CAPSTONE NEWSLETTER Vol. 1, No. 1
CAPSTONE INTERNATIONAL CENTER
Welcome Aboard to...
CAPSTONE
JEFFREY C. CAPILI joined the English Language Institute (ELI) in May 2014 as the Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator. Jeff is a New Jersey native and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Jeffrey C. Capili the University of Tennessee, a Master of Transportation from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business Administration from Thunderbird School of Global Management. Jeff’s main responsibilities include managing a strategic enrollment plan for the ELI by incorporating thought-provoking marketing, student recruitment, and admissions strategies.
ROBYN SHIFRIN joined the English Language Institute in June 2014 as the Associate Director. Robyn has developed curriculum, trained teachers, and taught ESL/EFL for over 18 years, in the United Robin Shifrin States and abroad, including Russia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Afghanistan, China, Iraq and Israel. She is thrilled to be here at The University of Alabama. Roll Tide!
Carolina oversees study abroad programming including international exchange partnerships, affiliate programs, and she works closely with UA faculty in developing new education abroad opportunities and initiatives. As DirecCarolina Robinson tor, Carolina provides leadership to the Education Abroad office, supervises budgets for over 50 faculty-led programs, administers scholarships, and is responsible for the marketing of study abroad programs through web and print media. Carolina partners with campus units that support students’ studies abroad and is the primary risk manager for UA programs overseas. Carolina is looking forward to increasing study abroad participation at The University of Alabama by diversifying the portfolio of countries where students travel abroad and by making study abroad accessible to all students. Carolina earned a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Clemson University and M.Ed. in Instructional Design and Development from the University of Georgia.
INTERNATIONAL
JILL ANDER joined the English Language Institute in August 2014 as the Accounting Assistant. Her main responsibility is to provide support to the Director of the English Language Institute with regard to financial management Jill Ander of the Institute’s day-today operations. Jill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Troy University. She has lived in Tuscaloosa for 19 years. When she is not working, she enjoys SEC and NFL football, reading, and spending time with her family.
Newsletter
BARB DAUGHERTY joined the English Language Institute in August 2014 as a part-time Accounting Clerk. Her main responsibility is to help the Accounting Assistant and Administrative Specialist. Barb moved to Tuscaloosa Barb Daugherty from Wyoming and lives with her daughter and their dog, Brandy. She loves spending her free time watching or attending sports events such as: football, basketball, softball or baseball games; both collegiate and professional. She is also an avid reader and is currently working on her genealogy tree. CAROLINA ROBINSON serves as the Director of Education Abroad within the Capstone International Center. In her role as Director,
November 9-11, 2014, the Capstone International Center hosted 27 visitors from Ostuma Women’s University in Japan. This visit was part of The Kakehashi Project: The Bridge for Tomorrow. The Kakehashi Project is funded by the Japanese government and fosters cultural partnerships and awareness between the U.S. and Japanese students. This was a reciprocal visit after 23 UA students had the chance to visit Japan for 10 days in the summer of 2014.
CHAD BERRY began his role as the new Assistant Director of Education Abroad in September 2014. Chad is a Birmingham native and UA alumnus. He also holds an M.A. from The Ohio State University. Having lived and studied Chad Berry abroad in China, he is excited about the opportunity to help UA students have a life-changing study abroad experience of their own through the programs offered at the Capstone.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Capstone International Center..........1 Education Abroad............................. 2 English Language Institute................3 International Services........................3
CAPSTONE INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER 1
EDUCATION ABROAD
2014 Capstone International Photo Contest Winners
Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs
In conjunction with the nationwide International Education Week, the University of Alabama’s Education Abroad office held its 12th annual Capstone International Photo Contest in November. This year’s contest received nearly 300 entries across four different categories: Landscape, Local Color, UA Spirit and Crimson Captured. Ten finalists were chosen in each category to be voted on by the UA student body on the second floor of the Ferguson Center and on our study abroad office’s Facebook page. More than 5,000 total votes were cast via Facebook and the ballot box at the Ferguson Center. The winners in each category are listed below.
Interested in leading a study abroad program? Ideally, approval for a program is to be submitted 18 months in advance to allow adequate time for the approval process, planning and recruitment for the study abroad program. Carolina Robinson, Director of Education Abroad is happy to meet with faculty who are interested in starting a new study abroad program. Proposals can be found online at studyabroad.ua.edu.
