Global Connections, Spring 2015

Global Programs’ Newsletter: Spreading the news from our Global Support, Study Abroad, CELOP, and ISSO teams

In this issue:

 

Team Effort in Responding to a New Immigration Requirement

Rising to meet the challenge of evolving immigration regulations is nothing new to the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO). But when changes to J-1 visitor regulations initially proposed in 2009 were published in October 2014 with an effective date of January 2015, the ISSO found itself in uncharted territory. Among other updates, one regulatory change requires program sponsors to document an objective measure of English proficiency for all J-1 scholar applicants. For scholars who can present evidence of graduation from an English-speaking institution or who had an English language test score like the TOEFL, this is not a problem. But what to do about those who had neither?

With just three months to implement and ensure regulatory compliance, the office reached out to counterparts in CELOP, BU’s intensive English language program, for help and expertise. Assistant Director for Scholar Services Sharon Ralston explained, “CELOP helped us to develop an interview protocol and rubric for assessing English proficiency with the purpose of taking on teaching or research positions at BU.” The entire interview takes about 10 minutes and moves from simple questions to a more detailed discussion that requires more linguistic complexity. “What’s more,” Ralston continued, “CELOP also provided sample videos so that hosting faculty could observe how the protocol and rubric were utilized with subjects who have varying degrees of English proficiency.”

Some departments and faculty were understandably confused about the new regulations and how to objectively measure and document English proficiency. That made it so important to offer training on the new regulations and invite CELOP to present the new assessment tools.

“It’s a big change for host departments and for us,” said Managing Director for the ISSO Jeanne Kelley. “But based on preliminary feedback, we’re optimistic. Those who attended the training were pleased with the protocol and assessment tools and felt it would be a useful option.”

For their part, CELOP was glad to help. Associate Director and incoming Managing Director Alan Broomhead shared, “It allowed CELOP to be a part of a solution to a University-wide challenge.”

Padua & Boston Exchange Great Minds

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Giuliana Tomasella

As part of a faculty exchange agreement, three faculty members from the University of Padua are visiting BU for four weeks this spring to take advantage of academic and cultural resources in Boston. BU holds several such agreements with universities overseas in support of collaborative research, and this one draws on a longstanding relationship with the university in Padua, Italy, where BU also offers numerous study abroad programs.

Giuliana Tomasella and Elisabetta Novello arrived in early April and will be joined by a third colleague in Boston later this spring. Tomasella, a professor of Museum Studies and the History of Art Criticism at the University of Padua, is being hosted by Professor Fred Kleiner in the Department of History of Art & Architecture; while Novello, an assistant professor of Economic History and Historical and Geographic Sciences from the University Padua, is collaborating with Professor James McCann and Professor Sarah Phillips from the Department of History.

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Elisabetta Novello

Already in their short time in Boston, Novello and Tomasella are taking full advantage of what BU and the city have to offer. For her work, which explores environmental studies from the perspective and scientific methodology of public history and oral history, Professor Novello has found local museums and universities to offer a cornucopia of resources and potential collaborators. And Professor Tomasella noted that the Museum of Fine Arts in particular has provided valuable source material for her research on the relationship between art and fascism. Later in her visit, she will also meet with a curator from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

In the spirit of exchange, BU’s own Professor Emma Previato of the Math Department and Professor Karl Kirchwey of the English Department will both visit the University of Padua this summer to collaborate with faculty in Italy.

Faculty interested in scholar exchange opportunities can learn more here.

International Students & Global Sports: A Win-Win

BU is well-known for our internationally diverse student population, and it’s no secret that our athletics get a lot of attention, too. But did you know that many international students are also athletes?

International students are well represented across varsity sports, according to Mike Marfione, marketing and promotions coordinator for BU’s Department of Athletics. More than 80 international students hailing from Australia, Chile, Greece, Senegal, and Singapore, just to name a few countries, participate in sports competitively. Take, for instance, two-time Olympic gold medalist and women’s ice hockey star Marie-Philip Poulin, who hails from Canada; men’s basketball player Blaise Mbargorba of Cameroon; or Sofia Laurito, a women’s field hockey competitor from Buenos Aires.

But many more students – international and domestic alike – find an athletic outlet through club sports and intramural leagues. “Intramural sports have huge appeal at BU. The soccer league alone includes 75 teams,” shared Scott Nalette, Intramural & Club Sports Manager. “One of my favorite things about recreational sports is how national rivalries come to play in a friendly, good-natured way. Heritage definitely plays a part in what our students bring to the game.”

Conversely, many domestic students discover new sports – especially those popular abroad, like cricket and rugby – when they come to BU. According to Nalette, a wide range of sports was started on campus simply because of an influx of a more diverse student body, allowing students from all over to enjoy sports they never played before. “They might say, ‘I played a sport in high school that you don’t offer here.’ We then get to connect those students with a new, often globally-born sport they can pick up easily with little prior knowledge of the rules – just an eagerness and energy to play.”

To learn more, visit BU Athletics or Sports Central.

Travel Safety & Planning Tools for Every Activity

No matter the destination or nature of the activity, careful preparation and risk assessment are essential to any global travel. Karen Jacobs, program director and clinical professor for Sargent College knows this firsthand. “Many of our occupational therapy students are interested in traveling or volunteering in other countries, so pre-travel support is invaluable to us. Being able to equip them with information about the country, culture, safety, and insurance goes a long way in helping students feel better prepared for their international experience.”

To help, BU has mobilized a number of resources for University-related travel safety planning and response.

  • The International Travel Registry encourages faculty to register international travel plans ahead of time (and requires it of students and staff). In order to bring BU’s resources to bear in difficult situations, it is crucial to know where people are.
  • Essential tools are available to ensure that you have proper health and emergency evacuation insurance coverage.
  • Another useful resource is the training available through Global Support, which covers an array of health, safety, and security topics and is available through live presentations, as well as Blackboard.

Roberta Turri Vise, managing director of operations for Global Programs, explains, “We strive to build on the wealth of expertise and global engagement of our faculty and staff and to provide travel safety tools that will enable rewarding and safe experiences abroad. Our goal is to help ensure success by reducing and mitigating risks while understanding that we cannot eliminate all risks.”

For more information on these topics, visit the resources on the Global Support website. Or contact us to set up a time for us to visit your school or department for a discussion of your international travel safety needs.

Global Programs Photo Contest

The contest opened on April 15th and runs through Monday, May 4th. As of press time, we have received 86 entries and 230 photos, and what we have seen so far is incredible! All members of the BU community are invited to submit up to three photos. For complete contest information and rules, click here. We can’t wait to view and share your experiences.

Did you know…

Did you know you have a Global Human Resources Business Partner? Raschid Ahsanullah is available to answer many of your questions related to hiring or working overseas for BU. You can reach him at 617-353-3323 or raschida@bu.edu.