EducationUSA Weekly Update     

No. 95 September 1, 2008

I. Scholarships and Fellowships
- Undergraduate: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Undergraduate and Graduate:  Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Undergraduate and Graduate:  The College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota
- College Highlight: Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Post Doctorate: NCAR Fellowships in the Atmospheric Sciences, Boulder, Colorado

II. News you can use
- CRS Report: Foreign Science and Engineering Presence in U.S. Institutions and the Labor Force
- ACE: International Partnerships: Guidelines for Colleges and Universities
- New Book: Working World - Careers in International Education, Exchange and Development

I. Scholarships and Fellowships

Undergraduate: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

Rated one of the top five best value schools in the United States, North Carolina State University offers its students renowned academic programs and an intellectually rigorous environment for a reasonable cost.  North Carolina State’s more than 8,000 faculty and staff members serve a student population of some 31,000 in its central campus in Raleigh and in its thirteen off-campus regional research and extension centers and nine field laboratories.
Freshman at North Carolina State begin working on their major immediately, allowing them to pursue their research interests during the entirety of their study.  Incoming students can enroll in one of North Carolina State’s ten colleges and schools:  College of Agriculture & Life Science, College of Design, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Humanities & Social Sciences, College of Management, College of Natural Resources, College of Physical and Mathematical Science, College of Textiles, and the College of Veterinary Medicine. 
In addition to offering 100 majors, North Carolina State is one of the most environmentally conscientious campuses in the country.  The Centennial Campus, founded nearly twenty years ago as a collaborative research campus, is a striking example of North Carolina State’s commitment to technology, innovation, and partnerships.     
Prospective North Carolina State international students have the opportunity to qualify for multiple merit scholarships offered by the university and its individual colleges.
Application Deadline
Scholarships:  Deadlines vary with scholarships.  Please consult http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/financial_aid/scholarshipresources.htm and http://www.ncsu.edu/oisss/resources/intlscholarships.htm for more details.
General Admission: 
February 1 for fall admission; August 15 for spring admission.
Eligibility Requirements
Scholarships: Full-time enrollment is required for most scholarships. 
General Admission
A complete international freshman application file will include:
-An application for admission
-A $70 non-refundable application fee
-Academic records and secondary school leaving exams accompanied by official English translations
-SAT I or ACT
-TOEFL (550/79 minimum score); IELTS (6.5 minimum band score)
Further Information
http://www.ncsu.edu/index.php
http://admissions.ncsu.edu/how-apply/admission-profile/application-process-international.php
Contact
Office of International Services
NC State University, 320 Daniels Hall, Box 7222, Raleigh, NC 27695
Tel:  (919) 515-2961, Fax:  (919) 515-1402, Email:  OIS@nscu.edu

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Undergraduate and Graduate:  Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Marquette University was founded in 1881 as a private Catholic Jesuit University.  Today, faith and spirituality are still an essential part of an academic environment that fosters spiritual growth in people of all faiths through religious service, community service, and retreats. 
Marquette offers its 8,048 undergraduates more than 112 majors to choose from in eight colleges:  Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Pre-professional studies, Communication, Engineering, Health Sciences, Nursing, and Education.  The graduate school offers more than 20 degrees and certificates to choose form in 35 graduate programs.  Marquette also houses a law school, a dental school, and a graduate school of management.  
International students will have no problem finding assistance at Marquette.  The Office of International Education organizes events and English as a Second Language Program classes throughout the year.  Undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships are also available for prospective international undergraduate and graduate students.   
Application Deadline
General Admission:  Rolling admission; international students are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Scholarships:  Awarded with admission.
Scholarships
Marquette University uses its own resources to provide scholarships for qualified international students. For more information and a list of all the scholarships available to international students, visit http://www.marquette.edu/oie/intl_scholarships.shtml. 
Graduate students, should visit http://www.grad.mu.edu/finaid/private.shtml to view a program breakdown of merit-based aid opportunities.
Eligibility Requirements for General Admission
Incoming freshman must submit:
-A completed International Undergraduate Application Form
-An application fee of $40
-Secondary school internal academic records with English translations
-Secondary school external academic records with English translations
-SAT test results
-TOEFL; IELTS; APIEL 
-Evidence of Financial Ability
Graduate students:
-TOEFL (550/213/79-80 minimum score)
-F1 Visa
Further Information
http://www.marquette.edu
http://www.marquette.edu/oie/intl_process.shtml  (undergraduate admissions)
http://www.marquette.edu/oie/intl_process.shtml (graduate admissions)
Contact
Office of International Education
Marquette University
Alumni Memorial Union, 425
PO Box 1881 Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
Tel:  (414) 288-7289, Fax:  (414) 288-3701
Email:  world@marquette.edu

