By Susan Bender
These are certainly interesting times for those working in international educational exchange as the cyclical nature of immigration policy continues to take a downward swing. It seems the INS is increasingly overwhelmed with the conflicting charges of providing service to an ever growing client base and policing all those who seek to enter the U.S.
The NAFSA Region XII Team continues to work to serve the needs of its members through its ongoing liaison relationships with local and regional INS offices, through its communication with the NAFSA national organization, and by offering quality networking and training opportunities through district and regional conferences.
The Hawaii conference this November will reflect the sessions of quality, content, timeliness, and interest that Region XII members have come to expect. In addition, we are very excited that we have an opportunity at this time to expand our region and include all those colleagues at colleges and universities on U.S.- affiliated Pacific Islands. We have included in this newsletter an amendment to our by-laws which requires a vote from you to change our Regional description to, "NAFSA Region XII: California, Hawaii, Nevada and U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands." We are hopeful that this vote will pass and that Region XII will gain a new base of members.
I look forward to seeing many of you in Hawaii, a conference that is sure to be informative, holistic, and enjoyable. For those unable to attend, be sure to tap into the district opportunities which take place throughout the year.
Enclosed with this newsletter is information and materials for the 1998 Region XII Conference to take place November 11-13 in Honolulu. The regional team and local arrangements committee are working hard to make this conference a productive and enjoyable one. Martha Staff, the conference coordinator, deserves special recognition for her superb efforts to accommodate Region XII members and guests. Information about travel grants, which have been increased this year to assist more members to attend the conference, is included on page 6.
Travel Grant Applications
District......August 30
National....October 1
Conference Pre-Registration.....October 11
•Kathy Hodges, UC San Diego, and Ron Moffatt, San Diego State University, have been appointed co-chairs of the Local Arrangements Committee for the NAFSA national conference; scheduled to take place in San Diego in May 2000
•David Brandt, UC Berkeley, is nominated Region XII chair for 2000-2001
•Long Beach will be the site of the 1999 Region XII conference to take place October 31 to November 2, 1999.
Chair
Susan Bender, Director
Office of International Students and Scholars
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV 89557-0144
Tel: (702) 784-6874, Fax: (702) 784-4015
bender@unr.edu
Past-Chair and Mini-grants
Kathy Hodges, Director
International Programs, Extension
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0176
Tel: (619) 534-8042, Fax: (619) 534-7385
khodges@ucsd.edu
Chair-Elect and Newsletter Editor;
Carol Robertson, Assistant Director
International Center
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
San Diego, CA 92093-0018
Tel: (619) 534-3730, Fax: (619) 534-0909
cerobertson@ucsd.edu
Business Manager
Ron Moffatt, Director
International Student Center
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-5101
Tel: (619) 594-1982, Fax: (619) 594-1973
Ron.Moffatt@sdsu.edu
Conference Chair '98
Martha Staff, International Student Advisor
University of Hawaii at Manoa
2600 Campus Road, Room 414
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8613, Fax: (808) 956-5076
mstaff@hawaii.edu
ADSEC
Jane Roberts, International Admissions Officer
Monterey Institute of International Studies
425 Van Buren Street
Monterey, CA 93940
Tel: (408) 647-4124, Fax: (408) 647-4188
jroberts@miis.edu
ATESL
Paula Schiff, Center Director
ELS Language Centers
3510 Mountain Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94619
Tel: (510) 531-5176, Fax: (510) 531-5183
schiff@ccnet.com
CAFSS
Suzanne Blough, Director
International Center
University of California, Irvine
Student Services I, Suite 201
Irvine, CA 92697-5255
Tel: (714) 824-7249, Fax: (714) 824-3090
sgblough@uci.edu
COMSEC
Joy Turner, Director
International Ministries
Hawaii Baptist Convention
2042 Vancouver Drive
Honolulu, HI
Tel: (808) 946-9581 X233, Fax:(808) 949-5280
joyturner@juno.com
SECUSSA
Susan M. Thompson, Director
International Programs
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
4505 Maryland Pkwy., Box 456012
Las Vegas, NV 89154-6012
Tel: (702) 895-3896, Fax: (702) 895-4147
thompson@ccmail.nevada.edu
Student/Scholar Regulatory Representative
Ted Goode, Director
Services for Int'l. Students and Scholars
University of California, Berkeley
