INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CENTER

Dr. Dwight Call, Assistant Vice President for International Education

The International Education Center of Georgia's Public Liberal Arts University promotes international and cross-cultural learning, as well as respect for diversity – one of the four cornerstones of the GCSU educational experience – and assists the University in producing graduates who are prepared to accept their responsibilities as citizens of the world. In order to achieve its mission, the International Education Center works with faculty members and students to internationalize both curricular and co-curricular dimensions of the liberal arts education offered at Georgia College & State University in its many programs on campus and abroad, thereby helping students develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to understand and effectively participate in the global society.

To achieve those objectives, the International Education Center works collaboratively with schools and departments, as well as administrative and program offices, to internationalize the University. The International Education Center:

• Works with faculty to incorporate a global perspective within the curriculum; directs the International Studies Minor; and assists with the International Business Major, the African Studies Minor, the Latin American & Caribbean Studies Minor, and the European Union Certificate Program;
• Organizes international programs and lectures on campus;
• Oversees international student recruitment and admissions;
• Provides international student advisement, services and programming;
• Organizes study opportunities abroad and prepares students to participate in study abroad programs;
• Manages student and faculty exchange agreements with partner universities worldwide;
• Assists faculty members to extend their own awareness of the world and to incorporate that awareness into the courses they teach, as well as assisting international faculty who are resident at GCSU.

The International Education Center staff includes the Assistant Vice President for International Education, the Associate Director of International Education / International Student Adviser, the Study Abroad Adviser, the International Admissions Counselor, a Senior Secretary and a Graduate Assistant. The staff is assisted by the International Education Committee, which is comprised of faculty and staff members from throughout GCSU, as well as by volunteers who serve on the University System of Georgia's System Council for International Education, Study Abroad Committee, International Curriculum Committee, Committee on International Students and Scholars, and Regional Councils for Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Up-to-date information on the International Education Center, including the most current newsletter and useful World Links, is available at the International Education Center web site at /international.

INTERNATIONALIZING THE CURRICULUM AND THE INTERNATIONAL STUDIES MINOR (INST)

The International Education Center encourages the incorporation of an international dimension into existing courses and works to develop broad, interdisciplinary courses, which include global awareness. Courses and specific requirements of the International Business Major can be found listed under the School of Business; the International Studies Minor, African Studies Minor, and Latin American & Caribbean Studies Minor under Inter-Disciplinary Studies; and the European Union Certificate under Government & Sociology.

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND LECTURES

The International Education Center educates the GCSU community to international diversity and intercultural difference by introducing the knowledge, skills and diverse backgrounds of international students, visiting international and domestic faculty, and GCSU students and faculty who return from experiences abroad into discussions in the regular classroom, into all-campus lectures and panel discussions, and into specially organized programs and lecture series such as those offered during International Week. The International Education Center also assists other departments and campus organizations in giving an international scope to their programs, lecture series, discussions and film series. The International Education Center works closely with Casa Mondo (or "World House") – the cross-cultural living experience – which brings together U. S. and international students from all corners of the world in a unique living environment.

INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS

The International Education Center manages International Admissions, evaluating applications and transcripts according to the procedures and regulations outlined in the Admissions section of this catalog for students seeking admission to degree programs. Prospective students may download admissions materials from the International Education Center website at /international, telephone, (478) 445-4789, email intladm@gcsu.edu or write International Admissions, Campus Box 49, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA 31061 USA.

International students who will attend GCSU under the terms of an exchange agreement with their home institution will be admitted according to the provisions specified in each agreement. Students should contact their home institution's exchange coordinator or the International Education Center at GCSU for specific guidelines.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES

The International Education Center provides information and counseling to more than 100 international students from more than 50 countries on such issues as non-immigrant student visa regulations and procedures, medical insurance, housing, financial and work issues, taxes, adjustment to life in the U.S., and academic concerns. The International Education Center also advises the International Club and organizes community and campus activities, such as the International Dinner, International Week, the Connections Program that matches international students with community hosts, and the International Student Orientation. The International Student Handbook is available on-line at /international.

STUDY ABROAD

The International Education Center organizes study opportunities abroad and then advises and assists students to participate in the various approved study abroad and exchange programs offered by GCSU, the University System of Georgia and other accredited academic institutions. Studying abroad enables students to increase knowledge of a foreign language, provides the opportunity to gain insight into and appreciation for the cultures and institutions of other peoples, facilitates the development of relevant career skills and contributes to personal maturity, a sense of independence, self-knowledge, and confidence.

