FOCUS Orientation CommUnity Fair Fall 2021
Award-Winning WORLD Staff
During a time of chaos, uncertainty, and an upheaval from the norm, the WORLD team continued to push through all obstacles by continuing to offer the best service to our Stetson community. This year, the WORLD Center staff and student employees were recognized for all their hard work.
- Paula Hentz, Director of International Learning, P.A.R. Award
During Stetson Annual Employee Recognition Award Ceremony, Paula Hentz received the P.A.R. Award which is given to an individual who embodies the three characteristics of professionalism, attitude, and reliability. Her nominator said that during this tumultuous year for international education, Paula “navigated the roller coaster of activity related to the pandemic from carefully building programs to seeing them come to a screeching halt, evacuating students across the globe, border restrictions, political battles, ICE complications, and other global dynamics that threaten international diplomacies and relationships that the WORLD Center worked for many, many years to build.” Paula is a consummate professional and has managed the delicate balance between family life while maintaining the strictest codes of professionalism while attending to her core work responsibilities. “No matter the situation, Paula remains poised, exuding the essence of calm competence so critical to the work of higher education,” said her nominator. Our Center is incredibly honored to work with an incredible leader who has helped our office come out of one of the most difficult times for our field. Paula was also nominated for the Morale Builder of the Year.
- Roxanne Lewis, International Student and Scholar Services Coordinator, January 2021 Spirit of Stetson Winner
The Spirit of Stetson is awarded monthly to a member of the Stetson community who dedicates themselves every day to do a job well done. Roxanne received the award in January for all the incredible work she accomplished with our international student population. The Quality of Service Council recognized the incredible challenges she faced with the ever-changing landscape of immigration laws, changes for a virtual orientation, and the relationships she builds with our students. Her nominator also mentioned that Roxanne is an incredible member of the community and cares deeply for others. During the pandemic, Roxanne regularly reached out to colleagues to check in and see how they were doing. Her empathy and care embodies the Spirit of Stetson. Also, this year at the Employee Recognition Awards event, Roxanne was nominated for the Go Beyond Award for her work with our international students. She successfully worked with Grants, Development, and Financial Aid to find financial support for our students who were unable to support themselves due to the pandemic and/or political and social unrest at home. In addition, Roxanne was a part of a group of faculty and staff to receive recognition during the yearly Top Hatter Awards as a First-Year Advocate.
- Morgan Egan, Student Marketing Coordinator, September 2020 Student Employee of the Month – Professionalism and Productivity.
Morgan worked tirelessly from the start of the pandemic assisting the WORLD office in processing refund requests for all the canceled study abroad programs. After the university went entirely virtual, Morgan created a biweekly student-driven program called the Virtual Culture Hour. The series, which continued through the 20/21 academic year, highlighted a different country or region of the world where our international or study abroad students would share the history, culture, misconceptions, brief language lesson, cooking demonstration, and a fun trivia game. Morgan also worked hard throughout the year to update the outdated WORLD websites and make them more visually appealing and easier to navigate. She also assisted in the creation and implementation of our Virtual Study Abroad Fair which we offered 3 times during the year. Morgan is graduating this upcoming weekend and we will miss her professionalism and productivity at the WORLD Center.
- Anh Nguyen, Student Clerical Assistant, March 2021 Student Employee of the Month – Global and Intercultural Engagement
As the Clerical Assistant, Anh Nguyen, works closely with her supervisor, Roxanne Lewis, by designing posters, creating presentations, planning events, managing email communications, and helping fellow international students with the management of their residency status. Anh initially began working with WORLD as a WORLD Ambassador as a member of the Social Committee. She has always had the goal of assisting international students and make them feel at home at Stetson. From the moment she first entered the WORLD building, she knew she wanted to work there and help her fellow classmates. She loves being able to learn new skills that she can apply to all areas of her work and education. Not only is Anh a WORLD student employee, but she is also a Resident Assistant (RA), Vice President of APAC (Asian Pacific American Coalition), and a full-time International Business major.
Anh also was the recipient of the Stetson Values Leader Award for Global Citizenship during the Top Hatter Annual Award Ceremony. The award is given to one outstanding Stetson student that has demonstrated a commitment to Stetson’s Value of Global Citizenship in their involvements, leadership, and contributions to the community.
Meet Anirudh Bhatnagar…Stetson International graduate sees value in being a HATTER.