Marquette University Graduate School
Tel:  (414) 288-7137
Email:  carl.wainscott@marquette.edu

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Undergraduate and Graduate:  The College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota

New studies show that graduates of women’s colleges are more likely to report that their academic investment was worthwhile.  As the largest college for women in the United States, The College of St. Catherine, or St. Kate’s, strives to develop the leadership potential of its 5,238 baccalaureate, weekend, associate, and graduate students by encouraging academic excellence. 
Located in the twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, The College of St. Catherine offers a wide variety of program offerings for both undergraduates and graduates including forty-eight majors and minors such as business administration, economics, education, international relations, nursing, social work, and women’s studies.  Thirty-seven additional majors are available through St. Catherine’s associated schools program and students can also choose to design their own major.  
The majority of international students applying to St. Catherine’s receive financial support in the form of scholarships.  Prospective students must apply for scholarships upon application for admission.  International student scholarships of $1,000-$12,000 per year are awarded to full-time students.  The Wassie Scholarship for Women Leaders awards up to $20,000 per year to an undergraduate, female student who is a citizen of Poland.  Alumnae referral scholarships and family scholarships are also available to students who are referred by alumnae or whose grandmother, mother, or sister(s) attended St. Catherine’s. 
Application Deadline
General Admission: June 30 for entry in the fall semester; November 15 for entry in the winter semester.
Scholarships:  March 15th for fall admission; October 15 for winter admission.
Scholarships
For further information on scholarship eligibility, prospective students should consult the international student scholarship page at http://www.stkate.edu/admissions/pages/financial/fin_intlscholar.html.
Eligibility Requirements for General Admission
Incoming freshman must submit:
-An International Student Application for Admission, completed in full
-An application fee of $20
-Two letters of recommendation
-A personal statement
-Official records from secondary schools with English translations
-Proof of completion of secondary school (diploma or other certificate)
-TOEFL (500/173 minimum score)
-Certificate of Finances Form
-F1 Visa
Further Information
http://www.stkate.edu
http://minerva.stkate.edu/ugradapps.nsf/pages/international?OpenDocument
Contact
Office of International Admissions
The College of St. Catherine
2004 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105 USA
Tel:  (651) 690-6029
Email:  admissions@stkate.edu and  international@skate.edu
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College Highlight: Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Founded in 1911, Pine Manor is a four-year private college for women offering undergraduate studies in 50 areas of concentration.  Pine Manor provides:

 Unique Enhanced First Year program (EFY) is designed to help ESL and international students bridge the language gap during their first year of undergraduate studies.  With credit-bearing classes, students are on track to graduate in 4 years.  Reading comprehension and Grammatical writing classes offer additional English support.

 Leadership Mission – Pine Manor prepares women for roles of inclusive leadership and social responsibility in their workplaces, families and communities

 On-site English Language Institute – coed program providing intensive English language classes year round.  Conditional admission offered.

 Small Class Sizes- an average of 15 students per class and 10:1 student to faculty ratio

 One of the oldest internship programs with over 1,000 sites

 Cross Registration Opportunities at Boston College, Babson College and the Marine Studies Consortium

 Learning Resource Center (LRC) offers professional tutoring and other individualized services at no additional cost

 Among the most affordable private colleges in the U.S.;  Tuition:  $18, 957.;  Room and meals:  $11,115.;  Healthcare: $753.  Fees: $400.

 Ranked #1 for campus diversity among BA liberal arts colleges in the country (US News and World Report America’s Best Colleges 2007)

 Comprehensive Portfolio Program

 7 Varsity Athletic Teams in NCAA Division III:  Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, Soccer, Tennis, Cross-Country, Lacrosse

Contact Admissions at admissions@pmc.edu  View international pages at www.pmc.edu/international

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Post Doctorate: NCAR Fellowships in the Atmospheric Sciences, Boulder, Colorado

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is a research institution located in Boulder, Colorado, operated by the nonprofit University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) under sponsorship of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Through its Advanced Study Program (ASP), NCAR offers a continuing program of postdoctoral study in the atmospheric and related sciences.
Overview
The postdoctoral program provides an opportunity for recent Ph.D. scientists to continue to pursue their research interests in atmospheric and related science. The program also invites postdoctoral physicists, chemists, applied mathematicians, computer scientists, engineers, and specialists from related disciplines such as biology, geology, science education, economics, and geography, to apply their training to research in the atmospheric sciences.

