Trustees Hear An Update On Undergraduate
Education And International ProgramsMarch 21, 2003
Hershey, Pa. ÑIn a presentation to the Board of Trustees today (March 21), Janis Jacobs, vice provost for undergraduate education and international programs, outlined the objectives and programs in the Office of Undergraduate Education and International Programs (UEIP)."Our goal is to provide students with a range of academic experiences that will increase their learning while here and give them the tools they will need as they move beyond Penn State," said Jacobs. "The principal purpose of each program is to create a stimulating and supportive academic environment at Penn State for the teaching and learning of undergraduate students, and in the case of International Programs, for graduate students."
According to Jacobs, several changes have been made to consolidate units and to place many different aspects of undergraduate learning under one umbrella since the formation of UEIP. The two largest changes occurred last fall when The Schreyer Institute for Innovation in Learning and the former Office of International Programs became part of Undergraduate Education. "The change has allowed greater integration of these units into the larger educational mission of the University and has fostered new collaborations across units, enhancing the opportunities for the Schreyer Institute and International Programs to serve a broader range of students and faculty," said Jacobs.
In addition, last fall the Schreyer Institute merged with several other teaching and learning support units, including University Testing Services (UTS), the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) and the Teaching and Learning Consortium, and the end result, according to Jacobs, is increased efficiency and enhanced synergy between the groups involved. "Without losing the essence of any one of these units, this merger has allowed us to broaden our reach," she said. "I believe that the Institute is now better positioned to successfully assume broader responsibilities for enhancing Penn State's teaching and learning community." Jacobs said the new structure emphasizes three services provided by the Institute, each designed to enhance teaching at Penn State: Professional Enrichment, Course and Curricular Development, and Assessment and Measurement.
Penn State's Education Abroad program helps students who are interested in expanding their educational experiences by studying in another country. Over the last forty years, the University's study abroad programs have expanded to include more than 1,000 students annually who participate in over 160 programs located in more than 40 countries throughout Western and Eastern Europe, Latin and South America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.
"In today's increasingly interdependent world, Penn State students must develop an international perspective and acquire intercultural skills that will empower them to participate effectively in the global community," said Jacobs. "This goal can be accomplished by sending our students to other countries, by welcoming international students and scholars to our campuses, and by bringing international perspectives to the curriculum."
Through the Office of International Students and Scholars, Penn State serves as host to a number of international graduate students and scholars. In the fall 2002, the University had an enrollment of 4,104 international students at all locations with 90 percent, or 3,686 enrolled at University Park. "Their presence on campus enriches us by exposing us to international viewpoints and experiences and as host institution, we have certain legislative and immigration responsibilities," added Jacobs.
This office also serves as the University's agent in handling regulations and legislation related to international students. As of January 30, 2003, all student visa holders entering the United States have to be entered into the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the Internet-based system used to track international students, which was established by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in the aftermath of September 11. "This has been a huge undertaking, particularly because of the number of international students we enroll," said Jacobs. "However, I am pleased to say that we are much further ahead in meeting the SEVIS deadlines and expectations than our colleagues at other research institutions.
"The world situation is also of concern to our students who are studying abroad this year and to those who are currently considering it for next year," she said. "We have been doing all that we can to provide extra information to parents and students who have called expressing concern about what we do, who to contact, and how to prepare themselves for study abroad in these times."
Jacobs also discussed current initiatives within UEIP to become a more student-centered University.
UEIP will enhance opportunities to integrate student life with academic life and learning opportunities through successful programs such the Learning Edge Academic Program (LEAP) and Discover House, which provide first-year students with a structured living and learning environment. In addition, she said increased undergraduate research opportunities would create more opportunities for personal connections between students and faculty. Jacobs said, "We also hope to link research and scholarship to community action that goes beyond civic duty and creates opportunities for adding relevance to education."
She also said they plan on making services more student-friendly by offering web-based placement testing as part of the First-Year Testing, Counseling and Advising Program (FTCAP). "Beginning with this summer, paper and pencil placement tests will be a thing of the past," she said. "Instead, students will take the tests via the web from the comfort of their own homes or from any other local computer with Internet access."
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Contact: Amy Neil, Department of Public Information, at (814) 865-7517 or e-mail aen4@psu.edu