International House, 2299 Piedmont Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720
Tel: (510) 642-2818, Fax: (510) 643-7289
tgoode@uclink.berkeley.edu
COMCOL
Darryl Keith Ogata, Director,
International Programs
Santa Monica Community College
1900 Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405-1628
Tel: (310) 452-9342, Fax: (310) 581-8617
ogata_darryl_keith@smc.edu
Micro-SIG
Nicole Blechynden, Data Aide
Bechtel International Center
Stanford University
P.O. Box 5816
Stanford, CA 94309
Tel: (650) 723-0377, Fax: (650) 725-0886
nblech@stanford.edu
Membership
David Brandt, International Student Adviser
Services for Int'l. Students and Scholars
University of California, Berkeley
International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94720-2321
Tel: (510) 642-2818, Fax: (510) 643-7289
dbrandt@uclink3.berkeley.edu
Secretary and Conference Chair '99
Robert Paul Prather, Assistant Director
Center for International Education
International Admissions
1250 Bellflower Blvd., SSA 201
California State University, Long Beach
Long Beach, CA 90840-0109
Tel: (562) 985-8426, Fax: (562) 985-1725
prather@csulb.edu
Professional Development
Jane Kalionzes, International Student Advisor
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-5101
Tel: (619) 594-1982, Fax: (619) 594-1973
Jane.Kalionzes@sdsu.edu
Resource Development
Sharif Ossayran, President
Scholastic Insurance Services
5761 Buckingham Parkway
Culver City, CA 90230
Tel: (310) 642-0537, Fax: (310) 342-4104
sharif@els.com
50th Anniversary Coordinator
Marvin Baron
136 Rosemont Court
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Tel: (925) 935-8031, Fax: (925) 643-7289
marvbaron@aol.com
Northern District
Lisa Ernstthal, Coordinator
Student Services
American Language Institute
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132
Tel: (415) 338-1438, Fax: (415) 338-1717
lisaerns@sfsu.edu
Southern District
Les Rangel-Santos, Managing Executive
International Consulting
752 N. Keenan Street
Montebello, CA 90640
Tel: (818) 592-2888, Fax: (818) 592-0299
lesmondan@aol.com
Hawaii District
Jenny Samaan, Acting Director
Officer of International Affairs
University of Hawaii
2565 The Mall, PSB 102
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-2222; Fax: (808) 956-5030
samaan@hawaii.edu
Bringing the NAFSA Region XII conference to Hawaii has highlighted the fact that we have a number of colleagues at colleges and universities in the Pacific who have been neglected within the NAFSA organization. The Hawaii
conference offers us an opportunity to welcome these colleagues into our region. The Region XII team has proposed that we modify the definition of our region by changing our by-laws to read:
"NAFSA REGION XII: California, Hawaii, Nevada
and U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands"
Any change of the by-laws, however, necessitates approval by the regional membership. Therefore, I am requesting that you fill out the following form OR e-mail me with your vote.
_____ I approve of the recommended change to define Region XII as: California, Hawaii, Nevada and U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands
_____ I do not approve of the recommended change
Name of Region XII member:__________________________
Send form to:
Susan Bender, Chair, Region XII, OISS (074), University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557
Send e-mail to: bender@unr.edu
by Jane Kalionzes
The success of the Professional Development Workshops at last year's Fall conference has prompted Region XII to expand the selection of offerings at the Hawaii conference to include two different Foundations of International Education workshops: Foreign Educational Credentials Analysis and Overseas Educational Advising. The third workshop offering will once again be the well-known favorite Professional Practice Workshop: F-1 Regulations for Beginners.
The Overseas Educational Advising Workshop, the newest of the PDP workshops, debuted at the NAFSA National Conference in Washington D.C. in May. It is designed for internationally-based newcomers to the field of overseas educational advising, and will provide participants with a conceptual foundation, practical knowledge, and skills for carrying out their responsibilities. This workshop is being offered in Hawaii to provide a cost effective way for overseas advisors from the Far East to participate without having to incur the extra expense of traveling to the mainland.
The other new PDP offering for Region XII, the Foreign Educational Credentials Analysis Workshop, is designed for admissions professionals who are new to foreign academic credential evaluation and placement. Participants will develop conceptual tools for evaluation of foreign educational credentials for admission, placement, and transfer-credit determination so that they can make independent admissions decisions.