LANDSCAPE 1. Photographer: Maggie Trabucco Title: “Exploring Oia” Location: Oia, Greece Study Abroad Program: UA in Greece: Classics
UA SPIRIT 1. Photographer: Cammie Cook Title: “Tide Together” Location: South Africa Study Abroad Program: Global LEAD (Non-UA affiliate)
2. Photographer: Rita Polson Title: “Viva el rey! The King visits San Lorenzo” Location: Madrid, Spain Study Abroad Program: UA in Spain: Language and Culture
2. Photographer: Jackson Williams Title: “Happy 238th Birthday, America” Location: Interlaken, Switzerland Study Abroad Program: UA Internship in Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain)
3. Photographer: John Hayes Title: “Mirrored in the Water” Location: Odda, Norway Study Abroad Program: UA Direct Enroll: University College Dublin
2. Photographer: Narendra Chaganti Title: “UA in Fall” Location: The Quad (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) 3. Photographer: Janaina Da Silva Viera Title: “Where are the squirrels?” Location: Denny Chimes (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
3. Photographer: Molly Lipski Title: “The Tide on top of the world” Location: Montserrat, Catalonia, Spain Study Abroad Program: ISA/Barcelona
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CRIMSON CAPTURED 1. Photographer: Sirui Shao Title: “Autumn on Campus” Location: B.B. Comer Path (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
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LOCAL COLOR 1. Photographer: Mike Kallay Title: “Parc Guell” Location: Barcelona, Spain Study Abroad Program: ISA/Florence 2. Photographer: Ibrahim Alabannay Title: “The Shepherd” Location: Saudi Arabia 3. Photographer: Ashton Kolter Title: “Weaving Lady” Location: Quechua People Alpaca Farm, Peru Study Abroad Program: UA in Peru: Engineering Service Learning
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTITUTE
ELI Hosts “Brazil Science Mobility Program” Students
ELI Hosts Scholarship Recipients from Mexico
The English Language Institute (ELI) welcomed 28 students from Brazil in the summer of 2014 and 37 more for the fall 2014 semester. Following their intensive English study in the ELI, most of these students continued their studies at UA by enrolling in undergraduate engineering courses. These students were all recipients of scholarships offered by the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program (BSMP), which is funded by the government of Brazil and provides one-year scholarships for non-degree study abroad. The Brazilian government’s goal is eventually to grant 100,000 such scholarships to university students to promote scientific research and increase international cooperation.
The English Language Institute (ELI) was pleased to welcome 23 learners from Mexico who enrolled in the Fall 2, 2014 session of the ELI’s Intensive English Program. One third of the group consisted of university professors, while approximately two thirds of the group was comprised of university students at polytechnic institutes in Mexico. These learners, who ranged in age from 18 to 64, were participating in the Mexican government’s scholarship program called Mexico Initiative Project 100,000. This program, which began in the summer of 2014, will send 100,000 Mexican learners to intensive English programs across the US through the year 2018.
INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
President’s Reception On Monday, October 20, 2014, President Judy Bonner and Associate Provost, Dr. Teresa Wise hosted UA International Students and Tuscaloosa’s International Friends at the President’s Mansion for a reception. President Bonner took the opportunity to recognize the achievements and success of international students at UA as well as to thank the many families of Tuscaloosa’s International Friends for their commitment to international education at UA.
TIF Welcome Party Tuscaloosa’s International Friends hosted a welcome party for new international students on Sunday, September 7 at the Cavalry Baptist Church. The annual event was a great success, pairing 104 families with 224 UA, Stillman, and Shelton State international students. TCBY donated frozen yogurt for the event, and many of the TIF families provided treats and snacks. Tuscaloosa’s International Friends is a community organization that helps pair Tuscaloosa families with international students at UA, Stillman College, and Shelton State Community College. The group extends Tuscaloosa’s Southern hospitality to international students, helping them to acclimate to life in Alabama and sharing American culture. For more information about TIF, please visit: http://is.ua.edu/ programs-activities/tuscaloosas-international-friends/ or https://www.facebook.com/tuscaloosainternationalfriends.
