Innovative approach to studying abroad connects students to global learning during pandemic

By Whitney Baxter, https://www.cals.iastate.edu/features/2021/innovative-approach-studying-abroad-connects-students-global-learning-during-pandemic

Lee Burras believes field learning is essential to any student’s education. When the COVID-19 pandemic put a temporary halt to all of Iowa State University’s study abroad trips, Burras found an innovative way to still offer international experiences to students.

Burras, Morrill Professor in the Department of Agronomy, has been taking Iowa State students to countries around the world since 2002. While on these study abroad trips, students experience other cultures and see first-hand how agricultural practices differ from those in the United States.

“Every time I lead a study abroad course, it reinforces my perspective that students learn best in an upbeat environment,” Burras said. “They learn to ask their own questions and make their own interpretations.”

His colleague, Amber Anderson, assistant teaching professor in agronomy, was supposed to take students to Costa Rica during spring break in March 2020, and he was to take a group to Uruguay during Thanksgiving break last November. To make up for those cancelled trips, he worked with in-country hosts from both countries over the summer to put together two virtual study abroad courses – one to each country. His plans were approved just in time for students to sign up for the courses shortly before the fall 2020 semester. Read More

Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods 2020 Annual Donor Impact Report Available

The report’s theme, “Sustaining resiliency,” reflects the fortitude of the ISU-Uganda Program team during this unprecedented year. It includes coverage of the special COVID relief and rehabilitation efforts that are making it possible for marginalized, rural Ugandans to make it through the pandemic and emerge ready to rebuild themselves and their communities. Overall, this report illustrates what is possible when philanthropy unites with Iowa State’s land-grant mission for a passionate — and compassionate — vision for progress against hunger and poverty. We hope you enjoy reading it, and sharing with others. 2020 CSRL Annual Report

Learning Across America - Domestic Travel Opportunity

Students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences have the opportunity to explore all that  the United States of America has to offer through Learning Across America programs! Faculty in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are developing programs that can take students across the country. From learning the history, culture, agriculture, emergency preparedness, and environment of Guam to seeing the complex natural resource, agriculture, and food systems in Appalachia, students will gain a greater appreciation for different regions of the United States. Students of any college and major are encouraged to apply for a program. Faculty interested in leading a domestic program can reach out to Dr. Carmen Bain, Associate Dean, Academic Innovation. 

• Science + Design: interpretation of natural resources in Montana
  • A new interdisciplinary service-learning course that brings together art and science students to learn from each other and produce a product for the public. Science students will partner with students from the College of Design to travel to NREM's French Conservation Camp in Montana. There they will meet with scientists, US Forest Service rangers, and other stakeholders to learn about natural resource issues in the region. Then they will design and produce new interpretive signs and other visual materials to be installed by the Forest Service at trail heads and campgrounds to educate the public and communicate science. Students will travel to Montana for 1.5 weeks of field work, then continue to meet on campus to design and produce the visual. Students interested in learning more about this program can contact Dr. Jennifer Schieltz, Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management. 

Study Abroad Director assists with International Students

Jodi Cornell, director of CALS Study Abroad was recently highlighted by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for his work with prospective and current international students. Jodi has been working with the CALS Study Abroad office for over 16 years and has gained a wealth of knowledge around international perspectives which has helped him in his role being the College liaison for international students. Jodi is an advocate for international students on campus and ensures that they have the necessary resources to succeed during their time at Iowa State University.

Aside from assisting with international students, Jodi helps CALS faculty organize international travel courses and provides support to CALS students interested in participating in an exchange at a partner university abroad.

J-1 Program Information Aids Available

The International Students and Scholars office has created fillable PDFs corresponding to the J-1 Program Information e-form for three different types of requests: New Scholars, New Student Interns, and Extensions. These PDFs are designed to help you gather the information you need to complete the most complex e-form in the J-1 Scholar Application (or Extension) Cystart request. Department admins may find them useful for gathering information from faculty hosts of visiting scholars, and HRCs may find them helpful for gathering information from department admins and/or supervisors of international employees.  Because they are fillable, you would only need to copy and paste the information entered on the PDF into the Cystart e-form. J-1 Program Information e-forms

As a reminder, University sponsored international visitors are not permitted at this time. 

New Student Scholarship Opportunity

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is proud to announce a new partnership in support of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. Through this new arrangement, the Embassy of Israel to the United States will fund at least five additional scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students to study and/or intern for academic credit in Israel through the Gilman Program. The Embassy of Israel to the United States will also fund Gilman Scholars to study Hebrew under the Critical Need Language Award (CNLA), which is a supplemental award for in-country language study under the Gilman Program.

This additional funding for the Gilman-Israel scholarship supports a wider effort between the United States and Israel to increase and diversify international student mobility among Israeli and American higher education institutions. This partnership expands study abroad opportunities for American students to gain critical skills.

The Embassy of Israel to the United States joins the governments of New Zealand, France, and Wales, and Portugal's Luso-American Development Foundation, whose generous support for the Gilman Program increases and diversifies American student mobility to these countries.

Upcoming Events:

• Explore Study Abroad Webinar: Tuesday, March 9 (5:00-6:00pm)
  • The CALS Study Abroad office encourages students interested in studying abroad to attend their virtual event! The event will cover general information about study abroad, scholarships and funding opportunities for students, a panel discussions with students that have studied abroad in the past and time for questions and answers at the end of the event. 
• Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Deadline: Tuesday, March 9
  • The Gilman Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and is assisted in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The Gilman Program provides grants for undergraduate U.S. citizens of limited financial means to study and intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. 
• Affording Study Abroad Online Presentation: Tuesday, March 30 or Tuesday, April 27 (4:00-5:00pm)
  • Students are encouraged to attend this online presentation with Study Abroad and Financial Aid staff who will share all the different funding sources available to make studying abroad more affordable. There are two remaining sessions available for students to attend.