SMITH COLLEGE
VISITING SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Overview
Smith College’s Visiting Scholars Program serves to enrich campus intellectual activities, nurture the
college’s commitment to cultural diversity, and further its goal of being a world college. International
visitors have extended the range of global experiences the college can offer its community. We consider
programs enabling scholars from around the world to become part of Smith’s intellectual life to be a
vital constituent of the college’s rich, diverse, and vibrant academic environment. Likewise, we are
committed to supporting and enhancing the opportunities for our own faculty members to visit other
countries through the exchange arrangement we have with the University of Hamburg.
The Visiting Scholars Program is overseen by the Associate Dean of the Faculty in the Provost’s Office,
in conjunction with the Visiting Scholars Committee, an ad hoc faculty committee. The 2008-09
members of the Committee are: Christophe Golé (Mathematics and Statistics), Dominique Thiebaut
(Computer Science), Margaret Zelljadt (Senior Class Dean), and Suzanne Zhang-Gottschang
(Anthropology). Questions about the Visiting Scholars Program may be directed to Danielle Carr
Ramdath, Associate Dean of the Faculty, at dramdath@email.smith.edu or ext. 3000, or any member of
the Committee.
Visiting Scholars at Smith
The University of Hamburg
We have both a short and long-term faculty exchange program with the University of Hamburg. For
these visits, Hamburg proposes visitors, and the Visiting Scholars Committee works with the appropriate
Smith department or program on hosting details. Any costs incurred related to these visits are covered
out of the college’s Visiting Scholars Fund.
The University of Geneva
We have a short-term faculty exchange program with the University of Geneva. For these visits,
Geneva proposes a visitor, and the Visiting Scholars Committee works with the appropriate Smith
department or program on hosting details. Any costs incurred related to these visits are covered out of
the college’s Visiting Scholars Fund.
STINT
We also currently have an exchange program with the Swedish Foundation for International
Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), which allows scholars from Swedish
universities to spend one semester at Smith. For these visits, STINT proposes visitors, and the Visiting
Scholars Committee works with the appropriate Smith department or program on hosting details.
STINT covers all costs related to these exchanges.
If your department or program is interested in hosting a visitor from Hamburg, Geneva, or Sweden,
please let the Associate Dean of the Faculty know. The Provost’s Office is eager to place visitors in
departments or programs with a strong interest in hosting international scholars and utilizing them in all
facets of academic life at Smith.
Other Visiting Scholars
Most years, funds remain for a few additional visits beyond these official exchange arrangements. If
you are interested in arranging for a visiting scholar to come to Smith, please review the following
information and complete the Visiting Scholar Request Form at the end of this document. Please note
that all visits are subject to the visitor obtaining an appropriate work visa as directed by the Office for
International Students and Scholars.
Hosting Visiting Scholars
Typically, having a scholar here means that you will arrange and oversee his or her interactions with
faculty and students at Smith. Sometimes, however, scholars are invited primarily because of shared
research projects with Smith faculty members. In some cases, these are grant-funded visits for which
Smith will agree to host a scholar here, based on connections with an individual Smith faculty member.
In any case, for any international faculty member coming to Smith, the Visiting Scholar Request Form
should be used. (In the case of grant-funded visits, if letters of support or other materials are needed
prior to funding decisions, please be sure to indicate this on the form.)
The most critical element for success in any visiting scholar arrangement is the willingness and
commitment of the hosting Smith department or program to ensure that sufficient effort is put forward
so that both the visitor and Smith are able to have a fruitful exchange.
Recent international visiting scholars hosted by Smith include:
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Ann-Katrin Svensson, STINT, Fall 2007 (hosted by Education and Child Study department)
Gayane Panina, Institute for Informatics and Automation, Fall 2007 (hosted by Computer
Science department)
Dominik Gerber, Swiss National Science Foundation, Spring 2008 (hosted by Government
department)
Kai Jensen, University of Hamburg, Fall 2006 (long-term, hosted by Biological Sciences
department)
Margret Bulow-Shramm, University of Hamburg, Fall 2006 (short-term, hosted by Sociology
department)
Angeliek van Hout, Fulbright Fellowship, 2006-07 (hosted by Psychology and Philosophy
departments)
Bart Hollebrandse, EU-grant, 2006-07 (hosted by Psychology and Philosophy departments)
Hristo Kyuchukov, Fulbright Fellowship, Fall 2006 (hosted by Psychology and Philosophy
departments)
Martin Brundin, STINT, Fall 2006 (hosted by Mathematics and Statistics department)
Srebren Dizdar, University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovinia), Fall 2006 (hosted by
American Studies Diploma Program)
Selection of visiting scholars is made by the Provost’s Office in collaboration with the Visiting Scholars
Committee, based on review of the Visiting Scholar Request Form and the overall scheduling,
curricular compatability, and available financial resources. Priority for fall visits will be given to
requests received by March 15. Priority for spring visits will be given to requests received by November
1.