Back by popular demand, the trainers of the Regulatory Workshop F-1 for Beginners will join together for a fourth time to educate new advisors in working with the F-1 regulations. This Professional Practice workshop has received rave reviews at all the previous presentations. Although other training workshops may appear to be equal to this one, the PDP Regulatory Workshop is the only F-1 training program written and endorsed by NAFSA, and is much less expensive than any other F training currently available.
These workshops are a must for every newcomer to the field of international education, and for everyone with new job responsibilities in one of these areas. Every participant upon completion of the workshop will receive a Certificate of Completion from NAFSA, and become a part of the NAFSA workshop participant database. All trainers presenting at the workshops are professionals with many years of expertise in their field, and many years experience presenting the curriculum of their workshop. Be assured that these workshops will greatly increase your knowledge in your area of interest, and provide you with the foundation and practice necessary to do your job more effectively.
By Marvin Baron
NAFSA's 50th Anniversary year is drawing to a close, but there are still some opportunities for you to savor the celebration:
**The Historical Exhibit...A major part of the exhibit that was on display in Washington, D.C. may be shown during the Regional Conference in Hawaii. Make a note to spend 20-30 minutes in taking a stroll through our rich history. If you don't have time to do that, keep your eyes peeled this fall on a possible published version of the Exhibit that might be available before the end of the year, at a very reasonable price. Detailed information on this should appear in an upcoming issue of the NAFSA newsletter.
**Our Regional Conference will offer you a final chance to purchase the striking Goines poster that was created for our Golden Anniversary, for $45. Also available will be the NAFSA 50th anniversary notecards; the price of a package of 12 cards is only $10.
**Honolulu will also be your last opportunity to join those NAFSAns who have made a contribution to our Golden Anniversary Fund. Under its new leadership, NAFSA will need all the resources it can muster to face the daunting challenges ahead. Be a part of the solution by adding your name to the honor roll of NAFSAns who have understood the importance of everyone joining in this critical effort.
The 4th annual Northern California Advocates for Global Education (NCAGE) Forum, "Global Education Initiatives for the 21st Century," will be held on Friday, November 6, 1998. This day-long meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza at Union Square in San Francisco.
The NCAGE Forum is intended for administrators and faculty concerned with the successful international- ization of their institutions. NCAGE is a planning group dedicated to activities that strengthen the international role and responsibilities of higher education. The NCAGE Forum is co-sponsored by the Council on International Educational Exchange, the Institute of International Education, and NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
For more information contact Wesley Young, Co-chair NCAGE Steering Committee, phone: 415-257-1360, fax: 415-459-3206, or e-mail wesyoung@dominican.edu.
By Ted Goode
Contact with the California Service Center (CSC) has become less accessible (no surprise to many of you). Telephone numbers we were using were published in various media instruments. This resulted in general public inquiry on these numbers. Numbers have been changed to insulate officers from public access. This also, however, has shut out practitioners. Will this change? There is no answer at this time. The CSC recognizes that their inquiry system outlined in the procedures manual is not working. NAFSA is not the only practitioner group upset because of the lack of contact. AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) is also frustrated. Both organizations need and are requesting greater inquiry access. The student/school CSC rep is Shirley Walker. Her fax inquiry number is (949) 360-2881. It is important that intervention be requested only after the time needed for adjudication estimated on the Receipt Notice has been exceeded!
EAD processing and production remains slow but by the end of summer CSC expects to be processing all F-1 EAD requests within 30 days of receipt (the hoped for goal is 15 days). However, after adjudication, the EAD materials are still scanned electronically and sent to the Northern Service Center in Lincoln Nebraska for card production. Card production backlog is said to be no more than one week. At this time there is no special handling planned for applicants under the "Special Student Relief Program."
By the 15th of each month, a CSC update will be posted on the Region XII Web page (http://www.stanford.edu/~nblech/mainpage/region12.html). It is hoped that this method of providing more timely feedback will be helpful.
Regional conference sessions will focus on new INS F-1 Regs (if they are published), USIA integration into the U.S. Department of State, and demystifying the structure and function of INS (Headquarters, Service Centers, District Offices, Ports of Entry), visa alternatives beyond F-1 and J-1, and how to start a new J-1 program. Brief sessions will be offered on IRS reporting of scholarship income/institutional and individual responsibility plus a scholars roundtable to focus on issues like H-1B (numbers and prevailing wage), O-1 and identifying ways to address campus needs against INS limitations. Hope to see you there!
