Friday @ the Center
January 22, 2010
Is A Fulbright in Your Future?
Applications for the 2011-12 Faculty Fulbright Program open on Feb. 1, 2010. Fulbright Faculty Programs operate in more than 155 countries worldwide providing faculty with the opportunity to study, teach, or conduct research in another country. Approximately 7,500 grants are awarded annually, and the majority of grantees are new to the program.The reasons for applying for a Fulbright grant are varied. The Council for International Exchange of Scholars advises, “You may want your family to experience living abroad. You may be interested in sharing your academic expertise in a classroom overseas, or want to conduct research in an archive or work with your colleagues abroad. You may be interested in the development of foreign educational systems, administration and curricula development. Or, you may be planning to globalize your institution and want to create new linkages between your home campus and a foreign institution. Whatever your reasons, as a Fulbright grantee you will refresh your thinking, and learn about a discipline in a context other than that of the United States.”
SPU Carnegie Junior Fellows Nominee
Congratulations to senior Kristin McCarthy, who recently was nominated by SPU for a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Junior Fellowship. Kristen’s application now moves to the national competition, from which 8-10 students will be selected to work at the Carnegie Endowment for one year. Kristen is a double major in history and political science/international affairs, and recently returned from the CCCU Middle Eastern Studies Program in Egypt, where she interned at the World Affairs Council.
What Employers Want in 2010
The Association of American Colleges and Universities released on Wednesday the findings of a national survey of executives at 302 private sector and non-profit employers who say that in today’s information age, their employees need a broader set of skills and higher levels of knowledge than ever before. Here are some of the numbers, which provide food for thought as we continue to discuss General Education requirements at SPU:
- 91 percent of those surveyed expect employees “to take on more responsibilities and to use a broader set of skills than in the past.”
- 90 percent said employees “are expected to work harder to coordinate with other departments than in the past.”
- 89 percent said that colleges should place more emphasis on preparing students "to effectively communicate orally and in writing."
- 84 percent said that completion of "a significant project before graduation" like a capstone course or senior thesis would help a lot or a fair amount to prepare students for success, with 62 percent saying it would help "a lot."
- 81 percent felt colleges should prepare students to use "critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills."
- 79 percent wanted students “to have the ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world settings through internships or other hands on-experiences."
- 45 percent thought colleges should do more to emphasize proficiency in a foreign language.
- 40 percent thought colleges should do more to instill knowledge of democratic institutions and values.
Headline of the Week
Female Scientists Do More Housework Than Men Do
Happy Teaching,
Susan Susan VanZanten |
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