EducationUSA Weekly Update     

No. 91, August 4, 2008

I. Scholarships and Fellowships
- Undergraduate: St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota
- Undergraduate:  The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Undergraduate and Graduate: American University, Washington, DC
- Graduate:  University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Graduate: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Post Doctorate: The Goldstein Lab, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Community College Program Highlight: Scottsdale Community College, Arizona
- English Language Program: English Language Institute, University of Southern Mississippi
 
II. News you can use
- New Identification Technology Forthcoming for GMAT
- ACT Examinations Have Global Reach
- New York Times Article: Which Are America’s Top “Green Universities”?

I. Scholarships and Fellowships

Undergraduate: St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota

St. Olaf College is a nationally ranked liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with world-class programs in music and mathematics.  Distinguished by its commitment to environmental sustainability, innovative approaches to undergraduate science programs, and long-standing engagement in global education, St. Olaf provides its 3,000 plus students with a challenging and unique academic experience grounded in the Christian gospel.

St. Olaf offers 45 graduation majors including 15 teaching certifications, 19 concentrations and 17 pre-professional fields.  The St. Olaf Music Department conducts study in the areas of piano, string, woodwind, percussion, organ, and vocal performance; music education; and music theory and composition and is home to seven choirs, two bands, and two full orchestras. 

Through its 4-1-4 academic calendar, St. Olaf provides its students with the opportunity to take part in domestic and international off-campus study programs during the January interim.  International student applicants may apply for international scholarships that may cover up to tuition fees, with average awards covering half-tuition.  In some cases, scholarships, on-campus work study, and loans are awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence and economic need. 

Special scholarships exist for Norwegian students wishing to study at St. Olaf.  For more information, students should visit  www.stolaf.edu/admissions/applying/international/norwegian.html.
 
Application Deadline

Scholarships:  Awarded with admission.

General Admission:  International admission to St. Olaf is competitive. The priority deadline for admission is February 1.          

Eligibility Requirements

Scholarships
Only awarded to degree-seeking students.

General Admission
International applicants should submit the following materials:
-Common application and St. Olaf supplement
-$40 application fee (waved for online applicants)
-TOEFL (550/213/80 minimum score); IELTS (6.0 minimum band); or SAT I or ACT results
-Two academic recommendations
-Official secondary school transcripts with English translations
-International Student Certification of Finances form for F-1 Visa applicants
-International Student Financial Aid Application (if applicable)

Further Information
 www.stolaf.edu/
 www.stolaf.edu/admissions/applying/international.html

Contact
St. Olaf College
Office of Admissions
1520 St. Olaf Avenue
Northfield, MN 55057-1098 USA
Tel:  (507) 786-3025
Fax:  (507) 786-3832
Email:  admissions@stolaf.edu

Luyen Phan
International Student Advisor & Tutoring Specialist
Academic Support Center, The Modular Village
1520 St. Olaf Avenue
Northfield, MN 55057
Tel:  (507) 786-3995
Fax:  (507) 786-3923
Email:  phan@stolaf.edu

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Undergraduate:  The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

With over 40,000 students coming from 118 countries and over 150 programs of study, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign provides an academic and ethnically diverse learning environment located within driving distance to the major metropolitan destinations of St. Louis, Missouri, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Chicago, Illinois.  In addition to receiving recognition for many of its academic programs, The University of Illinois has recently been ranked as one of the top fifty national universities, top colleges for top students, and best values in public education  

Majors available include, but are not limited to, agriculture, the arts, aviation, business, the chemical sciences, communications and public affairs, computers, education, engineering, English, environmental studies, global studies, health studies, mathematics, philosophy, religion, physical science, social science, and preprofessional programs. 

Illinois students also have the opportunity to socialize and gain experience in its over 1,000 student-run organizations, expansive Greek fraternal community, voluntary organizations, intramural sports, Big 10 varsity sports, museums, living learning communities, performing arts centers, and recreation centers. 

