Tbers, Thanks for another great year in the Teaching Breakfast. I continue to feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this group. Our final discussion was about international education. Here are my notes from this discussion. Jim Greenberg made a short pitch for the new SUNY COIL (Center for Online International Learning). Faculty interested in adding an international component to their course(s) using technology should consider this model. See http://coilcenter.purchase.edu or contact Jim G. at x2701 for more information. It was noted that we currently have 116 students at SUNY Oneonta from outside the United States. Numerous observations, concerns and hopes were raised with respect to international education here at SUNY Oneonta. In no particular order some of these were: - out of state vs. in state tuition issues might be looked at as a way of encouraging more students from abroad. - fit has been a problem with international student retention. Many get here and find, for various reasons, they don't fit and leave. - currently the Director of International Ed position is vacant and being searched... so there is no recruiting going on... but there has been recruiting in the past - not much is done for our international students when they do get here. For example, where do they go when our traditional students go on break? There is a lack of help with visa paper work. There are no scholarships for them. - questions were asked about our diversity initiative on campus and wouldn't bringing more international students in, and supporting them when they are here made sense in light of this initiative? - it was pointed out that we have many faculty with overseas connections and we should look into taking better advantage of this. - we are very low in SUNY rankings w/ our international student programs and with support of faculty to study abroad. More resources ($) are needed. Given the looming fiscal climate a feeling of futility seemed to hover like a cloud over the discussion (just making sure you've read down this far...) - the group felt that a good first step would be to try and increase our international students SOME and be more careful with making sure it is a fit when we do bring them. - programs we might put in place to help international students would also help many of our traditional students. The Teaching Breakfast Group will convene again next fall. Look for an email on the dates and times in late summer. Until then, be well and do good work. Mr. James B. Greenberg Director Teaching, Learning and Technology Center Milne Library SUNY College at Oneonta Oneonta, New York 13820 blog: The 32nd Square at http://aristotle.oneonta.edu/37_the_32nd_square email: [log in to unmask] phone: 607-436-2701 fax: 607-436-3081 IM: oneontatltc "Ignorance is curable, stupidity lasts forever"