation, also led by faculty from the three consortia, will build on the electronic course and will enable students to understand the country and its various dimensions more completely. The orientation effort during September will also encompass a required Turkish language program. This will be functional or "survival" language effort, with the leadership drawn from the Turkish partner institution. While beginning a month before students register for their official courses, the orientation will continue throughout the semester as a core course. However, continuation of the Turkish language requirement is still an unresolved issue in the committee.

Another group worked on the design for the overall plan, which calls for students to enroll in the regular courses available in the partner institutions. A committee visited potential partner institutions in Turkey to identify and compare curricular options. Partners identified in Ankara are Middle Eastern Technical University (METU) and Bilkent University, both of which are extremely highly regarded institutions and anxious to accommodate consortial students.

A separate group worked on the budget for the program. Although the task force identifies 30 students as a target for the opening term in 2001, the budget is built on an enrollment of 15.

Once the group members initiated the planning for the study abroad program, they concluded that faculty development opportunities could also be very helpful. Consequently, they arranged with the Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE) to open up a previously planned Turkey faculty seminar to faculty from the three consortia. A competitive process was arranged through which 19 faculty from the three consortia applied for the ten-day seminar to be held in June, 2000. Nine were selected, three from each consortium. All of the 19 applicants, meanwhile, were added to the overall Turkey network, which as of April, 2000, numbers 44 individuals. A listserv has been established for this broader group so that all may be kept abreast of the planning for the Center and its related activities.

By late May or early June, the task force expects to have its academic program firmly in place, which will be reviewed by the Global Partners Coordinating Committee and by the academic deans of the three consortia in the fall.

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