Provost Calls for GC to Grow

University pushes international agenda

Despite lack of funds, new global programs are being developed

The Diamondback Newspaper
By: Carrie Wells

The university is laying the groundwork for more students to study abroad, with plans to reorganize and expand the Office of International Programs.

With no money to carry out  these plans, however, most changes will not come immediately — at least not until the economy recovers and the state can give the university more funding, administrators said.
The reorganization of the Office of International Programs is one of the first steps in implementing the university’s Strategic Plan, a 10-year road map for success approved last year by the University Senate. One of its primary goals is an increased international focus.
As part of the reorganization, administrators will raise the profile of study abroad, offer a new minor in global studies, institute new classes covering global issues, set up new exchange programs and boost enrollment in the Global Communities living-learning program. They also hope to create a new department, tentatively called the Center for Global Engagement, which would expand initiatives like the Fulbright Program.

But to carry out these ambitious goals, reforms will not be immediate without extra money.

“When you don’t have the money you prepare the ground for it, so when the money comes it can take off,” said Saul Sosnowski, director of international programs.

Student interest in this area of the university is also growing. Last year, more than 1,800 students studied abroad, almost 150 more than the year before. Michael Ulrich, director of study abroad, said he was optimistic despite lack of funds.

“It’s easy to think resources equal money, but there’s more than that,” he said. “It can be space on campus; it can be different things.”

Reorganization for the office has been a long time coming. Last fall, Provost Nariman Farvardin put together a committee to review the department for the first time in 10 years. Departments are supposed to be evaluated every seven years.

“We felt there wasn’t enough focus; the priorities weren’t optimally placed,” Farvardin said.

The increased emphasis on global relations should also address specific student complaints, said Graduate Student Government President Anu Kothari, who was on the committee to review the office. She said international exchange students had complained to her about rude and unhelpful advisors in International Education Services, a subset of the office of international programs.

The university has already taken steps since the announcement of the Strategic Plan to make itself more known worldwide. Next semester, students will be able to study abroad for the first time to Shanghai and Haifa, Israel. Administrators said they are trying to offer new programs in Barcelona and Buenos Aires for next year or the year after, as well.  “When we go overseas, we say, ‘University of Maryland,’ and they go, ‘oh yeah!’” said Sosnowski. “We’re very well known overseas. We have moved way ahead of where we were.”

cwells@umdbk.com