HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES
East Central University - International Student Programs
Oklahoma Panhandle State University - International Students
Oklahoma State University - International Education and Outreach
University of Central Oklahoma - "Passport to..."
On Monday, May 21, 2007, the Oklahoma Legislature passed HCR 1041, a Concurrent Resolution “recognizing the importance of international education at institutions of higher education.” State Rep. Shane Jett and State Sen. Cliff Aldridge sponsored the resolution. State NAFSA Representative Sunny Garner from Oklahoma City Community College led the advocacy committee that was formed at the Oklahoma state meeting in 2006. As a result, a draft resolution was created, a proposal was written, and a legislative sponsor was identified. Jett is on the Governor’s International Task Force, is co-chairman of the Special Joint Committee on International Development and sponsors International Student Awareness Day at the Capitol. Once Jett agreed to sponsor the resolution, he enlisted support from Aldridge, and the resolution passed exactly one week later. HCR 1041 is now awaiting the signature of Gov. Brad Henry.
- The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education were among many colleges, universities and special-interest groups who celebrated multiculturalism during the 15th annual International Student Day, where an estimated 300 high schools and colleges, representing more than 7,000 international students statewide from about 150 countries, converged upon the Capitol, according to the Oklahoman. View more photos.
- Oklahoma State University has set a long-term goal of all graduates receiving an international experience prior to graduating, Interim OSU System CEO and President Marlene Strathe told the OSU/A&M Board of Regents recently. “OSU has long recognized the value of our students participating in study abroad,” Strathe said. “The opportunity to study abroad not only enriches the student’s educational experience, but is vital for American economic competitiveness, and especially for America’s future diplomacy and security.” Strathe initiated a Study Abroad Committee last year following a Faculty Council recommendation to increase study abroad numbers at OSU. While the long-term goal is 100 percent of graduates having a significant study-abroad experience, OSU has established a five-year objective of 25 percent participation. The recommendation also called for establishing specific actions and support to reach the objectives.
- A Center for Africana Studies and Development has opened at Oklahoma State University. Its debut was described as "darubini," which is Swahili for "binoculars," referring to the close-up look at African issues brought by way of the newly opened center. “The need to inform and educate about African issues is growing daily, and our hope is that the center will serve as a reference point,” said Billy Jivetti, graduate student and president of the African Student Organization, OSU’s Daily O’Collegian reported. Two years in the making, Jivetti explained they were laying the foundation for an African studies minor. The center will also seek to increase the awareness on African issues with programs like the Darubini Speaker series, the O’Collegian reported.
- U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings invited Dr. Steadman Upham, president of The University of Tulsa (below, seventh from left), to join her and 11 other university presidents on an educational mission to Asia. The American higher education system remains a premier destination for students from across the globe, and during the course of this trip, the group set out to create connections that will encourage and facilitate international students studying in the United States. Read Dr. Upham's journal at www.utulsa.edu/about/asia2006.html.
- Columbia University's Expanding East Asian Studies (ExEAS) Web site features innovative and easy-to-use materials for teaching about East Asia at the undergraduate level. Visit www.exeas.org to find:
- Suggested readings, classroom activities and resources for incorporating East Asia into courses in all subjects in the humanities and social sciences, including world history, world literature, politics, contemporary society and philosophy.
- Teaching units including "Law and Society in Late Imperial China," "Politics of the Asian Diaspora in NYC and Beyond," "Women's Voices in Pre-Modern East Asian Literature," "State, Market, and Economy in Postwar Japan" and many more.
- Sample syllabi ranging from "The Short Story in East Asia and Beyond" and "Food in World History" to "Gender in Contemporary East Asia" and "East Asian Capitalisms and Globalization."
- Links to other resources for teaching about East Asia, world history, and more.
Funded by the Freeman Foundation and based at Columbia University's Weatherhead East Asian Institute, the ExEAS program provides courses and teaching materials that incorporate the study of East Asia in broad thematic, transnational and interdisciplinary contexts. The ExEAS teaching collaborative, a select group of postdoctoral scholars and faculty from two- and four-year undergraduate institutions throughout the Northeast, creates expanded networks for sharing curricular resources among educators at all types of institutions. Annual ExEAS Postdoctoral Fellowships provide recent Ph.D.s in East Asian subjects with pedagogical training and experience as a bridge between the doctorate and the classroom.
- Rose State College hosted its annual Global Oklahoma event Oct. 7, 2006, with Canada as the featured nation. For more information about the festival activities and past year's festivals, visit www.rose.edu/commfriend/globok/06index.htm.