To participate in study abroad, a student must be in good standing. Semester exchange students must have at least a 2.75 GPA. With prior written approval from the Assistant Vice President for International Education and the student's adviser, credit for study abroad can be applied toward core or major degree requirements for graduation. Students will be advised exactly how they should register for their courses abroad. The specific study abroad or exchange program will be tailored to fit each student's course of study. The number of credits awarded will be determined in advance of registration and study. Grading will be based on evaluation reports of the exchange institution or study abroad program.

Many summer, semester and academic year study opportunities are available in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Australia and Europe. In addition, the Schools of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Business, Education and Health Sciences have specific programs geared toward the needs of their own students. For further information contact the International Education Center in 223 Lanier Hall or telephone (478) 445-4789.

Regular federal and state financial aid can often assist students to study abroad. For details contact the Financial Aid Office in 103 Parks Hall or telephone (478) 445-5149. In addition, special study abroad scholarships available through the International Education Center in 223 Lanier Hall or telephone (478) 445-4789 can enable students who could not otherwise participate in study abroad.

Study abroad program and scholarship information is available from the International Education Center website at /international.

Students enrolling in approved study abroad programs that do not otherwise require their registering for coursework at GCSU will register for INST 2985: Study Abroad Seminar, a one credit-hour course. Students will register for the course for the semester they plan to study abroad, but must attend sessions during the final weeks of the semester prior to their departure and receive an "incomplete" until final requirements for the course are met after their return to GCSU. The course will be offered on a Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory basis. If students do not complete the Study Abroad Seminar, they will forfeit any GCSU scholarship, which may have been awarded, and will need to repay it.

STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS

The GCSU International Education Center staff will advise all students going abroad on the study abroad programs that best meet their needs and the study abroad scholarships that are available to them.

International Education Center staff will advise students regarding Weir and Wells Study Abroad Scholarships, for which they may submit applications to the International Education Center. These scholarships require the same 3.0 GPA standard that is required for other GCSU scholarships. The Assistant Vice President for International Education and the International Education Committee review scholarship application materials and recommend Weir and Wells Study Abroad Scholarships. Recommendations will be made on a priority basis according the following:

1. Students registering at GCSU for study abroad programs that are offered by GCSU or for study abroad programs sponsored by the University System of Georgia and which permit students to register at GCSU. Also, students registering at GCSU and participating in an exchange with one of its partner universities.
2. Students enrolling in non-GCSU study abroad programs that have been investigated and approved by the Assistant Vice President for International Education, who will confirm the academic quality of the study abroad programs, as well as satisfactory systems for transferring credits to GCSU. In these cases, students should register at GCSU for a one-credit-hour study abroad seminar in International Studies, which is managed by the Assistant Vice President for International Education. In addition, students should complete the Study Abroad Course Approval Form, which is available in the International Education Center and confirms the support of major advisers and department chairs. Students must also register in the Office of the Registrar as transient students for the balance of their credits.

International Education Center staff will also advise students interested in studying abroad on other available scholarships:

1. Federal Aid, which is based solely upon financial need and may be used for any recognized study abroad programs. For programs in which the majority of course work is registered with an institution other than GCSU, an approved Financial Aid Consortium Agreement must be in place before Federal Aid will be disbursed. Information is available in the Financial Aid Office. Federal Aid may be awarded as grants or loans.
2. Students Abroad with Regents' Support (STARS), a Board of Regents initiative, offers study abroad students the opportunity for Work/Study stipends, travel grants for Service Learning, and study abroad Program Assistantships. Applications are available in the International Education Center.
3. Information on other scholarships is available in the International Education Center.

The Financial Aid Office will manage disbursement of all study abroad scholarships and Federal Aid. In addition, the Financial Aid Office will establish the required financial aid consortium agreement with any non-GCSU program, which certifies the student's Federal Financial Aid eligibility. Any funds awarded through GCSU will be managed by the Financial Aid Office.

EXCHANGE AGREEMENTS WITH PARTNER UNIVERSITIES WORLDWIDE

The International Education Center oversees GCSU and University System of Georgia exchange agreements with other universities and manages faculty and student exchanges with those universities. GCSU has active exchanges with the following institutions, whose individual web sites can be accessed from the International Education Center website. In addition, membership in the International Student Exchange Program (www.isep.edu) and agreements with the School for International Training (www.sit.edu) and the School for Field Studies (www.fieldstudies.org) enable GCSU to send its students on semester or year-long exchange or study to many countries of the world.

FACULTY ABROAD AND INTERNATIONAL FACULTY

The International Education Center assists faculty members in designing, funding and implementing study, teaching and research ventures abroad, and later, in incorporating those experiences into the curriculum. In addition, the International Education Center gives support to the more than 10 percent of its faculty, who are native to other countries.