HECUA News

HECUA -- HECUA News (updated October 29, 2003)

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Walk for Justice Raises Money for Scholarships
Recent event raised over $500 – enough to fund a new HECUA scholarship. Thank you to all who supported HECUA.

Fellows Program
Experiencing the type of learning achieved on HECUA programs is enhanced for faculty and staff who participate in the Fellows program and spend a week at a HECUA site while programs are in session. Fellows are supported by a combination of funding from HECUA and their home campus.

Fall 2003 Fellows:
Ecuador: Cari Skogberg (Augustana) and Jay Levi (Carleton)

Guatemala: Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer (St. Thomas)
Norway: Margit Johnson (Carleton) and Michael Monahan (Macalester); Roger Miller (UMN) will be part of the field visit to Sweden and Estonia.
U.S. (Environment Program): Dale Trapp (Concordia-St. Paul); Cindy Johnson-Groh (Gustavus Adolphus); Gary Wagenbach (Carleton); Joe Underhill-Cady (Augsburg)
U.S. (Metro Urban Studies Term): Michael O’Neal (Augsburg) Paula Consolini (Williams); Lance McCready (Carleton); Suda Ishida (Hamline); Marcia Runnberg (Saint Scholastica); Karin Aguilar San Juan (Macalester)

Staff Updates
-David Holliday, Student Services, was accepted as a member of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra. Our resident cellist participated in his first concert with them one week after completing the Twin Cities Marathon.
-Martha Malinski promoted from Internship Coordinator to Internship Director.
-Julia Frost Nerbonne, Environmental Science Program Director, published an article in the Journal of National Resources Life Science Education (Vol. 32) on the success of classroom simulation she uses to teach students about community land management: "The Rancher's Dilemma: A Game Exploring the Implications of an Open Access System."
-William Reichard's latest book of poetry How To was published this month by Mid-List Press. Reichard, City Arts Program Director, will read select works at Open Book in Minneapolis on Dec. 9 at 7:00pm. Visit www.loft.org for more location information.
-Phil Sandro, Senior Program Director, has led faculty workshops at both the University of Oslo and Diakonhjemmet College on experiential methods and evaluation while directing the Scandinavian Studies Term for Fall 2003.
-Lauren Swanstrom, a Gustavus alumna, hired as part-time Administrative Assistant for the Partners Internship Program.

Strong Field of Applicants Under Review for Executive Director Position
The second step in the process of hiring a new Executive Director is underway. Applications have been received from around the world and across various discipines for the new Executive Director. Interviews are expected to be scheduled for December/January and will include various stakeholders and campus representatives.

Alumni Survey Reveals Strong Support for Current and New Programs
Responses to the survey sent to 2,000 alumni in August show that alumni continue to hold HECUA in very high esteem and are very interested in continuing their relationship with HECUA. Results suggest moving forward with several objectives:

1) Continue connection with and programming for alumni.

2) Tap into alumni for recruitment and marketing.

3) Elicit alumni ideas and resources to improve programs.

4) Offer alumni opportunities to invest in and support HECUA.

Nearly 100% of respondents are willing to make a financial contribution to HECUA. 80% of respondents are interested in HECUA-sponsored alumni travel programs – with high interest in current program sites such as Ecuador or Guatemala.

For a detailed report contact Judy Sharken Simon ([email protected]).

January Programs Boast Strong Student Interest
HECUA offers three January programs: Civil Rights: History and Consequences (including field study in the U.S. South); Development and Community in Bangladesh; and Intensive Intermediate Spanish II (Ecuador).

Abroad programs are at capacity; limited spaces remain in Civil Rights program, click here for more information or contact Elizabeth Petheo (651/646-8832, [email protected]).

Northern Ireland Ties Deepen Amid Program Changes
The UNESCO Centre is pursuing accreditation of the Northern Ireland program at the University of Ulster; actions signify deep ties with HECUA and may offer opportunities for University of Ulster students to participate in program.

Lorraine (Heffernan) McIlrath, program director, has resigned her position with UNESCO Centre/HECUA to relocate to Ireland. HECUA Director of Programs Jacquelyn Geier will participate in interviews and the hiring process with the UNESCO Centre this month. A new program director is scheduled to visit the U.S. December 8-12.

Faculty Development Partnership Commences with New Member
The College of St. Scholastica, supported by Bush Foundation funding and faculty development resources, will bring nine faculty and three staff members to the Twin Cities in January.

The program will explore issues of experiential education and introduce HECUA resources.

HECUA Continues to Meet Campus-Specific Needs through Innovative Programming
-The College of St. Catherine, in its ongoing partnership with HECUA, will conduct a fifth short-term immersion program to Ecuador this January. The program meets the capstone requirement of the Global Search for Justice with a 10-day immersion experience embedded within a regular semester course focused on Women and Work.

-Siena College in Albany, New York has contracted with HECUA for a nine-day program exploring current social justice issues in Guatemala this January. Program makes use of Guatemala site to explore issues of globalization, including opportunities for indigenous family home stays in the Lake Atitlán region.

HECUA Recognizes Augsburg College’s Garry Hesser for 25 Years of Service
Professor of Sociology Garry Hesser chairs the interdisciplinary Metro Urban Studies Program at Augsburg and has been a constant advocate for HECUA on campus and to nationwide audiences as a frequent presenter on best practices in experiential education. His commitment to HECUA has included serving as Interim Executive Director and President of the Board. He currently sits on the Academic Programs Committee and the Executive Committee and serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors. More information about Hesser is available at www.augsburg.edu/sociology/garry_hesser.html.

Alumni and colleagues wishing to send greetings and congratulations should e-mail them to Judy Sharken Simon ([email protected]). Submissions will be bound and presented in a book of achievement.

October NSEE Conference Affirms Experiential Education Methods Used by HECUA
HECUA played a prominent role in organizing and presenting workshops at the National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE) Conference in Minneapolis.

HECUA is recognized as a leader for its linking of experiential learning to diverse social issues and questions of justice in creative and effective ways.

Sessions led by HECUA staff and alumni were: Integrating Vocation into Classrooms and Communities; Review of the Civil Rights Program; Study Abroad and Service Learning. Presenters included Sara Carpenter, Jacquelyn Geier, Martha Malinski, and various HECUA alumni. Also presenting with HECUA were Carleton Board Representative Margit Johnson and Elizabeth Baer, Gustavus Adolphus Civil Rights Teaching Fellow.

Nadinne Cruz, 1983-1992 HECUA Executive Director, received NSEE's Pioneer Award for exceptional commitment.

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