The following Region XII members have been selected to participate in the U.S.-OSEAS Partnership Program in 1998-99. This overseas professional development oppportunity provides grants to U.S. based international education professionals to work with colleagues in overseas educational advising centers for a period of up to four weeks and to learn about the host country educational system and culture.;
By Nicole Blechynden
Sometimes finding or rediscovering a resource to help in the day to day responsibilities we all hold can be a valuable, time saving treasure. I hope that the references below will guide you to some reliable and outstanding resources that you can share with other colleagues. Get your mouse ready and set aside an hour or so to do a little professional web searching. It should be well worth your time with all the information and updates in new regulations and changing legislation.
http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/
This site is the INS site. A lot of general immigration information but not specifically geared towards the F visa holder (students in an academic, degree seeking or language training program.)
http://www.usia.gov/products/washfile.htm
USIA has a "daily" page where you can look up all their site information in addition to 48 hour updates to White House and Congressional proceedings. This is very helpful with timely events like the H issues and debates.
http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/cipris/index.htm
For general information regarding the CIPRIS Pilot Program by INS.
http://www.usia.gov/abtusia/legal/gc/jexchang/jexprg.htm
This is the United States Information Agency's (USIA) site for the J Visa Exchange Programs. Here you can get a Responsible Officer training manual, the J Regs, and skills lists.
http://www.oanda.com/cgi-bin/ncc
Ever get those financial documents in a foreign currency? Try out this converter on this very stable site.
http://www.usps.gov/ncsc/lookups/lookup_zip+4.html
What about missing zip codes for mailings?
http://www.access.gpo.gov/
Need to order items from the Government Printing Office? Find out what and how.
http://www.fedstats.gov/
Federal Statistics of many different varieties can be found such as country demographics, education, labor, etc. This may help when looking to recruit in other countries or dealing with career/employment advising.
http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/isc/NAFSARegion12
This is our Region XII site
http://www.nafsa.org/
This is the national site which is a good introduction to a lot of issues and resources in the field of international education.
Undoubtedly your tour will lead you to many other sites. Remember to mark those most interesting or useful to you with a bookmark or other "favorites" indicator on your web browser when you FIRST find them. It is always much easier to delete a not so great site from your bookmark list than to trace your way back to that terrific site you found 30 clicks ago.
Have a great time and please share your discoveries with coworkers, other professionals, and in presentations at conferences.
By David Brandt
A very warm welcome to all of our new NAFSA members in Region XII! NAFSA is continuing to grow and now has over 8,000 members across the country and around the world. Our remarkable growth has created some changes which I would like to share with you in this article.
Keeping track of over 8,000 members is no easy task, especially when it is continually changing. People move, change jobs, and others take their place. This can cause confusion about who is or is not a NAFSA member at an institution. The NAFSA Membership Office keeps its membership list according to written applications for membership and renewals. These are the members of record. When there are personnel changes at an institution, it is sometimes forgotten to change the member of record. When there are changes, it is important that written notice of a replacement member or new member be sent to the Membership Office. The written notice should be made by the supervisor or person responsible for overseeing memberships at the institution. This can prevent the embarrassing situation of being told at a conference registration desk that you are not a member when you think you have been a member for some time, and prevents wayward mail. When these things happen, it may be because your name was never substituted for a predecessor's name. The Membership Office hopes to issue membership cards to all members in the near future. If you have a card, you will know you are a member of record.
As most NAFSAns know, funding sources for the association have changed drastically in the past several years. NAFSA's income from government contracts has dropped from 48% in 1993 to 14% this year. Membership dues now only provide 25% of NAFSA's income. Dues at other comparable organizations typically provide 35%. After careful consideration and much debate the Board of Directors decided on an increase in membership dues for the next year. NAFSA membership dues will be $210 for regular members and $70 for associate members. The increase was announced in both NAFSA.News and in the regular Newsletter.
If you or any of your colleagues have questions about NAFSA membership, please let me know. I will be glad to send information about NAFSA to prospective members and to help with questions or problems for continuing members. You can reach me at dbrandt@uclink3.berkeley.edu or (510) 642-2818. I hope to see many of you in Hawaii!
