A
S I A C O U N C I L
University System of Georgia – Council on International
Education
MINUTES of the Meeting held March 28, 2003
Macon State College
The Council Chair, Tom Keene (Kennesaw
State University), called the meeting to order at 1:00
pm. Other schools represented/Council members present
were: Tom Howard (Armstrong Atlantic State University),
Baogang Guo (Dalton State College); Sheila Phillips
(Darton College); Thomas Dolan (Columbus State University);
Dwight Call (Georgia College and State University);
Thomas Graham, George Vargis and Salli Vargis (Georgia
Perimeter College); Dan Paracka (Kennesaw State University);
T. C. Jespersen (North Georgia College & State University);
Cliff Pannell (University of Georgia); Wilson Huang
and David Starling (Valdosta State University); Susan
Sugarman (USG/OIE); and Council Secretary, Marc Jason
Gilbert (North Georgia College & State University).
The meeting opened with introductions of members in
attendance and approval of the minutes of the previous
meeting, which were accepted without change.
SCIE UPDATE
Susan Sugarman announced the availability of the new
on-line course in Japanese and the opportunity for students
who complete two levels of the course to automatically
receive support for study abroad.
BUDGET FOR FY 2003 and 2004
Tom Keene presented the Council’s financial statement
(Total Resources: $42,194) for the Fiscal Year 2003
budget, whose expected remaining funds at the close
of the year ($3, 600) reflects the addition of funds
no longer allocated for the cancelled India Study Abroad
Program and to which may possibly be added the $2,500
allotted for the China scholars visit, should it not
materialize. However, he warned that the 2004 budget
could zero out funding for collaborative projects and
that, with the action of the state legislature still
pending, the actual 2004 budget may not be firm until
as late as May or June, 2003.
ELECTIONS
Elections were held for the two-year posts of Chair,
Vice-Chair and Secretary. Dan Paracka of Kennesaw State
University was elected Chair. T. Christopher Jespersen
of North Georgia College and State University was elected
Vice-Chair. Marc J. Gilbert of North Georgia College
and State University was elected Secretary. The latter
required a change in the by-laws that permitted the
holder of the position of Secretary to not be the official
representative of a member institution (necessitated
by the newly elected Vice-Chair’s holding of that
designation from North Georgia College and State University).
All election results and the change in the by-laws were
unanimous.
STUDY ABROAD
CHINA
- Wilson Huang presented a much revised draft proposal
for a Study Abroad Program in China that would feature
a “general studies” program to compliment
the existing language program. Discussion of this
draft centered on content focus and calendar issues,
which David Starling and Wilson Huang hope to resolve
shortly.
- Tom Keene discussed the successful recruitment of
candidates for another iteration of the Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM) Seminar for Georgia professionals
and stressed its popularity in non-academic circles.
- Dan Paracka reported on the successful recruitment
of nine students for this summer’s China Study
Abroad Program.
- The Council reviewed the highly successful program
for placing USG students as teachers in China, with
Kennesaw State University and Georgia State University
placing 10 students, including one in Shanghai. Since
China is eager and able to absorb any number of American
students to teach English, the system should encourage
students to apply for the program.
JAPAN
Dwight Call reported on the successful recruitment
of faculty for this summer’s Japan Faculty Development
Seminar.
INDIA
Tom Keene and Salli Vargas announced the cancellation
of the Mumbai-based USG India Study Abroad Program and
also the cancellation of the nearby UGA arts and language
program in South India. The former had attracted more
initial student support than last year, but, as last
year, suffered from unsettled political conditions in
Southwest Asia, as did the UGA program. The Council
resolved to form a committee to act to preserve and
expand programs such as the very successful faculty
exchanges that had occurred between its partner in Mumbai
and many USG campuses. The minimal expenditure of $500.00
per faculty had secured such 8 exchanges. At the suggestion
of Sheila Philips, this committee also will examine
possible means of piggy-backing USG/UGA programs in
India with each other and with an offer of sponsorship
made to her by a college for tropical medicine in southern
India.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
- Georgia Southern and Kennesaw State University will
be fortunate enough to host a scholar from the University
of the Philippines, Belen Galengacion, who had assisted
in making the recent USG Faculty Seminar in the Philippines/Vietnam
such a success.
Other campuses are urged to take advantage of her
presence in the state this coming academic year, particularly
in the fall, as her schedule at Georgia Southern University
in the spring will be heavy.
- Marc Gilbert spoke about a linkage with a Vietnamese
state university south of Hanoi that is designated
as an institution with a mission to create collaborative
programs with external institutions. He suggested
that if finances permitted, perhaps next year he or
Dezo Benedek of UGA might make a site visit to explore
such possibilities.
OTHER PROGRAMS/AREA STUDIES
- Early mention was made of the holding of a Middle
East Workshop to be held October 17-19 as a result
of a partnership between USG institutions and Emory
University’s center for Middle Eastern Studies.
It is hoped to attract an audience of 50 faculty who
will be engaged in the study of the region via film,
performance and lectures. The workshop should identify
and produce resource materials for the study of the
region and perhaps lead to the creation of a Council
devoted to it.
- Cliff Pannell introduced UGA’s intention to
develop a Central Asia Studies Group led by Douglas
Northrup that will seek to build upon past contacts
with the area developed by the Ruell Hanks’-led
Georgia Fulbright Group to that region. UGA will sponsor
a lecture on the region’s prospects by Jeff
Sahadeo on April 22, 2003 at Le Conte Hall at 3:20
p.m.
ASIA COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
The Council’s web site is http://www.kennesaw.edu/internationalcenter/usgasiacouncil
The ASIA-L listserve is Asia-L@sphinx.gsu.eduAsia-L@sphinx.gsu.edu
BRIEF ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council meetings during 2003-2004 are scheduled for:
September 12, 2003, December 5, 2003, and March 26,
2004.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Tom Keene adjourned
the meeting at 4: 00pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marc J. Gilbert
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