Although financial need-based scholarships are not available for incoming international undergraduates, selected scholarships and awards are awarded based on merit.  The Maria Gratton International Award provides female international undergraduate applicants with a tuition waver and a stipend.  The Avery Brundage Scholarship is designed for students who demonstrate excellence in academic pursuits and in amateur athletic endeavors. 

Application Deadline

Scholarships:  Varies with scholarship.  See  www.ips.uiuc.edu/isss/pages/index.php?catID=2&pageID=74 for more information.

General Admission:  The application filing period runs from September 1, 2008 – January 2, 2009.  For priority, students are advised to apply between September 1 – November 1, 2008. 

Eligibility Requirements

Scholarships
Varies with scholarship.

General Admission
For information on school selectivity, prospective students should visit  www.oar.uiuc.edu/future/apply/requirements_freshman.html.

International applicants should submit the following materials:
-Completed application for admission
-Admission essays
-Certified secondary school transcript with English translation
-ACT Composite score or SAT I
-Cumulative High School Percentile Ranking at end of Junior year
-Declaration and Certification of Finances form and bank statements for F-1 Visa applicants
-Official TOEFL (550/213/79 minimum scores); IELTS (6.5 minimum band)  (If required)
-$50 application fee

Further Information
 www.oar.uiuc.edu/future/index.html (Undergraduate admissions)
 www.ips.uiuc.edu/isss/students/ (International Student and Scholar Services)

Contact
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Office of Admission and Records
901 West Illinois Street
Urbana, IL 61801 USA
Tel:  (217) 333-0302
Fax:  (217) 244-1614
Email:  intlugradadmissions@uiuc.edu

International Student and Scholar Services
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
400 Student Services Building
610 E. John Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Tel:  (217) 333-1303
Fax:  (217) 244-0530
Email:  isss@illinois.edu

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Undergraduate and Graduate: American University, Washington, DC

American University’s spacious tree-lined campus in the northwest quadrant of Washington DC provides students with an attractive, safe campus in the heart of the nation’s capital.  A global university, American is home to more than 1,000 international students representing over 135 countries.

The undergraduate and graduate school at American University is divided into the College of Arts and Sciences, Kogod School of Business, School of Communication, School of International Service, and School of Public Affairs.  In addition, the Washington College of Law offers JD and LLM degrees for both full and part-time study.  Each AU college also offers a limited number of combined bachelors/masters degree programs for undergraduate students completed during the junior and senior years of study.   
 
For the 2008-09 school year, over half of all incoming international American University students received partial-tuition merit awards ranging from $5,000-$30,000, renewable for all four years of study.  Graduate merit-based awards available include fellowships, assistantships, study grants, special opportunity awards, Hall of Nation awards, Dissertation fellowships, Hurst Scholar Awards, and Master’s Scholar Awards.  The Jack Kente Cooke Foundation Graduate Fellowship funds all tuition toward any full-time graduate or professional degree and awards recipients a generous stipend.

Application Deadline

Scholarships:  All undergraduate applicants are considered for merit awards upon review of their completed applications.  Applicants for graduate scholarships should contact graduate admissions in their graduate department for information regarding specific award deadlines. 

General Admission:  January 15 for fall admission; September 1 for spring admission.

Eligibility Requirements

Scholarships
Merit scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and leadership potential.  Criteria for graduate scholarships vary.  See  admissions.american.edu/public/contentPage/contentPage.asp?navID=21&parId=5784&childId=5791&docID=5712 for more information. 

Further Information
http://admissions.american.edu/public/contentPage/contentPage.asp?navID=132&parId=306&docID=166 (undergraduate admissions)
http://admissions.american.edu/public/contentPage/contentPage.asp?navID=8&docID=6 (graduate admissions)
http://american.edu

Contact
American University Admissions
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016-8001
Tel:  (202) 885-6000
Fax:  (202) 885-1025
Email:  admissions@american.edu

 

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Graduate:  University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduate school offers programs in traditional fields of study as well as innovative professional and interdisciplinary programs on both a part-time and full-time basis.  Located in urban Milwaukee, UW-Milwaukee offers graduate students a diverse cultural community for enrichment and recreation. 

