Meeting & Agendas

A motion was made to approve the Minutes for February and March meetings. A quorum of voting members was not present. Action: Motion to approve the February and March 2012 minutes at the next meeting.

Update on summer 2012 and 2013 programs: I. STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS Summer 2012 • Three faculty-led programs successfully completed: Costa Rica – Spanish III, Peru – Anthropology, and Spain – Spanish IV. Twenty-nine student participants in total. First time that IP has successfully utilized third-party provider for in-country program logistics and support. • Five students used the new return flight waiver to stay in their program country after the end of the program. Three students went to Machu Picchu, Peru, and two students stayed in Spain. • IP is working with the ACC Social Media Coordinator to develop a Flickr slideshow of photos from summer 2012 programs to place on the IP webpage and ACC social media. Summer 2013 • Twelve faculty-led programs currently on 2013 roster: Argentina – Spanish II, Belize – Anthropology, Costa Rica – Spanish III, Germany – Film History, Ireland – Creative Writing & Comparative Religion, Italy – Art History, Italy – Drawing, Japan – Japanese II, Peru – Anthropology, Spain – Spanish IV, Spain – Speech & Business Communication, and Spain – World Literature & History of Religion. IP is working with faculty leaders to include Theater & Acting in England in 2013 roster. • Six faculty-led program proposals under development: Italy – Pastry and Baked Goods, China – Engineering Physics, W. Europe – Business & Management, W. Europe – History of Mathematics, Mexico – Deaf Education, Barbados – Sustainable Travel & Tourism. • Current programs have gone through itinerary and logistics revisions to increase time in study abroad countries, where feasible, while maintaining affordable program fee. Host family accommodations will be used for all foreign language programs. • Solicited bids for program in-country support from 9 third-party providers and 1 institutional partner, including three Austin-based providers: Academic Programs International, International Studies Abroad, and Sol Education Abroad. Institutional partner is the Palazzi: Florence Association for International Education. • Introducing service learning to two current programs for 2013: Argentina and Spain – Spanish IV. Three program proposals will include service learning: Italy – Pastry & Baked Goods, Mexico – Deaf Education, and Barbados – Sustainable Travel & Tourism. • Marketing program information utilizing print materials, campus posters, campus TV displays, ACC website, ACC social media, student publications, and monthly Google groups list based on sign-up sheets. Developed Spanish-language brochure, info-sheet, and FAQs. • IP started summer 2013 outreach in April with weekly Study Abroad Info Sessions every Wednesday. IP hired a new hourly employee, May Patterson, who worked as an IP Student Representative last fall. May will serve as peer to peer advisor and will be responsible for info sessions, class visits, student orientations, etc. II. BOARD OF TRUSTEES’ STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIP • Awarded twenty-one $1,000 BoT Scholarships to participants in Summer 2012 programs. Awarded two BoT Scholarships to ACC students participating in non-ACC study abroad programs. One recipient is the first ACC student to be awarded a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship (administered by U.S. Department of State). III. EXCHANGE PROGRAMS • Completed 12th year of host institution participation in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals. Two German participants completed the 2011-2012 program this June. ACC will host one participant for the 2012-2013 academic year, with arrival on August 20, 2012. IV. EVALUATION • Developed pilot post-program evaluation survey for use with participants with input from faculty leaders and IPAC. Created SurveyMonkey version for easy web-based survey participation. Pilot survey launched first week of July following return of programs to Austin. Response collection underway. Comments: Roberta Weston (RW) pointed out that there is still a concern about the cost of programs. She appreciates that IP is working with third-party providers, and using host families will decrease the cost, but wonders how we can use institutional partnerships to further reduce costs. *WH: With the new instructional reorganization, IP will now report directly to Dr. Enrique Solis, who has asked IP to develop a five year strategic plan. Dr. Solis is interested in developing sustainable , bilateral partnerships with international higher education institutions. Action: None

ACAC completed its first reading of the study abroad handbooks, with one comment for clarification. Second reading will take place at next ACAC meeting in September. Catherine Angell (CA) commented that she, \'\'really like the way you divide the faculty handbook in two handbooks for easy use by faculty and staff.\'\' Action: None

IP developed a post-program student evaluation survey that was distributed to summer 2012 participants utilizing SurveyMonkey. IP is collecting responses and will be able to create graphic presentation of response data, which will provide useful data for improving the quality of study abroad programs and IP service and support. The evaluation takes approximately 15 minutes and students can complete the survey online. Action: Survey results will be shared with IPAC and study abroad faculty leaders after survey response period ends and results are analyzed.

Dr. Solis has tasked IP with developing a five-year strategic plan that will be incorporated into the College Master Plan. Dr. Solis mentioned that with the new reorganization there are a lot of things we can do in addition to study abroad, including faculty and student exchanges, institutional partnerships, grant proposals to support developing IP, work with USAID or other international organizations, participating in Fulbright programs, among other areas. Additionally, IP could develop an international speakers series. Comments: RW: with the lack of personnel in the IP Office and with the hiring freeze, if there is anything that could be done so to fill at least one coordinator position? WH: We will have to work step by step. With the hiring freeze there are no hirings or promotions for the present. Charles Quinn (CQ) mentioned that it would be helpful to fill at least one coordinator position. Robert Rogers (RR) remarked that it might be possible to submit a request because it is a critical situation. Action: None