One of the wonderful things about being a NAFSAn is all of the personal contacts and relationships you make. Going to the regional conference is one opportunity to make new friends and to see colleagues you've perhaps known for many years. A regional conference can be a whirlwind of new people, acronyms and lingo, meetings and sessions, and a seemingly endless flow of information. A conference partner can help you understand it all and introduce you to your colleagues in Region XII. Are you a new NAFSAn, or will this be your first conference? Get a conference partner! Are you an old hand at the regional conference and willing to welcome a newcomer? Get a conference partner! Just mark the appropriate box on the conference registration form and you will be contacted later this fall about a special welcome session where you can meet your partner and enjoy some Hawaiian hospitality too.
Each year, NAFSA Region XII recognizes colleagues and/or organizations who have made contributions to NAFSA, to Region XII, and to the field of international education.
Outstanding Service Award: One award will be given which recognizes an individual or organization's signficiant overall contribution to Region XII, NAFSA, and international education.
Regional Service Awards: One or more awards will be given which recognize individuals and/or organizations who have performed above and beyond the call of duty in various areas within Region XII.
Please take a moment to think about who you might nominate, and send a letter of nomination to:
Carol Robertson
NAFSA Region XII Chair-Elect
UCSD International Center
500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0018;
or by e-mail to:
cerobertson@ucsd.edu
The award recipients will be determined by the Regional Past-Chair, Chair, and Chair-Elect and will be presented at the Region XII conference in Hawaii.
By Martha Staff, Conference Chair
Nancy Lee Gong, Coordinator of Educational Advising Service (EAS), the educational advising branch of the American-Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF) in Jakarta, Indonesia, has been selected for this year's OSEAS Regional Linkage Program. Nancy will be our special guest at the November regional conference in Honolulu. She will present in one or more conference sessions, as well as in the pre-conference OSEAS Professional Development Program workshop to be held at the East-West Center. Nancy has much to share with NAFSANs relating to educational trends in Indonesia, sponsored student programs, the impact of the Asian economic crisis on Asia, and the role of educational advisers.
Nancy coordinates advising centers in Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan. The Jakarta office alone serves over 17,000 students annually. In addition to running EAS, Nancy is currently NAFSA's OSEAS East Asia Regional Representative.
After graduating from University of Maryland and working in the field of education, in 1987 Nancy went to work as USIS Singapore's first International Student Adviser. She later worked for a USAID/World Bank project in Indonesia, advising Indonesian grantees in the selection of, and application to post-graduate programs. Returning to the U.S , she then worked as Foreign Student Adviser at one of the largest community college systems in the U.S., Northern Virginia Community College. In 1997 she returned to Indonesia to her current position.
The Local Arrangements Committee in Honolulu looks forward to hosting Nancy Lee Gong!
By Kathy Hodges
We all hear that there are travel grants available to help us attend the regional conferences, but we all also get confused about how we should apply and when we should apply and exactly what it is we're applying for.
There are two types of grants available for travel to the Region XII fall conferences:
1. Grants administered by the districts and the region ("Districts" refers to Region XII's Southern District, Northern District, and Hawai'i District)
2. Grants administered by the NAFSA Central Office and the region
Although the region is involved in administering both types of grants, to minimize confusion, let's call the first set of grants "district" grants and the second set "national" grants. Both types of grants help NAFSA members attend regional conferences by providing partial funding for travel and lodging expenses. Other than that, there are differences.
How do I get information and application forms?
Information about the district grants is distributed by the districts to NAFSA members in their district. This is done usually either through the district newsletter or through a special district mailing. You can always contact your district chair directly. (Contact information is available on page 2 of this newsletter under the Region XII Team roster.)
Information about the national grants is always reproduced in the fall regional newsletter. This issue, for example, contains all of the application information and forms for the national grants.
Who is eligible?
You must be a member of NAFSA to be eligible for the district grants and any member may apply to his/her district. The national grants are limited, however, to those who are attending their first NAFSA regional conference. You do not need to be a member of NAFSA to be eligible for the national grants.
What is the deadline?
The deadlines for the district grants are set by the individual districts and are usually in summer. This year the deadlines were originally July 15, but have been extended to August 30. The deadline for the national grants is in the fall and this year is October 1.
Who funds the grants?
The district grants are funded by both the district and the regional treasuries. The national grants are funded by the United States Information Agency (USIA).
How much funding is available?
The total amount of funding available and the individual awards vary each year. This year the Southern District alone is awarding a total of $6,000. The national grants are limited this year to a maximum of $400 per person.
Who decides the grants?
The district leadership makes the decisions about the district grants. The regional leadership makes the decisions about the national grants.