49 masters and 25 doctoral degree programs are offered in diverse issue areas including business, art, biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, engineering, communications, music, nursing, and social work.  Cooperative and special degree programs include a multidisciplinary committee-directed Ph.D. designed to meet the needs of select doctoral students whose needs and interests cannot be met by a single existing program.  UW-Milwaukee also has cooperative with the Medical College of Wisconsin and Marquette University that enable medical and graduate to take classes and utilize the academic resources of both schools.

Graduate fellowships are available for full-time study.  Fellowship recipients receive remission of out-of-state tuition.  Dissertation fellowships of $14,000 per academic year are awarded to students with dissertation status.  UW-Milwaukee fellows are also eligible for health insurance and other fringe benefits.   

Application Deadline

Scholarships:  Varies with fellowship.  Please consult  www.graduateschool.uwm.edu/students/financial-support/fellowships/ for more detailed information.
General Admission:  Applicants for graduate programs should apply at least one year before their studies would begin.  Perspective students should check with individual academic departments for application deadlines.   

Eligibility Requirements

Scholarships
All fellowship recipients must be enrolled in a graduate degree program at UW-Milwaukee during the award period.  Fellows must meet the graduate school continuation requirements each semester and comply with the following regulations:
-Carry and complete a full-load of graduate credits
-May not hold any other fellowship or scholarship concurrently
-May not accept full-time employment

General Admission
 International applicants should submit the following materials:
-A completed application for admission
-An application and evaluation fee of $45 and $40 respectively
-Original or officially certified copies of all grade reports for post-secondary study accompanied by an English translation.
-An essay describing the reasons for pursuing graduate study
-TOEFL (550/213/79 minimum scores); IELTS (6.5 minimum band score)

Further Information
 www.graduateschool.uwm.edu/students/prospective/
 www.uwm.edu/Dept/CIE/IA/IA-GradAppReqs.shtml

Contact
Center for International Education
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
PO Box 413
Milwaukee, WI 53201
Tel:  (414) 229-3757
Fax:  (414) 229-3626
Email:  isss@uwm.edu

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee - Milwaukee Graduate School
Academic Programs and Student Services
PO Box 340
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0340
Tel:  (414) 229-6569
Fax:  (414) 229-6987

 

 

 

 

 

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Graduate: The University of Tennessee Knoxville

The University of Tennessee Knoxville was founded in 1794 and has been the official land-grant university for the state of Tennessee since 1869.  A large, public research institution with an enrollment of 26,400, UT Knoxville buzzes with energy, ideas, and optimism.   

Graduate and professional degrees are offered in the colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; Architecture and Design; Arts and Sciences; Business Administration; Communication and Information; Education; Health and Human Sciences; Engineering; Law; Nursing; Social Work; and Veterinary Medicine.  Endowed faculty chairs, research centers, and an alliance with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Department of Energy’s largest science and energy lab, create graduate and professional scholarship opportunities unique to the Knoxville campus.  The graduate school offers master’s programs in 79 fields, doctoral degrees in 47 fields, two professional programs, and several certificate programs.

Scholarships in the form of Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Research Assistantships, and Graduate Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis through many departments and colleges.  Information about available fellowships can be found at http://gradschool.utk.edu/fellowships.shtml.  

Application Deadline

Scholarships:  Varies with program.  For more information, please contact the academic department directly. 

General Admission:  Fall deadline for submission of application and application fee, February 1.  Spring deadline for submission of application and application fee, June 15. 

Eligibility Requirements

Scholarships

Please consult the specified academic department for further details.