WORLD is fortunate to give the spotlight to another hardworking and ambitious alumnus from Stetson. This time WORLD is featuring Anirudh Bhatnagar – a Stetson alumnus from India who graduated from the university in Spring 2018 with a degree of BSc Physics. After graduation, Anirudh was accepted to the University of Copenhagen to complete his master’s degree with the major of Quantum Physics. His expected graduation date from the University of Copenhagen is Spring 2023.
Anirudh talked to us about his time at Stetson – his favorite moments, the challenges he faced, and advice he could give to the current international Hatters. His favorite thing at Stetson was the close-knit and diverse community in which he was able to meet people from different backgrounds and with different passions. He met his best friends at Stetson, who he has stayed in touch with even after his graduation.
Anirudh’s advice to the current international students is to not fear making mistakes. He says “It is only natural to slip up and mess up at times…”
Anirudh Bhatnagar
Although Anirudh recalls his time in the U.S. and Stetson as one of his favorite periods, it did not pass without difficulties. The biggest challenge for him as an international Hatter was constantly dealing with accidental mess-ups. He says that every year, something had gone wrong. However, the WORLD office and Roxanne Lewis were always supportive of him and managed to help him fix whatever came up. With this being said, Anirudh’s advice to the current international students is to not fear making mistakes. He says that it is only natural to slip up and mess up at times because studying abroad and adapting to a new culture and ways of living is a challenging process.
Anirudh is currently in India, getting ready for his departure to Denmark in a few months to start his master’s degree. He told us about his employment experiences after graduation. He worked at two jobs – one in the U.S. and the other in his home country India. His first job upon graduation was at an Aerospace company called Satcom Direct as a technical analyst in Florida. Returning to his home country where he had not been for almost a decade, Anirudh started working at the Indian Institute of Technology as a Research Associate. In this position, he worked on developing theories on various projects. He is grateful for both of these experiences as they had helped him improve himself and solidify his topic of interest for his further studies as a graduate student.
Anirudh recalls his time at Stetson with much gratitude and believes that becoming a Hatter was one of the best decisions he had ever made.
Written by Ani Martikyan and Anirudh Bhatnagar
FAQs for International F1 Students
Last updated : February 23, 2021
February 23, 2021
Are there any restrictions due to Covid if I want to travel into the USA? Yes. Any international traveler coming to the USA must show proof of a negative Covid test before boarding any flight to any US destination. Once the traveler has arrived they should quarantine for 7-10 days ( seven if they have a repeat negative test ten if they do not repeat test.) Travelers from some countries are still restricted from entering the USA unless they receive a waiver.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html
Check with your local government for more information when you are making your plans for travel. More information can be found on the Center for Disease Control (CDC) web site
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html
and the United States Department of State web site
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html
I am a continuing student. I am taking all online courses and the border just opened in my country so I can travel. Can return to the USA half way thorough the term? Yes. as long as you have a valid VISA and Passport and I-20 you can travel into the USA. Be sure you have contacted residential Life and Learning to make arrangements for a room before you come. Be prepared to follow all the restrictions and regulations applicable at the time of travel.
I am a new student who has never taken classes face-to face at Stetson. The embassy just issued me my visa. Can I come to Stetson in the middle of the term? No. As a new international student to Stetson you are not allowed into the country more than 30 days before the start of the new term. Also please remember that any international student on an initial I-20 must take the first semester of courses face-to-face or hybrid. You cannot study from abroad after you have been issued a visa until that on campus semester has been completed.
I am an initial status student but I have not been issued a Visa yet. I have been taking online classes from home while I wait for the embassy to give me an appointment. can I continue to take classes from home if it is not safe for me to travel after i get my visa? No. once you have your visa you are required to take your classes in person, face-to-face or hybrid the first available semester. If you cannot or choose not to come you must defer your I-20 start date and are prohibited from taking any classes online until that on-campus semester is completed.
July 24, 2020
What are my options for study if I can’t return ? International students who cannot return to Stetson are able to take online-only classes from anywhere in the world, including within the USA. Be sure all the classes on your schedule are marked OL signifying online. If you prefer you can choose to take a leave of absence for the fall from Stetson and work with me to be sure your Sevis record is updated. Before you return in the Spring we need to be in touch to reactivate your Sevis record so you can enter then.
What are my options for study since this will be my first semester as a college student this fall? All first time in college international students who have an F1 visa MUST take at least half of their credits either face to face or hybrid, therefore you must come to campus. If you are unable to come to classes you have the option to defer your start date. Contact WORLD for assistance at [email protected]
I’m a first time in college student but I didn’t get a visa yet. Can I study from home? Yes. If you do not have an F1 visa yet you are not officially a international student in Sevis. Therefore, you are able to defer your start date until spring and take classes from Stetson while at home. Be sure to reach out to [email protected] to keep your Sevis record available so you can continue to work toward getting a visa for the next term of study.