The primary goal of the program is to develop the careers of recent Ph.D. graduates. The ASP also encourages independence and creativity while providing an environment in which fellows interact with and receive advice from experienced scientists at NCAR.
Qualifications
An applicant must have a Ph.D. or Sc. D. degree granted in an area related to NCAR science after 1 October 2003, or must be able to complete such a degree and finish all thesis revisions and defense before starting the NCAR appointment. We encourage applications from women and minorities. There are no special restrictions for foreign applicants.

Primary criteria used in the selection of postdoctoral fellows are the applicant's scientific capability and potential, especially as indicated by originality and independence, and the match between the applicant's interests and the research opportunities available at NCAR.
Stipend and Benefits
Successful applicants currently receive a stipend of $51,000 in the first year, and $53,000 in the second year. These stipends are adjusted annually in June based on surveys of like institutions. All appointees are eligible for life and health insurance. Travel expenses to NCAR will be reimbursed up to a maximum of $1000 for the fellow and his or her family. Reimbursement will include either one-way Federal Mileage allowance (currently .445/mile) or one-way Airfare. Fellows living abroad will have round-trip travel for themselves and their families paid up to a maximum of $2,500. An allowance of $750. for moving and storing personal belongings is provided. Scientific travel and registration fees that cost up to $1,500/year are normally available.

 

Number and Terms of Appointments
The number of new appointments varies somewhat from year to year. Appointments are for a maximum of two years. Most fellows begin their appointments between June and October, but earlier or later arrivals can usually be accommodated.
Further information and specific details regarding the 2009 competition will be posted online at: http://www.asp.ucar.edu/pdfp/pd_announcement.php

If you have any questions please contact the Advanced Study Program at: asp-apply@asp.ucar.edu

II. News you can use

CRS Report: Foreign Science and Engineering Presence in U.S. Institutions and the Labor Force

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/97-746.pdf

Few will dispute that U.S. universities and industry have chosen foreign talent to fill many positions. Foreign scientists and
engineers serve the needs of industry at the doctorate level and also have been found to serve in major roles at the masters level. However, there are charges that U.S. workers are adversely affected by the entry of foreign scientists and engineers, who reportedly accept lower wages than U.S. citizens would accept in order to enter or remain in the United States.

NSF data reveal that in 2005, the foreign student population earned approximately 34.7% of the doctorate degrees in the sciences and approximately 63.1% of the doctorate degrees in engineering. In 2005, foreign students on temporary resident visas earned 30.8% of the doctorates in the sciences, and 58.6% of the doctorates in engineering. The participation rates in 2004 were 28.5% and 57.3%, respectively. In 2005, permanent resident status students earned 3.8% of the doctorates in the sciences and 4.5% of the doctorates in engineering, slightly above the 2004 levels of 3.7% and 4.2%, respectively.

Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)

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ACE: International Partnerships: Guidelines for Colleges and Universities

van de Water, J., Green, M. and Koch, K., International Partnerships: Guidelines for Colleges and Universities, ACE , 2008.
This report is the second publication of the series U.S. Higher Education in a Global Context of the American Council on Education (ACE). As the authors consider the US is facing a significant new challenge - the deterioration of positive relationships with several major regions of the world, within the current study they highlight and describe the fundamentals of planning, developing and implementing international partnerships. The publication further outlines a range of aspects institutions should take into account when establishing partnerships, including leadership, support, budget issues and the potential for long-term growth. In addition, the appendices of the publication provide sample agreements covering different types of partnerships.
The report is highly relevant, given that, as the authors write “Today’s context for international partnerships has both heightened their importance and created new challenges”.
Copies of International Partnerships: Guidelines for Colleges and Universities can be ordered via the ACE online bookstore.
http://store.acenet.edu/showItem.aspx?product=311845&session=19E20FDF5ACC401C9FB15E48495500E2
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New Book: Working World - Careers in International Education, Exchange and Development

Georgetown University Press has released a new volume by Sherry L. Mueller, President of the National Council for International Visitors, and Mark Overmann, Director of College Communications at Georgetown University. The book, Working World: Careers in International Education, Exchange and Development, is an engaging and practical career guide for those interested in international affairs. It provides specific resources on organizations, websites and further reading, and includes profiles of professionals.

For more information or to purchase the book, visit:
www.nciv.org/documents/WorkingWorldFlyer.pdf