The Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods invites you to help make a difference in the future of pre-school age children by investing in their growth and development through its CSRL Uganda Early Childhood Development FundISU campaign. Early Childhood Education is critical in the formative years of children for developing intellectual, social, and emotional skills. In Kamuli district of Uganda, early childhood education is provided through pre-schools that are linked to primary schools. Funding for early childhood in rural public schools is limited and is provided by resource-limited parents resulting in inadequate facilities, materials and supplies, and staff, which is not conducive to growth and learning for this age group.

Iowa State University provides programs and services to help international students and scholars achieve their goals and objectives. During the Fall 2021 semester, there were 56 undergraduate and 139 graduate students from 49 different countries enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. More specific information on the international students in CALS can be found, www.global.ag.iastate.edu/international-students-cals. 

International Students and Scholars Office request that you take the following steps in CyStart for your short-term international visitors who are exempt from the ISU Visiting Scholar Policy* and who do not need UIDs, ISU ID cards, or SSHIP coverage:

Add the person to Cystart (if they have not previously been at ISU) Give them access to complete the Other Visiting Scholar/Employee e-form

This will help ISSO keep better track of all international visitors on campus for statistical purposes and in case an emergency situation arises.

*For a list of visitors exempt from the ISU Visiting Scholar Policy please see the “Exclusions” section of the Visiting Scholar Policy here:  https://www.policy.iastate.edu/policy/visitingscholars

NEW English Proficiency Verification Option

As most of you are aware, anyone coming to ISU as a J-1 exchange visitor, whether as a “visiting scholar” or an international employee, is required by the US Department of State to provide objective documentation of their English proficiency.  Existing options for programs at ISU have, since Jan 2021, included:

CALS Study Abroad Fair - Tuesday, September 28 Active CALS Study Abroad Travel Courses

Caribbean Marine Biology, Honduras 

March 12 - 20, 2022
Program Directors: Donald Sakaguchi, Jeanne Serb
Department: Biology
Application Deadline: October 15, 2021

 

 

Cathedrals, Castles, Culture and Cuisine-sustainable, Safe & Nutritious Food in France

June 5 - 18, 2022
Program Directors: Kurt Rosentrater
Department: Food Science, Ag & Biosystems Engineering
Application Deadline: November 30, 2021

Meet Our Student Travel Consultants (STCs)

Jack Hubble

Curt Youngs, Professor of Animal Science and ME Ensminger Endowed Chair of International Animal Agriculture, was recently selected for a Fulbright award. Youngs will work with colleagues in the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary at the University of Prishtina in Kosovo on a Fulbright Specialist project titled “Implementation of the Institute of Agriculture and Veterinary”.  The objectives of this project are to build human capacity in research, teaching and outreach/extension, to develop policies and procedures that functionalize the Institute in the areas of financial management and human resource management, and to devise a monitoring and evaluation plan that ensures the Institute meets is meeting its objectives as well as  identifies areas needing improvement.

The U.S. Departments of Education and State issued a joint statement of principles Monday articulating “a renewed U.S. commitment to international education.”

Effective immediately, ISU-sponsored employee international travel no longer will be subject to special pandemic travel requirements. According to Shaun Jamieson, international risk manager, "As more travelers become vaccinated against COVID-19 and global case counts continue to decline, travel risk associated with the pandemic will also decline. Travel restrictions are also being eased globally, particularly in Europe, where vaccinated travelers will soon be able to travel freely.” Student-related travel and study abroad programming will continue to operate under the interim international travel guidance effective March 18, 2021.

Learn More

Delay for New or Renewal Passports Significant

Due to a wide range of circumstances, the average wait time for getting a new passport or renewing an expiring passport is very long.

According to the Department of State, the agency that issues passports, the standard wait time for a new passport today is 18 weeks. Anyone in need of these services hoping to travel yet this fall or next spring should be taking action now and should absolutely select the expedited option if you can (standard wait time for ‘expedited’ is 12 weeks).

Routine:  Save $60. Door-to-door service in 18 weeks (includes up to 12 weeks processing and 6 weeks mailing on front and back end)

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2022 Jefferson Science Fellows (JSF) program. Established by the Secretary of State in 2003, this fellowship program serves as an innovative model for engaging the American academic science, technology, engineering, and medical communities in U.S. foreign policy and international development through on-site work at the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). 

The International Students and Scholars Office provided a recent update on international visitors and visiting scholar requests:

The Cochran Fellowship Program is requesting the design and delivery of training activities for Cochran Fellowship Fellows. Training objectives must support the agricultural extension goals of the Cochran Fellowship Program to assist eligible countries to develop agricultural systems necessary to meet the food and fiber needs of their domestic populations and/or strengthen and enhance trade linkages between eligible countries and agricultural interests in the United States by providing fellowships to individuals from eligible countries who specialize in agriculture for study in the United States.

Farm Journal Foundation is very excited about our upcoming Speaker Series and our valued partnerships with each of you. Every university in the Speaker Series program brings a diverse set of students and disciplines. We hope this Series is a beneficial and inspiring resource for all who attend!

The U.S. Department of State posted an update on their website April 6, 2021, with the headline “Visa Services Operating Status Update.”   Some key information from this posting:

Ending a yearlong prohibition, faculty and staff can resume university-sponsored international travel -- with some added precautions.

Earlier this month, state Board of Regents president Michael Richards lifted a systemwide ban on university-sponsored travel outside the U.S. the board imposed in March 2020, allowing university leaders to set their own rules. Read More. 

A new Visiting Scholars Policy has been developed and is currently available for review and comment/feedback, through April 11, in Iowa State’s Policy Library. Requests to host visiting scholars may not be made until the effective date of the new policy, targeted for May 1, 2021, and must use a new electronic process. Additional information on this process will become available in the coming weeks.

The purpose of the proposed new Visiting Scholars policy is to establish policies and guidelines relating to the designation, approval, roles, and the overall responsibility for visiting scholars at Iowa State. Please review the draft policy and Guidelines and FAQ and submit your comments and questions to policy@iastate.edu by April 11, 2021. 

State Board of Regents president Michael Richards announced March 11 that he has lifted the board's ban on international business-related travel for faculty, staff and students. The ban had been in place since March 5, 2020, in response to the escalation of COVID-19 cases around the world. Richards' action gives decision-making authority to the university presidents for their respective campuses. Further guidance for Iowa State faculty, staff and students on university-sponsored international travel will be released soon.