Can I quarantine somewhere other than campus? Yes, you are permitted to quarantine anywhere in the USA for two weeks upon arrival but you are welcome to Quarantine on campus if you need to. Be sure to fill out the form distributed by residential living and learning to let them know your arrival date so they can have your room ready.
Can arrive late to campus? I am having trouble getting a flight to the US Stetson is able to accommodate a late start up to a point. You have until the end of the add/drop period to begin classes without needing to seek permission to start late. If you must arrive after that time reach out to WORLD to begin that process of requesting permission.
I will still be in quarantine off-campus when classes begin. Can I start classes late? If you are taking all online classes you can begin from wherever you are quarantining on time. If you are expected to participate in face-to-face or hybrid classes you should reach out to your instructors and let them know you are in quarantine and will be arriving late. YOu must also request permission to begin late from the Academic Appeals Committee. WORLD can support your request if necessary.
How do I know if Stetson has a room reserved for me? You must fill out the housing request form before arriving on campus. Residential Life and Learning has committed to reserving space for our international students. However, space will fill up since we are limiting occupancy to one person per room. Fill out the form and submit it as soon as possible.
When is the WORLD Center open for the fall semester? The WORLD Staff will be in the office once or twice a week unless otherwise noted. WORLD will update all signage on our website and office doors if there are any changes to the schedule. The staff at WORLD is available to assist international students with their adjustment acclimation to Stetson University, as well as to answer any questions regarding study abroad. Meetings will take place virtually whenever possible. If an in-person meeting is needed, students should make a specific request to the WORLD Staff member via email or phone. If you would like to speak with someone on staff, you have two options:
- Call the office at 386-822-8165 and ask to speak with any staff member. Calls will be answered as staff is available. All staff members have 8×8 set up on their computers and can take phone calls during office hours whether working on campus or at home.
- Schedule an appointment to meet virtually with a staff member via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. By scheduling an appointment, you can lock in dedicated time with any of our professional staff.
- January- February ’21 – Paula Hentz
- March’21 – Roxanne Lewis
- April – Wendy Viggiano
- Does WORLD offer walk-in hours?
- Walk-in hours will be available when staff is working on campus. You are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment for a walk-in hours.
- WORLD is always available virtually Monday through Friday, except on University holidays, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Eastern Time.
I need a signature on my I-20. I-20 signatures are being handled virtually. Contact any world staff member for assistance.
- I want to drop off required study abroad forms or a payment (check, money order, or cash)You can drop off forms and payments during walk in hours but we strongly encourage students to send forms and payments through campus mail.
- I have questions about studying abroad
- You have questions, we have answers. Feel free to schedule a virtual meeting with Paula Hentz (Exchange programs) or Wendy Viggiano (Faculty Led and Affiliate Programs). We are happy to help find the right study abroad program for you.
How to check if your courses are online, hybrid, or Face to Face
Log into MyStetson
Click on One Stop
Go to My Classes
Click on Change Term
Select a Term (from the drop down box): Fall 2020- DeLand, the click Submit
Click Student Detail Schedule
Next to your Course Name you will see abbreviations
OL = Online
HY = Hybrid
FF = Face to Face
Example: Fundamentals of Accounting – 7771 – ACCT 201 – HY
This course is a Hybrid course
July 13, 2020
- What are my options for study if I can’t return this fall? We have published a few options here. Check your email often for updates.
- What does the July 6, 2020 ICE Statement affect my study at Stetson as an F-1 student? See our email to students for an explanation.
- What are the latest guidelines for international travel related to re-opening Institutions of Higher Education from the American College Health Associations? Although not all of these guidelines are relevant to Stetson we will be following these to help us re-open international travel and support services for all students, faculty, or staff who have been traveling internationally and are planning to re-enter the campus environment:
- Should be encouraged or required to communicate their intentions with identified contacts at their institutions in order to receive critical relevant information well in advance of their anticipated return.
- Must follow state, tribal, territorial, and local health department recommendations and requirements.
- At this time, this includes quarantine at home for 14 days, checking temperature twice a day, monitoring for onset of symptoms of COVID19, and maintaining contact with the appropriate health department as directed.
