Minutes of the International Education Cross-Cultural Awareness Committee
FAC 225 and LGC 100
1-230pm
10/27/06

Members attending

Dre Anthes
Judi Bartlett
Christine Contrada
Sunithi Gnandoss
 Ann Lyons
Gayle Wolfe

Members not in attendance

 Dave Fama
Karen Mittura
Linda Mc Lintock
Lori Rawleigh
Mike Read

The committee convened via compressed video and it was noted that Karen, Linda, Mike and Lori had contacted the chair and that they would not be able to attend the meeting due to other conflicts.

Gayle discussed the VCCS peer meeting on International Education, which she attended on October 19-20 in Norfolk. She described the Fulbright Scholar in Residence Program and the Occasional Lecturer Program, which allows institutions to invite Scholars in Residence to speak on their campuses.  She stated that the information was available at www.cies.com.  The committee discussed how to take advantage of this program and Christine agreed to contact Kelly and Lazalia to discuss a   combined International Education /Humanities Program.

Gayle also discussed the possibility of holding Peace Corps information sessions for our students once a year or even once a semester. Dre agreed to look into this with Student Services.  Gayle will forward a packet of information to Dre.

Gayle also discussed the Governor’s International Education Day at GMU to be held on November 13.  Ann stated that Sarah Lewis, her tutor, would be contacting students and would let her know by the following week who would be attending. Judi was thanked for her getting the information on GCC’s web page, though the link was for George Mason and needed to be for VACIE. Judi agreed to correct this.

Sunithi next talked about possible plans to host a reception for an international student’s recent marriage. She is mentoring the student who is from Pakistan. The student had recently lost her father and could not attend the funeral. She has no relatives here and was feeling lonely.  Ann suggested a meeting be set up with her and another student from Afghanistan who also lived a while in Pakistan.  The committee discussed the problems with having an event that would not be open to all students and decided that a small personal gathering at Sunithi’s home would be better for now.

Judi talked about the first student refugee who is now attending GCC and that this should open doors to others.  She shared an article from the Free Lance Star about the refugees in the area. The committee discussed ways to welcome these students and suggested that a mentor be assigned to each one.

The committee discussed the need for more information on the bulletin boards such as info about WOW , GIED, Mentoring etc. Mike reported via email that there were no bulletin boards available at LGC and that we must request one.  The committee thought we should also check with Karen who had worked on this the previous year.  Dre stated that she is also working on a Blackboard Site for International Students and Judi suggested we do a holiday’s bulletin board for students who might like to join in on American celebrations.

Gayle state that a student from Anita Suttons’s class would help to work on a web page for International Education.

Gayle also discussed Linda Mc Lintock’s Vacie visitor, Liesbeth Jongerious, from the Netherlands. Liesbeth had attended one of Gayle’s classes and seemed to have had a good visit with GCC overall. 

Gayle reminded the committee of the WOW agenda for next semester and firmed up Christine’s presentation in March.  

Ann reported that according to an email from Pam Frederick, the Registrar is still in the process of completing all the paperwork to submit our application.  They have to pull some statistics from the VCCS to complete it but can’t get this information until PeopleSoft version 8.9 is implemented.  Rita expects to have it completed this semester.  Once the application goes to the Department of Homeland Security, we go on a waiting list to be selected for a site visit. Authorization is granted after a site visit.  They have a cap on the number of site visits they do per year so we have no idea how long it might take. 

Pam emphasizes that the College has not yet made the decision to accept F-1 visas.   We are just getting on the waiting list so that we will at least have that option when the time comes. Dr. Turnage has allowed GCC to go forward with the application with the understanding that we do not necessarily have to do it even if we are approved.  Pam believes he is concerned about the additional staffing needed to issue I-20 documents and meet the SEVIS requirements and states that we will have to see what direction the new President wants to go with this.  We also need to get this into the College’s strategic plan. Judi agreed to check into this for the committee since she is on the SACS committee.

 The last item discussed was to start to make plans for another Spring International Lunch.

The committee will meet again on Friday, December 1, by compressed video.

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