College of Letters and Sciences International Education Committee
Minutes
September 9, 2011
White Hall 6C
Present:
Larry Neuman (chair), Xueqing Chen, Charles Cottle, Bruce Eshelman, Liz
Hachten, Rex Hanger, Matt Lange, Xia Lollar, Jalal Nawash, Molly Patterson, Alyson Prude,
Ellie Schemenauer, David Simmons, Hassimi Traore, Sheila Turek and Akiko Yoshida
Larry Neuman called the meeting to order at 2:17 pm.
1.
The minutes of the April 29, 2011 meeting were approved.
2.
The meeting began with attendees introducing themselves, so that members in continuing
terms and those beginning new terms could get acquainted. 
3.
Announcements:

Anne Hamilton was appointed interim director of the Center for Global
Education. The search committee for a permanent director has been formed, but no
representative from our committee is on it.

There was some discussion of international student recruitment and retention in
light of the fact that L&S has no recruitment plan. The campus has disproportionate
representation of international students from certain countries (e.g. Saudi Arabia, Burkina
Faso and Cameroon—despite the absence of recruitment efforts there), while China
remains underrepresented. A balance of world regions across academic programs would
be more desirable. Eau Claire and Stevens Point use ESL programs as both a marketing
tool and a way to integrate international students. One tool might be lowering the cutoff
TOEFL score, but we need to find a better way to make us of faculty and student
resources to recruit and retain international students.

There were a number of announcements about our ongoing relationship with
Oaxaca, including the exhibition Viva Oaxaca in the Fiskum Art Gallery featuring
students’ works from mono print class in Oaxaca, prints by Max White & UW-W
student Irasema Villarreal, photos by Charlie Cottle and drawings by Mike Flanagan
(through September); and the opening reception of Sobreviviendo: Manejese con
Cuidado (Surviving: Handle with Care) at the Crossman Gallery, September 12 from 5-7
pm, featuring prints from the same workshops on the theme of endangered species
(through October 9).

Liz Hachten announced that the proposal for the Global Engagement Certificate is
on the next College Curriculum Committee agenda, and that the strengthened language
requirement for the B.A. will go into effect for high school students graduating in 2012
and after. Liz and Peter Hoff will meet with testing services about implementing
placement tests—we will be moving toward relying on system tests.
4.
Rex Hanger gave a report about the Wisconsin in Scotland program and his experience
with the WiS Advisory Board, the primary body that chooses faculty to teach there. UWW was
not originally part of the consortium of UW campuses that send faculty and students there until
Eau Claire and LaCrosse dropped out, but now there is a general need for all the campuses to
increase recruitment of students and faculty from a wider array of departments than has
historically been the case (a handout was distributed listing the number of students and faculty
sent to the program from each campus since 1984). Among the challenges facing the program:
courses are no longer offered on a semester basis, but rather in modules of several weeks each,
and the location itself imposes certain limitations on the kinds of courses that might be offered.
The committee pointed out that it will be difficult to meet recruitment targets within individual
departments, and Liz suggested there needs to be greater predictability in the array of courses
being offered, and the assurance of “maximum transferability” of credits, in order to successfully
attract students to the program.
5.
Further announcements:
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6.
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7.
Matt Lange announced opportunities for students to study in Germany by applying for
DAAD fellowships, and over the summer through Hessen’s International Summer
Universities programs.
Anne Hamilton is seeking information about international activities and initiatives from
each department in order to prepare a report for an international education consultant
visiting campus in October at the request of Provost Kopper (an e-mail with details will
arrive soon).
New business:
The committee voted to keep meetings for the semester at the same time, Fridays at 2:15.
A subcommittee tasked with developing a rubric for, and overseeing the evaluation and
advising of, the Global Engagement Certificate portfolios was formed. Matt Lange, Seth
Meisel, Ellie Schemenauer and David Simmons volunteered and were confirmed by
assent.
The deadline for Fall 2012 and Winterim 2013 travel study proposals is October 14; for
Spring 2013, March 16, 2012.
L&S should be taking the initiative in establishing exchanges with China. Mary
Pinkerton would like to know what kinds of programs L&S faculty are interested in
before she flies off to China signing agreements. Based on his experience in Australia,
Bruce Eshelman recommends direct enrollment if possible. Xia Lollar, Hassimi Traore,
and Bruce will follow up with Mary.
Final announcement: The International Film Appreciation course meets Monday nights
from 6:15-8:45 in Heide 101.
The meeting was adjourned.
Minutes respectfully submitted by David Simmons, 10/24/11