- Directories of local (and tribal) health departments
- CDC returning traveler guidelines:
- Considerations for Reopening Institutions of Higher Education in the COVID-19 Era
- It is crucial to inform our international students and colleagues of relevant, reliable, and current travel health and safety resources and to encourage the serious consideration of current recommendations prior to travel.
- Every international student, faculty, and staff member is in a unique situation, which warrants individually tailored recommendations.
- All new or returning international travelers should refer to CDC returning travelers guidelines and review CDC’s “Travelers Prohibited from Entry to the U.S.”
- Existing international students, faculty, and staff currently at an IHE in the U.S. who are considering travel to their home countries should review global travel restrictions as noted by the U.S. State Department and CDC (see above and in Resources).
- Faculty and staff contemplating travel with subsequent return to the U.S. to continue IHE studies or work must seriously consider:
- Current COVID-19 travel health risks and the possibility of significant unexpected changes in risks during their travels.
- Potential for abrupt disruption, cancellation, or other serious complications of the planned return to the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Rapidly changeable re-entry restrictions (including at any intermediate points in itinerary).
- International travel is an evolving situation. Most IHEs in the U.S. have canceled or prohibited international travel for any university-related reasons through August 2020.
- Incoming international students, faculty, and staff are faced with a multitude of uncertainties as well, and challenges and uncertainties abound in both host and
- Home institutions and countries. Considering the multitude of unknown factors involved with this pandemic, knowledge and resources to inform new international travel guidelines will emerge in the coming months, and ACHA will offer updates as appropriate.
- I missed the WORLD International Students FALL 2020 panel discussion. Was it recorded? Yes, you can watch it here. We did not click record right away, so the first 10-15 minutes are missing, but the bulk of the session is still available. Panel Discussion
- I heard travelers from some countries are restricted from flying into the U.S. How do I know if that applies to me? CDC Countries restricted from entering USA
- If my country is on the restricted travel list how can I come to the U.S.? The travel ban says that anyone who has been in the countries listed on the site above WITHIN the last 14 days is restricted from entering. Therefore, a student who is traveling from a country on the list would need to go to a third country (one not on the list) for 14 days before traveling into the USA. We strongly suggest you keep your boarding passes and travel receipts on all travel to support your entry.
- My I-20 was signed before September 1, 2019. Should I request a signature? YES. Everyone who has an I-20 with a signature on the travel page (2nd page) that is older than September 1, 2019 needs to get a new signature before leaving the US. If you have already left reach out to your DSO today.
I am am an international students but I spent the summer in the US. Do I need to quarantine when I get to Stetson? No. Domestic students and those internationals who have spent the summer in the United States are not required to quarantine .
Can I take the fall semester off and return to Stetson In the spring if the COVID-19 situation gets better? Yes. If you are a returning student and you wish to take a Leave of Absence from Stetson for one semester you are able to do that. You need to first check with financial aid to be sure your scholarships and other awards will not be affected. If after that you decide to you can fill out the Leave of Absence form and send it in. Then make sure you contact your DSO at Stetson so your SEVIS record can be managed. Your SEVIS record will be terminated for leave of absence with a note that it is due to travel restrictions in place because of COVID-19. That will allow us to reactivate your record when you return.
Other schools are going to teach online-only classes. Why is Stetson not doing that? In March, 2020 the USCIS issued accomodating rules to allow international students to complete the spring term. At that time those accommodations included “Continuing F-1 students can take all online courses if they live outside the US or inside the US. They must remain full-time enrolled. Unfortunately, the accommodations set out in March are set to expire at the end of summer. Still, universities and colleges need to plan. Some Institutions of higher education are building their plans and are counting on the accommodations being extended into the Fall Semester. Stetson has opted to plan as though the federal government will not extend the accommodations into the Fall semester, but revert back to the normal laws and guidelines.
At this point in time, no one knows if or when they will send out the Fall Guidance. Unless/until SEVP officially announces that they are extending the guidance issued in March 2020 to the fall semester, we cannot tell international students that they will be allowed to take all online courses in the fall. We certainly hope that the guidance will be extended, as it will offer more flexibility for our students; however, we cannot guarantee our international students that fully online learning will be allowed in the fall, because we simply do not have proof that it will be.
What does USCIS say about when they will distribute guidance for the Fall 2020 semester? SEVP has not issued guidance to international students and schools for the fall semester. We understand international students and schools have questions, and SEVP is actively working to issue guidance. In the meantime, the temporary procedural adaptions that permit international students to engage in remote learning are still in place through the summer session. As soon as SEVP finalizes guidance for the fall term, the academic community will be updated. We are all eagerly awaiting the update from SEVP, and once we receive it, we hope we will have better news regarding the fall 2020 online learning options for international students. You are also welcome to watch the recording of the panel discussion we held on Monday. We, unfortunately, didn’t click the record button right away, so the first 10-15 minutes are missing, but the bulk of the session is still available.
