NAFSA REGION II, NEW MEXICO STATE MEETING Minutes Sevilleta Field Station, Sevilleta, NM June 18-­‐20th, 2014 Wednesday, June 18, 2014: 5:00PM and later… Early check-­‐in for those staying in the Sevilleta Field Station Lodging. Thursday, June 19, 2014: 8:30-­‐8:45AM…. Check-­‐in and light refreshments 8:45-­‐9:30AM… Welcome, introductions, Ice Breaker and Meeting Overview 9:30-­‐10:15AM… Update and review of New Mexico’s International efforts. (Dr. Mary Anne Saunders, UNM and Dr. Cornell Menking, NMSU) Highlands •
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Capitol improvements Developing international recruitment plan More interest in faculty-­‐led programs Trying to attract more sponsored students Beginning to process H1Bs for International students Eastern •
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Improving documentation and orientation for international students Increasing awareness of study abroad First Open Doors report Working on a recruitment plan (most recruiting previously done by coaches) Working on expanding EA, going to fairs at NMSU and meeting with providers Working on website to make it more accessible to international students Looking at on-­‐line orientation for international students St John’s College •
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Only private school represented Small (2 campuses) 3rd oldest college in the US (in Annapolis) SF is 50 years old •
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Did a “re-­‐branding” and update of the website Student body small 400ish International students all given work-­‐study (about 50) Career services works closely with international students Just now got money to focus on study abroad programs for students (they now go on their own) Looking for fellowships to do more study abroad Cohort system, so only options are gap year or summer programs San Juan College •
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2 year community college Working on policies procedures and documentation for EA Trying to figure out what students are getting out of it Position for EA is still full-­‐time Worked to update website and start marketing procedures Want programs to be more accessible to population Working on internships that would make students Gilman-­‐eligible Students need financial assistance Working on international curriculum development Western NM University •
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Half-­‐time faculty in College of Ed and half in international studies – recruitment, partnerships (working with admissions and student affairs to Biggest effort is to centralize – No advisor for students Now have 50 – 60 international students: BSMP, Athletes, Dual Degree with College of Ed and Spain Worked on IAPP project with Brazil (supported by IIE) visited different partners Partnerships with CJ and Technica in Mexico, and Costa Rica New President, university is going through re-­‐structuring Interest is in the Americas Work closely with U of A, Office of Global Studies – Attended bilateral forum Zero students abroad not – part of Generation Study Abroad NMSU •
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Restructuring, focusing and assessing commitment to internationalization Went through ACE internationalization collaboration project several years ago Established international advisory council – reevaluating strategic plan Re-­‐centralized units: Office of EA, ISSS (1020 degree-­‐seeking) •
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Confucius Institute Trying to put pieces in place to tackle deep internationalization challenges Part of Generation Study Abroad Hired in-­‐house recruiters UNM •
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New President (was Provost at Kent State) believes in internationalization Formed an Advisory Board including campus and community members Part of Generation Study Abroad Trying to increase interest in EA Trying to increase numbers of students Under intense scrutiny from the President and Provosts’ offices Partnerships increasing: 100,000 strong initiatives Working with new sponsored students: BSMP and others Trying to develop new program models: dual degree and other Working on issues related to NM economic development Opened recruiting office in Beijing Opening an office in Mexico City with City of Albuquerque and State of New Mexico Working with recruitment agents Study abroad fee $1 per student at UNM: proposed to Student government and approved Other 1. Partnerships • FOBESI: Bilateral Forum (Mexico-­‐ US) met in Tucson: Schools being contacted about intensive ESL programs • Need to seriously dialogue with the state about in-­‐state tuition for Mexican students • OAS recognized institutions: 0% interest-­‐free loans • Funding comes from different sources for different types of projects/study 2. Recruiting • Pressure to make up for low #s • In-­‐house recruiters •
Recruitment agents: vet them, check for AARC affiliation, licensure, etc.; model is that student and institution pay fees (10% of first-­‐year tuition to recruiter; grad students 10% of first semester) State-­‐wide Initiatives •
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Met with Secretary of Education – Jose Garcia; proposals got somewhat de-­‐railed by politics NM HED RPSP request to provide study abroad services to students (study center, joint programs, etc.) Have to try to get money from state government; interest in reviving NMIEC Kentucky example: Consortium agreements to run joint faculty-­‐led and other EA programs Interest in visiting counterparts in ISSS as well. 10:15-­‐10:30AM… 10:30-­‐11:30AM… 11:30-­‐12:15PM… session Break Break-­‐Out Session #1 for focused interest group discussion: Possible groups: 1) Admissions, 2) Advisement, 3) Study Abroad, 4) Other? Large Group Review and Feedback of items discussed in break-­‐out EA discussion •