The bottom line is that there is money available. The region, the districts, and the NAFSA Central Office are all eager to see as many members as possible attend the regional conferences. Make sure that you and your colleagues are taking advantage of the travel grants available.
Travel Grant Deadlines and Contact Information
District Grants Deadline: August 30, 1998
Northern District (northern California and northern Nevada)
Cynthia Obenchain, (415) 239-3309, cobencha@ccsf.cc.ca.us
Southern District (southern California and southern Nevada)
Les Rangel Santos, (818) 592-2888, lesmondan@aol.com
Hawaii (the state of Hawaii)
Jenny Samaan, (808) 956-2222, samaan@hawaii.edu
National Grants Deadline: October 1, 1998
Katy Rugg, (202) 462-4811, katyr@nafsa.org
Application Procedure
1. Complete the application form. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
2. Attach a statement of objectives. This statement should highlight the nature of your professional or volunteer work in the field of international educational exchange, your reasons for attending the conference, and how the students you work with and your institution will benefit from your attendance.
If you are a community volunteer, please also describe your organization, and list some of its program activities.
If you are a student presenting at a regional conference, please list the session title(s) and the topic(s) you will be addressing.
3. Secure a letter of recommendation from the person to whom you report (or if you are a student, from your foreign student adviser or study abroad adviser). This letter should comment on your involvement with educational exchange activities, and how attendance at the conference will assist you in your work.
4. Send original and one photocopy of all of the above documents to the NAFSA Central Office to:
Katy Rugg
Program Coordinator, Education and Training
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
1875 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20009-5728
Faxed, incomplete, and/or uncopied applications will not be accepted!
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary according to region. All applications must arrive at the NAFSA Central Office on or before the deadline date for Region XII of Thursday, October 1, 1998.
Conditions of Awards
Persons accepting travel/lodging grants agree to be present for the entire conference, to travel by the most economical means available, and to submit to NAFSA the proper expense report form and an evaluation of the conference they have attended.
Questions?
Please contact Katy Rugg, Program Coordinator in the Education and Training Department, at NAFSA by phone: 202-462-4811 ext. 3040 or via e-mail: KatyR@NAFSA.org.
By Robert Prather
Those of us who had the opportunity to attend the NAFSA National Conference in Washington, D.C. came home with reams of information from many excellent presentations. Team members received good ideas for future workshops from the Region XII meeting.
The Hawai'i conference proposals are in, and the Admissions Section is brimming with good ideas. There are country specific proposals as well as recruiting ideas. A special thanks to all of you who submitted proposals as well as those of you who have volunteered as facilitator. I hope to see many of you at the fall conference.
Would you like to learn more about the video resources available through NAFSA? Want to preview a video before making a purchase decision? Region XII has a video library available for the use of NAFSA members that contains a copy of each video currently produced through NAFSA Publications.
Two videos may be borrowed at a time from the library for a two week period. To request a video, send an e-mail or fax to the librarian. Include your name, complete mailing address, phone, e-mail, and title(s) of the videos you want. For descriptions of these videos, please see the current copy of "NAFSA Publications" or contact the Region XII librarian, David Brandt.
Video titles currently available are:
The Region XII Nominations Committee is pleased to announce that David Brandt has agreed to place his name in nomination for the position of Region XII Chair-Elect. David's term of office will be 2000-2001.
David has been very active in international education for over 12 years. He is currently International Student Advisor at UC Berkeley, a position he assumed in 1996. His previous international student advisor positions have been at Academy of Art College and San Francisco State University. He has also taught in Japan.
David's NAFSA responsibilities have included Region XII conference chair for the very successful Monterey conference in 1997, regional newsletter editor, membership representative; he has held several positions on the Region XII northern district team (chair, conference chair, treasurer), and has been a member of many committees (travel grants, membership database, local arrangements for the San Francisco national conference, and F-1 working group). In addition, David has taken leadership in developing the Bay Area PIER group.
Please return the ballot below to:
Carol Robertson
Assistant Director, International Center
UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0018
NAFSA:AIE Region XII
Official Ballot
______ I support the nomination of David Brandt for Chair-Elect
______ I do not support the nomination of David Brandt for Chair-Elect
The following information is for travel grants administered by the NAFSA Central Office. For an overview of the different types of travel grants offered, please refer to the preceding article.