General Admission

Individuals with degrees from foreign institutions must have earned a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or other equivalent to a B average on all undergraduate work and the equivalent to a B+ on all completed graduate work.
Prospective international graduate applicants should submit the following:
-Completed application for admission
-$35 non-refundable application fee
-Official university academic records with certified English translations
-TOEFL (550/213/80 minimum scores); IELTS (6.5 minimum band)
-Documented evidence of financial resources
-GRE or GMAT scores (if required)
-Additional program requirements

Further Information
http://gradschool.utk.edu
http://admissions.utk.edu/graduate/forms/intl.admission.guide.pdf

Contact
Graduate and International Admissions
The University of Tennessee Knoxville
201 Student Services Building
Knoxville, TN 37996-0230
Tel:  (865) 974-3251
Fax:  (865) 974-1090
Email:  graduateadmissions@utk.edu

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Post Doctorate: The Goldstein Lab, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The Goldstein Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is currently offering a Postdoctoral position for interested applicants in the areas of cell and developmental biology.  Postdoctoral scholars working in the lab propose and work on independent projects such as the use of C. Elegans embryos to explore fundamental mechanisms in cell and developmental biology.  Projects that further develop current lines of work in the lab are suitable, so long as the lab is equipped for the proposed study.     

UNC Chapel Hill is renowned for its strong scientific environment and The Goldstein Lab’s work is very interactive and has excellent equipment for the live imaging of cells.  The lab has a fast-growing community of C. Elegans researchers  and an exceptionally strong cytoskeletal dynamics division.  Researchers in the Goldstein Lab tend to  work more independently than in a typical cell, molecular, and development lab producing a work environment that is diverse, interactive, intellectually stimulating, productive, and fun. 

Application:  Interested applicants should contact Bob Goldstein as early as possible to begin discussing project ideas.  In addition, a CV and three letters of recommendation should also be forwarded to:

Bob Goldstein
Biology Department
616 Fordham Hall
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3820

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Community College Program Highlight: Scottsdale Community College, Scottsdale, Arizona

At Scottsdale Community College in sunny Arizona students’ can begin their college experience, pursue their educational goals, advance in their careers, re-train for another career field, or simply pursue lifelong learning experiences.  An accredited two year college located just minutes away from the state capital city of Phoenix, SCC offers two year associate degrees and certificates in university-level courses. 

SCC students can choose from over 100 academic programs including quality university-level courses in programs such as culinary arts, hospitality and tourism management, business, and computing.  The SCC hospitality and tourism program offers a variety of specialized certificate and associate’s degree options as well as university transfer programs that allow students to complete a bachelor’s degree. 

International students have the option to enroll in SCC’s large full-time English as a Second Language program.  For enrollment and contact information about SCC, please consult  www.scottsdalecc.edu/ied/admissions.html. 

Further Information

International Education Programs
Scottsdale Community College
9000 E. Chaparral Road
Scottsdale, AZ  85256
Email: ied@sccmail.maricopa.edu
Phone (480) 423-6590
Fax (480) 423-6099

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English Language Program: The English Language Institute at The University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

As one of the oldest continuously operating intensive English Programs in the United States, the English Language Institute at The University of Southern Mississippi has been “helping the world learn English” for sixty years.  With a professionally trained faculty, eight-week terms, and five levels of English language learning, the English Language Institute can accommodate international students from all backgrounds and levels of English competency. 

Enrolled students in levels 1 and 2 study Grammar, Reading, Writing, Vocabulary, and Listening/Speaking.  Students in levels 3,4, and 5 study Grammar, Reading, Writing, and take two elective courses which include TOEFL Preparation, Business Readings, and English through Classic Movies.  Students placed in level 3 or higher have the opportunity to observe a university undergraduate class by registering for a Listener’s License.  English Language Institute students may also participate in the Conversation Partners Program, which pairs students with university volunteers for conversation practice, free of charge.

On-campus housing is available for English Language Institute students and all students have university library privileges and membership to the campus recreation center which houses an indoor walking/running track, indoor basketball courts, and an indoor swimming pool. 