- The work of Southwestern Oklahoma State University assistant art professor E.K. Jeong was displayed at the "From Lausanne to Beijing" International Fiber Art Exhibition and Symposium Oct. 27-Nov. 17, 2006, in China.
- Rogers State University, in partnership with Oklahoma Campus Compact and the Tulsa Global Alliance, hosted 11 participants from the International Visitor Leadership Program. The program is designed to build mutual understanding between the United States and other nations through carefully designed professional visits to the United States for current and emerging foreign leaders. The focus of this year’s International Visitor Leadership Program was youth engagement. Professionals working in youth engagement were selected from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. As part of a multi-state tour, the international visitors spent five days in Tulsa. The purpose of the RSU visit was to learn how student organizations are structured on a U.S. campus and about other student civic engagement programs, such as OKCC’s Raise Your Voice initiative. Following a student-led campus tour, RSU students and staff made presentations about their involvement in campus organizations. Pres. Joe Wiley took time from his busy schedule to lunch with the visitors. They appreciated his time and enjoyed their visit to RSU. Thanks to RSU for shining both locally and to our international neighbors!
- The University of Central Oklahoma encourages you to visit their Passport site to view their international calendar that sets voyage to travel the globe and discover various cultural festivals, concerts, plays, readings, films, special classes, guest lectures and food. Peruse UCO’s previous Passport links to India and Italy and embark upon its upcoming excursion to the country of Egypt, home of the pyramids.
- Northeastern State University has collaborated with the Oklahoma Center for Rural Development “to bring the world to Oklahoma” by supporting a variety of activities with a global perspective. These activities included visits to the campus by Chinese students and faculty-created learning modules that focused on the Japanese culture and were presented in Tahlequah-area elementary classrooms. For additional information, e-mail landryd@nsuok.edu.
- OKAGE Teaching in China, a summer seminar sponsored by the University of Oklahoma, hosted Yukiko Yukono, an outreach coordinator who taught in the East Asia Institute at the OU-Tulsa campus. The seminar is designed to allow educators to share knowledge about Japan with their students.
- Globalization is manifested in Langston University’s study abroad program as students are afforded the opportunity to travel and study each summer in the Dominican Republic, Asia, Africa or Europe. To read more about the study abroad program and other international initiatives, visit www.lunet.edu and click the Academics link and then on the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Then click the the monthly newsletter link on the right for specific details.
- WLTKids, a cyberspace magazine created by the University of Oklahoma, explores global learning while integrating and aligning its curriculum content with Oklahoma’s PASS objectives. Visit www.ou.edu/wltkids and let the online magazine serve as another exciting resource for international learning.
- The University of Central Oklahoma’s International Student Office received the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Achievement Certificate in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The award was in commemoration of UCO’s accomplishments in the global marketplace and activity in the Dubai area. “This was the fourth time we were in Dubai recruiting international students,” said Ronald Paddack, founder of UCO’s International Student Services Office. “The award came as a surprise,” he said. “We were there with 40 other universities, and during the opening exhibition assembly they called me up to receive the award on behalf of UCO. It was totally unexpected.”UCO is the first university to receive the award, which has previously been given only to international businesses. In recent years, UCO has been ranked among the Institute of International Education’s top 10 destinations for international students attending a university where the highest degree offered is a master’s. For the 2004-05 academic year, UCO was ranked No. 9.
- Students seek challenges, opportunity in learning Chinese The Oklahoman, October 17, 2005
- The University of Oklahoma International Programs Center is sponsoring a Visiting Fulbright Scholar from the Muslim World. Learn how this scholar can speak to your community group.
- There are about 20 active international student organizations at the University of Oklahoma. These groups offer a variety of social and cultural activities throughout the year. For a complete list of the organizations and contact persons, visit the OU Education Abroad and International Student Services Web pages.
- As part of international education, Oklahoma City Community College honored international students with an international flag display.
OCCC installed 60 international flags in the atrium. The flags are representative of each international student who is currently enrolled at Oklahoma City Community College on an F-1 student visa. The ceremony included entertainment, a formal dedication of the display and a “Parade of Nations” featuring international students. “More than 600 students from all over the globe journey to Oklahoma City Community College each year to learn, grow and lead,” said Jon Horinek, coordinator of community engagement. “This flag display is just one way that we welcome these students and pay tribute to the sacrifices they have made and the challenges that they have overcome.” For more information about OCCC's international student program, call the Office of Student Life at 405.682.7523.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education were among many colleges, universities and special-interest groups who celebrated multiculturalism during the 15th annual International Student Day, where an estimated 300 high schools and colleges, representing more than 7,000 international students statewide from about 150 countries, converged upon the Capitol, according to the Oklahoman. View more photos. 