The Regional Conference Travel/Lodging Grant Program
Each of NAFSA's eleven regions sponsors an annual fall conference as a professional development experience for both members and non-members. Participating in a NAFSA regional conference is not only an opportunity to acquire and exchange information, it is also an excellent way to begin building a personal network of contacts in the international educational exchange field. NAFSA's Education and Training Department offers travel/lodging grants to individuals attending their first NAFSA regional conference in order to strengthen services provided to foreign students in the U.S. and to U.S. students abroad.
Funding from the United States Information Agency's (USIA) Advising, Teaching, and Specialized Programs Division makes these grants possible.
Travel/lodging grants of up to $400 will be awarded to selected applicants according to the estimated costs of travel and/or lodging. Awards will be made on a reimbursement basis and will be based on actual costs as indicated on submitted receipts. Due to the large number of requests for funding that NAFSA receives, some individuals may only receive partial grants. NAFSA will only reimburse lodging expenses related to attendance at the conference.
Application Categories & Eligibility
Persons who will be attending a NAFSA regional conference for the first time may apply for travel/lodging grants as long as they fall under one of the following categories:
• Paid professionals at post secondary educational institutions, whose work involves foreign students or U.S. students abroad, and/or paid staff of community organizations
• Unpaid volunteers working with post secondary level international students in the local community
• Student leaders in international education who are presenting at a regional conference
Please note that graduate students, including those who are presently fulfilling internship requirements, are not eligible to apply for this grant unless they are presenting at the regional conference.
By Susan Thompson
The 50th Anniversary NAFSA:AIE Conference in Washington, DC was a great success. SECUSSA members from around the globe provided excellent programs and workshops. The upcoming Region XII Conference in Hawai'i will also offer exceptional presentations and opportunities for professional development. It was clear from discussions during the national conference in Washington that Region XII is the envy of all NAFSA members because we have the honor of holding our regional meeting in Hawaii. It is also clear that holding the Region XII Conference in Hawai'i will serve all our members and likely draw participants from other NAFSA regions.
Three SECUSSA members from Region XII are now part of the national Trainer Corps group. Gary Rhodes, from USC, was the first SECUSSA member to be selected to participate in the training. He served as the leader of the PDP workshop last year at the Region XII Conference in Monterey, California. It was my great pleasure to participate in this year's Trainer Corps seminar in Washington, D.C. along with Valerie Eastman from Scripps College. Although we are not able to offer a SECUSSA PDP program in Hawaii, the conference will include two sessions which were developed to provide an introduction to the field of education abroad.
I hope you will plan to attend the Region XII Conference in Honolulu in November. The conference committee has been working very hard to plan an exciting and educational agenda. I am sure that the conference will provide opportunities to share your expertise and learn from your fellow NAFSA:AIE members in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
By Paula Schiff
Currently, accreditation seems to be the topic that is attracting much interest. Programs are either anticipating the process for the first time or are gearing up for a scheduled reaccreditation review.
ATESL sessions at NAFSA's 50th annual conference held in Washington, D.C. reflected this interest in accreditation and the accreditation process. There were three sessions addressing this topic. One of the sessions described the ACCET accreditation process and two sessions described the proposed TESOL accreditation process. Other sessions offered information on testing, counseling students concerning immigration issues, practical applications for the classroom and program development.
In order to have a forum for ATESL issues on a schedule that would call for administrators meeting more often than at NAFSA conferences, several administrators in the East Bay Area have re-activated IEP administrators meetings. Our first meeting was held at St. Mary's College in Oakland in May, shortly before the annual NAFSA conference. Twenty administrators from all over the Bay Area attended. Discussion included proposals for the November NAFSA conference in Hawaii. There was genuine interest expressed about the changes in the industry that were based on foreign economies and the current trends in the language school business.
By Suzy Blough
Last year at the Region XII Conference in Monterey, I had the honor of giving birth to the IIRAIRA twins in front of many of my colleagues. Perhaps I carried the dramatization a bit too far. Just as I would have had my first opportunity to visit Hawai'i for the Region XII Conference in November, my plans have been significantly altered.
Yes, this year I actually will be giving birth in October, and as a result, I'll be out of commission for the 1998 Region XII Conference. This, however, is the only thing which could have kept me from attending what promises to be one of the most exciting, envigorating, meaningful and worthwhile conferences ever.