A typical visiting scholar arrangement is 3-4 weeks in length. It may include a stipend of $1,000 and a
studio guest apartment provided by Smith, complimentary lunches at the College Club or Campus
Center, round-trip airfare (for one) from the visitor’s home to Northampton, as well as gymnasium and
library privileges for the length of the visit. Details on these benefits will be resolved depending on the
nature the individual visit.
It is assumed that the visitor will be traveling alone. If this is not the case, the Provost’s Office must be
notified at least two months in advance of the visit to arrange for suitable housing (additional costs are
not covered). Office space is not provided (though visitors may use a library carrel. The Visiting
Scholar Program has two laptops available for use by Visiting Scholars. Visitors are also welcome to
bring their own laptops or use the campus computer labs). The visitor makes his/her own travel
arrangements (including transportation to and from Northampton).
The faculty host is responsible for:
 ensuring that assistance with the visa process is provided if needed
 alerting the Associate Dean of the Faculty to any special needs or problems (including the need
for a translator) before the visit
 ensuring that appropriate campus events (including but not limited to Liberal Arts Lunch and
Sigma Xi talks) are arranged and publicized
 ensuring that the guest makes contact with appropriate members of the faculty and the student
body
 assisting the guest with logistical questions or problems that may arise
 ensuring that the visit concludes appropriately
The visitor is expected to:
 arrange for an appropriate visa as directed by the Provost’s Office
 fulfill the commitments of all agreed-upon campus events
 interact regularly with faculty and students
 pursue independent activities during some parts of the visit
 submit a brief (1-2) page summary report to the Associate Dean of the Faculty and the faculty
host within one month of the visit’s completion.
Once a visitor is approved, the faculty host will be invited to meet with a member of the Visiting
Scholars Committee in advance of the visit to confirm arrangements (please see Visiting Scholar
Hosting Checklist). Following the meeting, the Associate Dean of the Faculty will send the visitor an
official letter of invitation.
Applying To Go on Faculty Exchanges
Smith faculty members have the opportunity to apply for exchange programs at the University of
Hamburg (both long and short-term) and the University of Geneva (short-term). The Hamburg
exchange does not require that you speak German, though many faculty members have found language
fluency to enhance their visits.
If you are interested in applying for next year’s exchange visits in Hamburg or Geneva, please look for
the faculty listserv announcement late in the fall semester.
Smith faculty members who have recently participated in these exchanges or who have served as JYA
directors in Hamburg and Geneva include:
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Len Berkman, Theatre, Hamburg Long-Term Exchang, Spring 2008
Jefferson Hunter, English Language and Literature, Hamburg Short-Term Exchange, Spring
2008
Craig Davis, English Language and Literature: Hamburg Long-Term Exchange, Spring 2007
Greg White, Government: Hamburg Short-Term Exchange, Spring 2007
Darcy Buerkle, History: Hamburg Short-Term Exchange, Spring 2007
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Louis Wilson, Afro-American Studies: Hamburg Long-Term Exchange, Spring 2006
Jocelyn Kolb, German Studies: Hamburg JYA Director, 2007-08
Hélène Visentin, French Studies: Geneva JYA Director, 2007-08
Joseph McVeigh, German Studies: Hamburg JYA Director, 2005-06 & 2006-07
Jonathan Gosnell, French Studies: Geneva JYA Director, 2006-07
Kyriaki Gounaridou, Theatre: Geneva JYA Director, 2005-06
These individuals are good sources of information on details about the Hamburg and Geneva exchanges.
SMITH COLLEGE
VISITING SCHOLAR REQUEST FORM
Please complete the form electronically, using the “tab” and arrow keys to navigate through the fields.
1. Date:
2. Faculty host:
3. Faculty host’s department:
4. Name of visitor:
5. Visitor’s home institution:
6. Visitor’s academic field (including specialties):
7. Permanent contact information for visitor:
Address:
Email:
Phone:
8. What type of visa does the visitor need?
9. What are the proposed dates for this visit?
10. What is the visitor’s level of English (speaking) fluency?
11. Has the individual been a visitor to Smith before? If so, when?
12. Please check the activities the visitor would be involved in during the visit:
Teaching course (include name of course):
Guest lecturing in course(s) (indicate which):
Public lecture for Smith community
Departmental meeting/lecture
Individual/group meeting(s) with students
Other (please describe):
13. What department(s)/program(s) will host this visitor? Who will be the primary host?
14. Are there funding sources beyond the Visiting Scholars Fund available to assist with this visit? If
so, please indicate amount available and source.
15. Please provide here a brief paragraph which explains the specific intellectual and academic
justification for this visit.
Please have chair/director of hosting department/program sign below as indication that the
department/program is aware of this proposed visit and is willing to provide the hosting responsibilities
associated with it.
Signature of chair/director of hosting department/program:
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Signature of chair/director of co-hosting department/program (if applicable):
______________________________________________
Please submit completed form, and a copy of the visitor’s C.V., to: Visiting Scholars Committee,
c/o Danielle Ramdath, Associate Dean of the Faculty, College Hall 206