Presented for approval to the OSU Faculty Senate – 4/10/08
Addendum to Study Abroad Proposal
Akita International University (AIU)
Oregon University System Exchange
Submitted to Curriculum Council, June 2007
Dr. Joseph Hoff, Interim Director, International Education and Outreach
Amy Nelson Green, Head Advisor, International Education and Outreach
Background: The Oregon University System’s International Programs Council (IPC), made up of the head international officer/designee of each OUS institution, approved the proposal for a new exchange program with Akita International University in Fall 2005. In winter 2006, OSU’s
Study Abroad Advisory Committee reviewed the proposal and approved the new exchange program for referral to the Curriculum Council. In spring 2006, the Curriculum Council reviewed the proposal and denied approval of the exchange, stating concerns that AIU was too new, and that we should wait until they are better established.
Purpose of Review: International Education and Outreach (IEO) requests that the Curriculum
Council review the AIU proposal for consideration as an OSU-sponsored exchange program, administered by the Oregon University System, effective Fall 2007.
Summary Update: The following considerations should be given to this proposal as the Council reviews the status of this program for approval at OSU.
 AIU is approved as a public university by the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT).
Under the strict guidelines of the MEXT, all changes, modifications and additions of instructors, course offerings and other student services must be reported to the MEXT every year. In compliance with Japanese Public Corporation Law, the Akita Prefecture
Public Corporation Evaluation Committee conducted a thorough evaluation of AIU, with favorable results, in 2005.
 OSU Colleges of Business and Forestry have expressed interest in and support for this exchange program for their students. See the following statements from each of these Colleges.
 In 2007, AIU has signed new partnerships with University of British Columbia in
Vancouver, BC and with University of Colorado-Boulder, indicating that these institutions acknowledge future potential for positive academic and collaborative relationships.
 All coursework is taught in English , with the exception of foreign language studies.
The removal of a language barrier gives the program broad appeal, especially to majors in the sciences, engineering, forestry, and business. Students will be supported with language and culture courses alongside content courses in their field of study. The fact that all courses at AIU are taught in English as well as all of their regularly-matriculated
Japanese students are required to study abroad for 1 year makes AIU a rather unique and entrepreneurial place for OSU students to study in Japan. According to the AIU website, AIU is ranked in the top 20 public institutions status out of 160 public universities in Japan.
 The academic calendar of AIU provides multiple options for OSU students to study there while only being away from OSU for one academic term. A summer option, attractive to students in highly sequenced majors, is also available. o First semester: early April – late July o Second semester: early Sept. – mid December o Optional winter term: mid January – mid March o Summer session: mid June to late July

May 23, 2007
To the Curriculum Council:
It’s been brought to our attention that the Curriculum Council will be re-evaluating an international exchange proposal between Akita International University and OUS which was first presented to the committee last year. While we understand and respect the committee’s initial decision, we hope that you will reconsider and vote in favor of this proposal.
The College of Business supports this program and believes it to be a worthwhile and academically strong opportunity for our students. Two years ago Dr. James Coakley, our Associate Dean, met with Dr. Michael Lactorin, Professor and Director of Global
Business at Akita. After these initial meetings, the College of Business proposed that a
Category B exchange program be developed between the College of Business and
Akita. We were especially interested in their Entrepreneurship program. Much to our disappointment, a decision was made to create a relationship between OUS and Akita
International University.
The College of Business has enjoyed a long and successful history of student exchanges with nine different partner institutions around the world. We are satisfied that the student opportunity offered through Akita International University would provide our students with a culturally enriching and academically strong experience.
Thank you for considering our request.
Sincerely,
Carol Leder
Academic Advisor
International Exchange Coordinator
College of Business
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From: Bishaw, Badege
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 1:57 PM
To: Morre, Susan; Nelson, Amy
Cc: Patterson, Connie; Doescher, Paul; Johnson, Jim; Jensen, Edward C.; Salwasser, Hal
Subject: RE: Akita Int'l Univeristy, Japan
Hi Amy;
I think, the ideas and the courses laid out by Susan about the opportunity for study abroad at
Akita International University for our students is well thought. In this day and age of globalization our students should get the opportunity to expose themselves not only to forestry courses per se but, they need to have a broader perspective about climate change, environmental issues and global business. I think Akita’s educational programs can provide this opportunity not only to forestry but to other students at OSU. Thus it would be useful to have an MOU between Akita
International University and OSU to exchange students though study abroad program.
Badege
Badege Bishaw, Ph.D.
