August 13, 2007

 

 

TO:                  Rafique Ahmed, Convener

                        International Education Committee

 

FROM:            Carmen Wilson, Chair

                        Faculty Senate

 

RE:                   Committee Charge for 2007-2008 Academic Year

 

This memo is intended to serve as the initial charge letter to the International Education Committee for the 2007-08 academic year. 

 

In response to concerns that, frequently, committee member turnover each year tends to slow committee work, the senate executive committee is working to find better ways to orient new committee members.  Additionally, we would like to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of committee work.  To that end, we will be trying several new ideas. 

  1. The Senate Executive Committee will be holding a meeting of conveners at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 27 in 325 Graff Main Hall.  Please plan on attending this meeting if possible.  An agenda will follow.
  2. The SEC will be holding a meeting of Chairs during the week before classes in January.  The purpose of this meeting will be for committee chairs to report on progress on charges to date and discuss any problems committees may be experiencing.
  3. I am including a copy of the 2006-2007 International Education Committee end-of-year report with this charge letter, as well as a list of last year’s committee members.  The SEC strongly encourages you to invite past members to the first committee meeting of the year to review their work in the previous year. 

 

Per Faculty Senate Bylaw II. (s):  “Each faculty committee shall hold an organizational meeting and report the name of the chairperson to the senate office by October 1. (Joint Chairpersons are not permitted.)” 

 

Therefore, as the convener of the International Education Committee, please arrange, as soon as feasible, an organizational meeting.  In addition to a chairperson, please also elect a secretary.   

 

 Primary responsibilities of the chairperson include:

o       promptly informing the Senate office (5-8018) the results of the election of officers and any changes in committee membership.*

o       organizing and conducting meetings.

o       completing a year end report on the International Education Committee activities to be submitted to the Senate Office no later than May 31, 2008.

 

*The committee chairperson should carefully review Faculty Senate Bylaw II, “Faculty Standing Committees” for information on committee attendance and the role of alternates.

 

Primary responsibilities of the secretary include:

o       recording minutes of each meeting.

o       promptly sending meeting minutes to Sibbie Weathers (weathers.sylv@uwlax.edu) so that the minutes can be posted on the faculty senate website. 

 

In the event the committee chooses to rotate secretarial duties, please designate one person to be responsible for e-mailing the meeting minutes to Sibbie Weathers.

 

According to Faculty Senate Bylaw II. M. The International Education Committee, the duties and responsibilities of the committee shall include:

  1. Establishing, maintaining, and updating the procedures and criteria used to review proposals for offering credit-generating courses or programs of study at foreign or international sites.  The committee shall publicize the standards used to determine if awarding academic credit is appropriate.
  2. Receiving and reviewing all proposals for offering credit-generating courses or programs of study at foreign or international sites provided the proposed offering has been approved by the appropriate department(s) and dean(s).  The review shall provide for consultation with the Office of International Education.  Upon approval by the committee, the proposal shall be forwarded to the appropriate curriculum committee (or dean in the case of umbrella course topics) for further review.
  3. Reviewing the International Studies (INS) minor program and courses with the INS prefix.  The committee shall receive and review all proposals for revisions in the requirements for the INS minor and all proposals for new or revised courses with the INS prefix.  The review shall provide for consultation with the Director of the International Studies Curriculum.  Upon approval by the committee, the proposal shall be forwarded to the Dean of the College of Liberal Studies and to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for further review.
  4. Advising the Director of the Office of International Education and other administrative authorities and university committees in the development, application, and evaluation of policies and procedures for global education programs.
  5. Providing for the periodic review and assessment of the university's international education programs, policies, and procedures.  The areas reviewed shall include both credit and non-credit study tours, foreign study and exchange programs, and international student issues.
  6. Receiving annual reports on the number of international students enrolled at UW-L, the number of UW-L students participating in global education programs, and the number of international education opportunities for UW-L faculty and staff.
  7. Meeting with the International Student Organization and the Director of the Office of International Education to discuss issues regarding the needs of international students.

 

In addition to the committee's normal duties, I ask that the committee consider and report on the following special charges:

·         Make recommendations on the development of an international/ethnicity-themed experience in which interested UW-L students could participate. 

·         Facilitate a discussion around international student housing concerns between ISO representatives, the Director of OIE, and Nick Nicholas in housing.  Such a discussion may lead to a solution to the housing problem with which everyone is comfortable.

 

Please plan to submit a report on the above charges to faculty senate at the meeting on April 3, 2008.

 

If you have questions or concerns regarding these charges, please contact me at any time during the year.  Finally, if the Senate Executive Committee or I can assist your committee in any way during the year, please do not hesitate to ask.

 

saw