SCIE ASIA COUNCIL MINUTES AT MACON COLLEGE
DECEMBER 5, 2003

The Council Chair, Dan Paracka (Kennesaw State University) called the meeting to order at 1:00 p. m. Other Council members present were: Tom Howard (Armstrong Atlantic State University); Lois Poss (Clayton College and State University); Tom Dolan (Columbus State University); Dwight Call and Sunita Manian (Georgia College and State University); Eric Kendrick, George Vargis and Salli Vargis (Georgia Perimeter College); Susan Sugarman (USGOIE); Bill Shaniel (State University of West Georgia); Farley Richmond (University of Georgia, Athens); and the 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. Difficulties regarding members being accidentally dropped from the Listserv were addressed and resolved. The Council Secretary asked Council members to send him electronic versions of their program announcements so that they can be appended to the Minutes.

SCIE UPDATE

Susan Sugarman announced the most recent STARS award allocations, and upcoming Global Partnership and Best Practices Awards. She also announced job vacancies at the USG OIE, including assistant director of special projects. She reminded the Council that the deadline for the Regents Scholarships would be February 27, 2004. The visit of the Vietnamese Ambassador to Atlanta and the luncheon to be held in his honor was discussed, but due to the illness of his son in Japan, that visit was ultimately rescheduled for a later date. He had planned to return to Atlanta on February 26. 2004, but this visit, too, was cancelled.

Budget Update

The Budget was circulated via a handout and discussed with no Student Study Abroad and Related Programs.

1. Dwight Call announced that 4 students had enrolled in the Student Study Abroad Program in Japan, which he viewed as adequate for this stage of recruitment.
   
2. Farley Richmond and Salli Vargis reported that they already had 10 students enrolled in the Student Study Abroad Program in India for 2004.
   
3. Three students have enrolled in the China Student Study Abroad Language Program in Yangzhou and 3 students had enrolled in the combined Language and Culture program there, but this program has since been cancelled.
   
4. Dan Paracka reported that for a second year the Teaching English in China program was well–supported by students from Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University.

Faculty Development Seminars and Related Activities

1. Lois Poss reported that the status of China Medical Group program was uncertain due to the lack of a health professional to coordinate the program.
   
2. Thomas Graham not being present, there was no report on his proposed “Bangkok to Singapore” Faculty Development program.
   
3. Out of a concern that the Council might not have a Faculty Development proposal for the year 2005, Marc Gilbert proposed a “Culture and Technology of India” Faculty Development Seminar program which Farley Richmond and Tom Howard offered to help develop.
   
4. Dan Paracka pledged to circulate a complete set of criteria for the submission of Faculty Development Proposals. A deadline of March 1, 2004 for such submissions was set. These criteria were published on the Listserv in January.

ASIA COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS

1. URL for the Council’s web site is:
   
2. The ASIA-L Listserv is Asia-L@sphinx.gsu.edu

BRIEF ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. The Sino-American Commission will hold its next conference on June 5-7, 2004. Those interested should contact Wang I Ping, Dean of Education at Kennesaw State University.
   
2. Those interested in joining the proposed Middle East Council should contact Prof. Tom Keene at tkenne@Kennesaw.edu or 770-423-6232.
   
3. The next Council meeting will be held at Clayton College and State University, on March 26, 2004.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Dan Paracka adjourned the meeting at 4:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,


Marc J. Gilbert