Director of International Programs
College of Forestry
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
Tel: 541-737-9495
Fax: 541-737-1393 badege.bishaw@oregonstate.edu
From: Morre, Susan
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 1:14 PM
To: Nelson, Amy
Cc: Patterson, Connie; Doescher, Paul; Johnson, Jim; Bishaw, Badege; Jensen, Edward C.; Salwasser,
Hal
Subject: RE: Akita Int'l Univeristy, Japan
Hi Amy,
In July 2006 I toured Akita International University with the assistant to the president, spoke with several international students there, and met with local foresters in Akita. I just reviewed their curriculum to inform my comments about why an MOU with AIU could be beneficial for forestry students at OSU, as well as students from many departments across campus. These comments are my own, but I am copying several people in the College of Forestry who may want to forward you their own comments.
An MOU with AIU could provide a unique opportunity for OSU students in Forestry, Political
Science, Communication, Sociology, Business, Economics, Anthropology, Philosophy, and other undergraduate programs. From a forestry perspective, I offer these comments:
Akita International University is a new institution that was purposively designed to bring together students from around the world to promote intercultural understanding. AIU recruited faculty from all over the world, and all classes are taught in English (except, of course, for
Japanese language instruction). This approach distinguishes AIU from older, more traditional universities that often separate international students from domestic students by offering them only a narrow core of English-language courses. AIU puts domestic and international students together in the same classes. This greatly enriches the study abroad experience, and it makes study abroad available to students who speak only English.
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Consistently, two factors undergraduate students identify as reasons for not spending a semester or year abroad are that they do not speak the language and that they cannot afford the higher cost of living abroad. AIU has effectively addressed both of these factors: all classes are in English, and it is less expensive to live in Akita than in Corvallis.
The Akita International University curriculum does not offer forestry courses per se, but there are numerous courses that would be a great part of an undergraduate degree program, especially if the student wants to add a second International Degree to their forestry degree, or is interested in forest management and business, or intercultural communication, in today's era of ever-increasing globalization of natural resource management. A forestry student could work with their advisor to select from a rich array of courses that would expand upon their OSU study program and give them an edge in the job market when they graduate. The basic courses at
AIU (mostly 3 credits) include:
Chinese or Japanese language instruction
Sociology
Political Science
Sociology
Law
Legal Environments of International Business
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
Financial Accounting
Statistics
Financial Management
Management Principles and Practice
Marketing Principles
International Business
International Finance
International Marketing
Business Management
Corporate Strategy
Entrepreneurship
Marketing Research
Supply Chain Management
Business Communication
Management of Human Resources & Labor
Relations
Psychology
World History
Cultural Anthropology
Introduction to Philosophy
Information Science
Introduction to Chemistry
Introduction to Physics
Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Composition I and II
Global studies courses include:
Comparative Cultural Studies
International Relations
History of Japan-US Relations
Intercultural Communication
Introduction to Environmental Science
Peace Science (Conflict Prevention Diplomacy)
Western Philosophy
Asian Philosophy
Religion and Bioethics
World Civilizations
International Development Studies
International Cooperation & Assistance
Architecture and Culture
Demography
History of Science
Political Economy in China
Modern History of China
Japanese Foreign Policy toward the US
Intro to Chinese Ethnic Cultures
Chinese Politics, Thought, and Law
Chinese Regional Economies
Modern Business Affairs in China
Urban and Farm Village Development in China
Special Lectures (e.g. "From the Front Line of
International News Reporting")
Industry and Technology
Science and Technology
Trade and International Commerce
International Organizations
International Law
Environmental Science in Global Perspectives
Sociology of Globalization
US-China Relations
International News Coverage
Mass Media and Society
Comparative Politics (US, UK, Japan)
Tourism
Business Internship
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The latitude in Akita about the same as Corvallis, and many of the same genera of plants grow there, but the climate is more extreme than in western Oregon. This provides opportunities to observe the impact of climate and soils on species. Also, Japan has set up forest monitoring plots on a uniform grid across the country to collect and report on many indicators related to the contribution of the forest to social, environmental, and economic sustainability. Students interested in Sustainable Forest Management could interact with the extension foresters in the
Akita region. One forest manager in Akita was John Bliss's Ph.D. student here at OSU. He is also in charge of cultural resources in their parks and protected areas, so that would be another good resource. In addition, there are hundreds of hot springs and a long skiing season for those interested in recreation resource management. If a student wanted to conduct their senior project there, the opportunities are numerous.
Susan Morré
International Programs Intern
Sustainable Natural Resources Graduate Certificate Program Assistant
Ph.D. student, Department of Forest Resources
College of Forestry
109 Richardson Hall
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon 97331-5751
Susan.Morre@oregonstate.edu
Phone: 541.737.0872
Fax: 541.737.3008
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