During this time of tremendous transition, turmoil, and uncertainty for international student and scholar advisors, the opportunity to meet with, speak with, and learn from each other has never been more valuable. Whether you're new to the field, or a seasoned (worn-out!) CAFSSan, the Region XII Conference in Hawai'i promises not only to enlighten, but to inspire all participants. Issues such as the Asian Economic Crisis, The CIPRIS Program, Ethics and Advising, IIRAIRA, and Fundraising for International Educators will be just a few of the many exciting topics which will be explored.
Although we often feel that we stand alone as we try to address the ever increasing demands of the INS, our institutions and our student/scholar populations, it's important to remember that no CAFSSan is an island. And what better place to be reminded of this than on the beautiful island of Honolulu! Whatever labors it takes to attend will be well worth it!
by Les Rangel-Santos
The 1998-99 Southern District Team met July 25 to welcome aboard new and returning team members and to establish a calendar for the year, as well as to recommend a Chair-Elect to spearhead the annual Southern District Conference.
In the works is a web site for the district, which should be on-line by the end of summer to accommodate the information needs of the 1400 members on the Southern District mailing list and to NAFSA in general. Additionally, a newsletter will be distributed by the end of September to provide information on workshops, conferences, web site address, and contact names to the membership.
The travel grant application deadline for the Hawaii conference in November has been extended to 11:59 p.m., August 30. Please send completed applications to the office of the Southern District Chair.
The annual Immigration Workshop will be Friday, October 9, 1998, at California State University in Domiguez Hills. We are looking into a number of campuses to host the 1999 Southern District Conference. Venue proposals are being accepted.
Finally, the Southern District boasts five P.I.E.R. Groups (Professionals in International Education Roundtable). This networking group of NAFSANs, in partnership with INS representatives and immigration attorneys, provides a forum for greater communication among key individuals in international education.
To get involved in the Southern District activities or receive a travel grant application or other information, please contact Les Rangel-Santos (see page 2).
By Lisa Ernsthaal
Hello from the Northern District! The first meeting of the 1998-99 Team on July 23 brought together the continuing as well as new members. Big thank you's go to all our outgoing members for all their wonderful contributions to the team last year and welcome to the new members of the team.
We are still looking for two SSRR (formerly GRAC) representatives, as well as someone to serve as a Northern District MicroSig rep. Both of these positions are extremely important as the team plans to tackle issues such as the new regulations, and getting Northern District workshop/conference information on-line. If you are interested in either one of these positions, or know another NAFSAn who is, please contact me!
Keep an eye out for the upcoming Northern District newsletter which will contain a team roster, complete with new members and other changes. All team members welcome the opportunity to hear from members in their section. Have a question or an idea for a workshop or conference session? Call them up! The newsletter will also have lots of information about upcoming workshops and conferences for the year.
As you begin to plan for the regional conference in Hawai'i, don't forget that there is money available, in the form of travel grants. For more information about travel grants in general please read the article on page 6. If you haven't received a travel grant application and/or would like specific information about the Northern District travel grants, please
contact Cynthia Obenchain (415/239-3309, cobencha@ccsf.cc.ca.us) or myself (see page 2).
See you in Hawai'i and/or at an upcoming workshop!
By Jenny S. Samaan
Aloha From Hawai'i! Of course the news from Hawai'i is that we are all very busy preparing a most memorable and professionally valuable NAFSA Region XII conference. Additionally, we promise you a culturally enriching experience. We look forward to welcoming each and every one of you, as well as our guests from other regions and countries.
I assumed the responsibility of Hawai'i district chair at the end of April and immediately thereafter attended the national conference. My new team and I will soon meet to plan our year's activities beyond hosting the conference. One of my goals for our region over the coming year is to increase our membership and to form linkages with other internationally-minded organizations in Hawai'i. Certainly this has already begun with our efforts to attract non-NAFSAns to our November conference.
Please feel free to contact any Hawai'i NAFSAn if there is anything we can do to facilitate your participation in the Fall 1998 conference.
E Komo Mai (Welcome)
The NAFSA Region XII Newsletter is published twice a year by Region XII of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Appropriate advertising is accepted and does not indicate an endorsement of the service or item offered. Contact newsletter editor for rates and additional information.
Changes of address: Send to NAFSA Central, Membership, 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20009-5728, (202) 462-4811, FAX (202) 667-3419, inbox@nafsa.org.
Carol Robertson
NAFSA Region XII Newsletter Editor
UCSD International Center
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0018