HECUA Adapts J-term Program as Response to Volatility in Central Asia

In light of safety concerns and sensitivities around world events, HECUA chose to cancel the J-term in Bangladesh, instead offering students an adapted program in Ecuador. Students also have the option to participate in the HECUA/St. Olaf J-term program in the Twin Cities.

Program staff have quickly made adaptations, demonstrating HECUA's agility in shifting programs. HECUA expects to resume the successful and popular program in Bangladesh next year.

Alumni Workshop Allows HECUA Alumni to Reflect, Connect on Social Change Work

In early November, 19 recent HECUA alumni participated in an alumni workshop at the Resource Center of the Americas titled, "Being a Catalyst: Lessons and Reflection on Social Change Work."

The students reflected on their experiences upon returning to the U.S. and to campuses after their semesters with HECUA. This workshop is a part of HECUA’s continued efforts to facilitate integration of learning back to campuses and the community.

St. Olaf College Fall Colloquia

HECUA led the first of two fall colloquia at St. Olaf College for students and faculty who will participate in the new interdisciplinary courses be launched in January 2002. Participants explored the interconnections among global and local realities and issues of diversity students will encounter during the Twin Cities field experience.

This is a three-year project that focuses especially on infusing the curriculum with opportunities to learn about diversity.

Professional Education Highlights

September initiated the first of HECUA's new professional education workshops, "Public Art, Urban Spaces." This workshop has generated requests for a variety of custom-designed workshops using a similar interactive tour format.

In September McKnight Project Director Blake Ratner, HECUA Faculty Liaison Joe Underhill-Cady (Augsburg), and HECUA staff convened a workshop of environmental science faculty at consortium colleges.

Phil Sandro, MUST Program Director, provided two workshops for Macalester faculty during their annual retreat in September. The workshops were both on the foundations of experiential education and the HECUA model.

Williams College Initiating Proposal to Join HECUA

Executive Director Amy Sunderland visited Williams in October to meet with faculty, administrators and students, including those who were involved in the HECUA-Williams J-term last year.

Student and faculty feedback has been positive, and faculty are initiating a proposal for Williams to join HECUA.

HECUA Awarded St. Paul Companies Grant

HECUA was awarded $10,000 from The St. Paul Companies in support of its organizational development plan. While it was not the amount hoped for, it is good news for HECUA, since the company’s funding capacity has been severely affected by the events of September 11th.

Environmental Grants Awarded to Member Faculty

Bob Douglas from Gustavus Adolphus College and David Kelley of the University of St. Thomas are recipients of two mini-grants from HECUA funded by The McKnight Foundation. These grants fund experiential learning activities within already established courses in the environmental studies programs at St. Thomas and Gustavus.

Alumni Project Serves Environmental Initiative in Guatemala

Joe Carlile from Gustavus College, a participant in the 2001 environmental program in Guatemala, returned to Guatemala to gather data from the Lake Atitlán basin. A number of local and international NGOs are interested in his Geographica Information System, which contains the best data currently available in Guatemala. Before the end of the month he will make a presentation on his research.

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