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How do you get students to go on Study Abroad? (How do you change the culture?) What kind of programs do you develop? What are the advantages and disadvantages? How do you help students find funding? How do you deal with health and safety in Study Abroad? Academic integrity and integration: How do we make sure students are learning something Int. Enrollment/ Recruitment Discussion • Re-­‐aligning & re-­‐organizing structure of office at UNM •NMHU Cameroon trip (yielded 60+ students). Idea of doing “self” created tours with students & Alumni. •Engaging and utilizing International Alumni & current students from abroad in recruitment efforts. •CRM system successes •”Waiver of Out-­‐of-­‐State Tuition” discussion. UNM’s Amigo.. how to get more of these for other institutions. Is is possible to divide one full scholarship into two “half” scholarships? •Discussion of the statute language about “foreign country with contiguous border with New Mexico” -­‐ Kristian •Utilizing “Arm-­‐Chair” recruitment strategies. Measuring “ROI” 12:15-­‐1:30PM… Lunch: TBD (provided by NAFSA Region II grant) 1:30PM-­‐2:30PM…. Visa & Immigration items discussion. (facilitated by Linda Melville) See attached power point from Linda 2:30-­‐3:30PM… Study Abroad discussion. (facilitated by Ken Carpenter) • How do you get students to go on Study Abroad? (How do you change the culture?) • What kind of programs do you develop? What are the advantages and disadvantages? • How do you help students find funding? • How do you deal with health and safety in Study Abroad? • Academic integrity and integration: How do we make sure students are learning something 3:30-­‐3:45PM…. Break 3:45-­‐5:00PM… Recruitment and Admissions discussion. (facilitated by Pablo Torres) See attached power point from Pablo 5:00-­‐6:00PM… 6:00-­‐8:00PM… Free Time Business Dinner in Socorro at Socorro Springs Restaurant to discuss state-­‐ wide collaboration & international efforts. Friday, June 20, 2014: 8:30AM-­‐9:30AM… Breakfast 9:45-­‐12:00PM… Discussions: •Working collaboratively as institutions to formalize a statewide presence in Santa Fe during the legislative session. (facilitated by Kristian Chervenock) • Collaborative Efforts to Promote New Mexico as a Study Abroad Destination. (All) The morning was spent in a lively large group discussion led by Kristian Chervenock about internationalization efforts in New Mexico. The recent effort by several universities to draft an “RPSP” was discussed the political consequence of UNM & NMSU being the only institutions included in the final proposal. See attached copy of RPSP draft. -­‐The proposal made it through the legislature but was vetoed by the Governor. Highlighting the unknown and difficult nature of the political process. -­‐It seemed unanimous that all institutions must be included in these efforts. When it is only UNM or NMSU, or if efforts seem led by one of the larger institution, it may be difficult to get buy-­‐in from other colleges & universities. -­‐Revive the NMIEC (New Mexico International Education Consortium). Ken Carpenter shared information about the history of the consortium (he has a copy of the original signed agreement) and how it did not official ever expire. It would be good to get the consortium re-­‐
vived. Perhaps at the Council of NM Presidents. -­‐What our our collective goals? 1) Study Abroad Scholarship support for NM students to go abroad. And 2) Support for International Recruitment (as Economic development) -­‐Need to schedule another meeting of Senior International Officers and/ or designees, possibly the NM NAFSA reps and the HED. Kristian to discuss with Cornell at NMSU about organizing the next meeting. -­‐The discussion hovered over the appropriate angle to take regarding advocacy and lobbying efforts. The question “Is there time to get a proposal in for this year?” is an important one. -­‐Additionally, Kristian used the description “like a fly buzzing” to describe a multi-­‐year approach to engaging law makers. -­‐How to collectively “brand” the NMIEC consortium. Ideas by Kat Elwell. The effort must be collective for it to be impactful and effective across the state. Ken C. said that some institutions may not like to hear suggestions from UNM, could make it feel forced. -­‐A smaller working group to work on the two goals listed above (Study Abroad and Recruitment). Working group, with members for various institutions, to write draft proposal on two topics. Include Open Doors Economic data broken up by regions within New Mexico to show the impact of International students in each area of the state. -­‐Ecuador Center is not central to the proposal. Everyone seemed to agree that it can be removed. -­‐Each institution’s Government Relations staff should be consulted. -­‐Contact Think New Mexico for possible feedback or collaboration. They are a Think Tank/Advocacy group that promoted an effort to get in-­‐state tuition for International students. -­‐In next week, the smaller working group will begin collaborating and drafting a proposal. •Election of new NAFSA New Mexico State Representative. (All) 12:00-­‐12:30PM… Wrap-­‐Up & confirmation of communication details and dates/locations for the next State Meeting. -­‐Clean-­‐up the NM State Contact list. Pablo to send out the existing/current information with the group for everyone to cross-­‐check & update the list with the correct contact details for their respective institutions. Possible next meeting in Silver City, NM.