The costs of attending the University of Southern Mississippi and the English Language Institute are very reasonable and extremely competitive.  In addition, at the end of each English Language Institute term, students in levels 3, 4, and 5 take the ELI Language Proficiency Battery which may qualify as a TOEFL waiver option for application for undergraduate admission at The University of Southern Mississippi.

General Admission:  Students may register at any of the five yearly start-dates.  See  www.eli.usm.edu/calendar.htm for more information.

Further Information
 www.eli.usm.edu
 www.eli.usm.edu/apply.htm

Contact
The University of Southern Mississippi - English Language Institute
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Tel:  (601) 266-4337
Email:  eli@usm.edu

II. News you can use

New Identification Technology Forthcoming for GMAT

Concerned about increased levels of cheating, top business schools will soon require a palm-vein scan as proof of identification for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).  Since 2006, GMAT test takers have been required to undergo digital fingerprinting as proof of identification to deter proxy test taking.  The Graduate Management Admission Council, which oversees the GMAT, notes that palm vein scans are superior to the former technology in terms of efficiency and accuracy. 
Post-graduate professional school admissions tests including the MCAT, LSAT, and the GRE also require some form of identification verification.  Last year, the MCAT began requiring that its applicants submit to digital fingerprinting. The LSAT has mandatory ink fingerprinting, while GRE applicants only need to show valid government-issued identification before sitting for the test. 

The Graduate Management Admission Council took into account potential financial and privacy concerns before implementing the new technology.  The test’s price will remain at $250 and test applicants should be aware that police cannot use palm-vein scans in investigations.  The first palm vein scans will begin as early as August in Korea and India, with a world-wide rollout planned for May 2009.

Read full article online:

Business Schools Try Palm Scans To Finger Cheats
By John Hechinger
22 July 2008
The Wall Street Journal
 www.collegejournal.com/article/SB121669545112672811.html?mod=fpa_editors_picks
(Copyright (c) 2008, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)

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ACT Examinations Have Global Reach

ACT, Inc. is proud to announce an expansion in global capacity.  ACT standardized testing centers are now located in nearly 100 countries and territories throughout the world.  Test results from ACT achievement examinations are used to determine admission applicability by all four-year colleges and universities in the United States as well as universities throughout Canada, the UK, Australia, and other countries around the world.   

The ACT is divided into four mandatory testing areas:  English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning.  The registration fee is $31 for the basic test and $46 for the basic test plus a writing examination. 

To view specific dates and locations that the ACT is being offered in your country or territory, simply go to  www.actstudent.org/regist/outside.html and select your country from the drop-down list under “Look up a test center.” 

Would you like to make the ACT available to students in your country?

Contact Patrick Bourgeacq at Patrick.Bourgeacq@act.org to find out how your organization can become an ACT Test Center.   

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New York Times Article: Which Are America’s Top “Green Universities”?

In keeping with the current focus on environmental sustainability and rising student demand for environmentally proactive institutions, this year’s Princeton Review annual college guide will feature campus “green ratings” which give points to schools based on green attributes such as “environmentally preferable food” and “power from renewable energy sources and energy-efficient buildings.”    

The Princeton Review’s top green marks for 2008 go to Arizona State, Bates, Binghamton University, the College of the Atlantic, Harvard, Emory, George Institute of Technology, Yale, and the Universities of New Hampshire, Oregon, and Washington.  Other organizations, including Forbes Magazine and the Sierra Club, also rank higher education institutions based on environmental friendliness. 

Rob Franek, Vice President of the Princeton Review, notes that the new rating has elicited “a glorious response rate” among colleges and universities.  Although some critics are skeptical about the methodology behind the ratings, Julian Dautremont-Smith Associate Director of a sustainability organization notes that there is general agreement that the ratings open “the door to more serious (environmental) conversations …”

Read full article online at:  www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/education/edlife/27green.html?ref=edlife