International Student Enrollment Increases at UA for 6th Consecutive Year The 2014-15 Academic Year began on a positive note with a 6th consecutive year of international enrollment increases at UA. In August 2014, International Services welcomed 449 new international undergraduate, graduate, and ELI students to UA, bringing the total number of international students served to 1817. Of the 1817 total international students, 1680 are active, enrolled students, and 137 are recent graduates who remain on The University of Alabama’s visa sponsorship while working on Optional Practical Training (OPT). The 1680 active, enrolled international students come from 77 countries and regions of the world and represent 4.6% of the 36,155 students enrolled at The University of Alabama for fall 2014. At a total of 1817, The University of Alabama hosted 147 more international students in fall 2014 as compared to the 1670 international students and recent graduates on OPT in fall 2013. This accounts for a very significant 8.8% increase in the total number of non-immigrant international students served by UA’s Capstone International Services. Since 2009-10, there has been an overall increase of 104% in international students with the most dramatic increases in undergraduate and English Language Institute/Non-degree students which have shown 270% and 144% increases respectively over the same 6-year period. For more information on International Student Enrollment Data and to access the 2014 International Student & Scholar Report, please visit: http://is.ua.edu/about-us/enrollment-scholar-data/
“Brain Matters” Radio Show Focuses on International Students On November 11, Charter Morris, Director of Capstone International Services, and Dr. Nahree Doh from the Counseling Center were the guest speakers on Brain Matters on 90.7 fm, The Capstone. The focus of the show was on international students’ mental health needs. The broadcast is available as streaming audio online on the Brain Matters page: http://counseling.ua.edu/brainmatters.cfm. (International Services continued on back page)
CAPSTONE INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER 3
INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
CAPSTONE INTERNATIONAL CENTER
“Crossing Borders” Shown During International Education Week
CIC STAFF Dr. Teresa E. Wise associate provost for international education & global outreach Kathryn Perez international education coordinator Megan Wagner international center coordinator Vickey Phillips accounting assistant
As part of International Education Week, Capstone International Center partnered with Global Café in the Center for CommunityBased Partnerships (CCBP) for a showing of the documentary “Crossing Borders.” The film followed American and Moroccan students as they traveled together through Morocco. The focus of the film was not just the travel but the challenge of intercultural communications and engaging in meaningful dialogue across cultures. The showing was held at the Center for Community-Based Partnerships on Tuesday, November 18 as the signature November event for the “Evenings at Global Café” series. Approximately 60 international and domestic students and staff engaged in a meaningful conversation at the end of the showing, guided by the staff of Global Café.
EDUCATION ABROAD Carolina Robinson director Chad Berry assistant director Holly Henning study abroad coordinator ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTITUTE Dr. Bill Wallace director Jill Ander accounting assistant Kim Andrus instructor Amanda Burroughs accounting assistant Jeff Capili admissions & recruiting coordinator Barb Daugherty accounting clerk Marci Daugherty special programs coordinator Jenny Duckworth instructor Wendy Grof administrative specialist Laura Hebert academic advisor Bill Henderson instructor Monica Hollie office associate senior Brad Hodges instructor Kendall King instructor Demetria Li instructor
Annual Fall Cultural Retreat
CONTACT Capstone International Center 135 B.B. Comer Box 870254 205-348-5256
International Services http://is.ua.edu/ international@ua.edu
English Language Institute http://eli.ua.edu/ info@eli.ua.edu
Newsletter
INTERNATIONAL Education Abroad http://studyabroad.ua.edu/ studyabroad@ua.edu
Capstone International Center
C O N TA CT
http://international.ua.edu cic@ua.edu
CAPSTONE
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Permit 16 Capstone International Center 135 B.B. Comer Box 870254 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0254
Vol. 1, No. 1
NEWSLETTER
CAPSTONE
Lauren Lovvorn instructor Daniel McCurry instructor Kelly McPherson instructor Marc Metzler instructor Emily Mitchell instructor Sarah Nowak instructor Mitch Porter instructor Jay Robbins instructor Drew Sanford instructor Robyn Shifrin associate director Scott Swisher instructor Amy Taylor instructor David Taylor instructor Michael Townley instructor Vicky Wyatt student services coordinator
INTERNATIONAL SERVICES Charter Morris director LaDonna Foshee assistant director Janet Edmonds international student & scholar advisor Stephanie Freeman international student & scholar advisor Sheila Malone SEVIS coordinator Holli Homan immigration assistant
On Saturday, October 11, 2014, UA International Students and Capstone International Services joined with the international offices and students of The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Gadsden State Community College, Birmingham-Southern College, and Samford University for an amazing day of outdoor activities and fun. The International Cultural Retreat was held at Oak Mountain State Park, where students were able to learn U.S. culture, hike, enjoy nature, and make friends with other students from across the state.
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Heath Thompson study abroad coordinator Jackie Maye program assistant Donna McCall office associate II
Education Abroad 135 B.B. Comer Box 870254 205-348-5256
English Language Institute 101 B.B. Comer Box 870250 205-348-7413
International Services 105 B.B. Comer Box 870254 205-348-5402