I am a new student coming to college for the first time. What happens to my SEVIS record and visa if I want to wait until the spring to start my classes and see if COVID-19 gets better? You can work with the staff at WORLD to defer your SEVIS start date until the beginning of the spring term. If the visa you hold is valid at that time you can use it to enter the US. Make sure you contact Stetson’s admissions office to let them know so they can be sure all other departments are aware and you can avoid errors in billing.
I am worried my visa will expire before the COVID-19 virus has passed and the borders reopen worldwide. Has USCIS and Homeland Security made any adjustments to the way that will be handled? As of this time (June 30 , 2020) there have been no changes in deadlines and expiration dates as associated with visas. Throughout the world wide health event the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA) has been pushing for accommodations appropriate to the situation as has been enacted in other countries. As time has passed, there has been movement on this issue. American immigration lawyers have made the decision to sue USCIS and Homeland Security to force them to suspend relevant deadlines and expiration dates. We will continue to share news as it comes in. More information.
As an international student, can I take all my courses online in fall 2020? At this time, the answer is no. Currently, the adaptations made to SEVIS compliance rules which allowed international students to take only online classes to complete the spring 2020 term is no longer in effect once Stetson returns to a “normal” course delivery system of face to face classes on August 13, 2020. USCIS has not yet issued guidance for the fall 2020 semester. Once they do, WORLD will look over the policies to determine if any online learning will be allowed.
How will I keep in compliance if I am not able to return to the US and attend classes? Each situation is different. You must stay in active status to continue your current SEVIS record. That requires that you be present, on campus and in full-time face to face classes. If that is not possible, protecting the integrity of your visa and SEVIS status so you are able to return at a future date becomes our priority for your record. Reach out to Roxanne Lewis rlewis1@stetson to discuss your situation and explore the options available in your case.
What do I need to do before I return to campus? Be sure to tell Residential Living and Learning the date you will arrive on campus. These are the options.
-July 23rd or 24th for new international students who need to quarantine on campus
–July 28th or 29th for students returning from another country and need to quarantine on campus
–August 8th – 13th for all returning students who have either been in the US all summer or have quarantined for two weeks off campus before coming to Stetson.
Do I need to quarantine upon arrival? If so, how will the quarantine work? International students who have been in the USA throughout the summer will not have to quarantine but all others will. If you are entering the US after having been abroad you will be expected to quarantine for either two weeks on campus or off campus with a friend or family member beginning the 28th or 29th of July. Those choosing to quarantine off campus can move in to Stetson housing starting on the 8th of August. If you are coming to Stetson as a new student you will be expected to participate in New International Student Orientation and FOCUS so you will need to quarantine on campus for two weeks starting the 23rd or 24th of July. There will be no additional cost for the extra two weeks of housing. You can also choose to have meals delivered to your door for a discounted rate.
What if I can’t arrive on campus and fulfill the quarantine in time for the start of classes? There is a little bit of room for you to arrive late if you are experiencing flight delays or other short term complications in arriving at Stetson. If you should find you are not able to arrive before your assigned quarantine date, or before the start of classes for those not required to quarantine, contact WORLD for advice on next steps. Each situation is different and therefore each requires a different solution.
What do I do if I switch addresses before Stetson allows us to return? Please alert your DSO (designated school official) that you are moving. Again, it is REQUIRED that we have the correct address on your SEVIS record.
My visa is expiring soon but I have applied for OPT. Can I work OPT if it is approved on an expired visa? YES. The visa allows entry into the country. The I-20 keeps your record up to date while you are here and allows USCIS to track you. As long as you do not cross an international border you can use your OPT to work. Please work with your DSO to keep your I-20 updated.
What do I do if I am witness to or I am subjected to discriminatory actions or comments? Please share your experience with the Dean of Students, Lynn Schoenberg, at [email protected]. Our intent is to be very clear. There is no place at Stetson University for discriminatory behavior.
Can I come to the WORLD Center if I need help? The WORLD Center (the building) is currently closed. As of the third week of March 2020 Stetson University has sent all non essential employees home. That means the WORLD building is closed until further notice. However, staff from WORLD are all working online from 8:00am-4:30pm M-F and are available to assist you and answer your questions.
How can I get help from someone at WORLD ? You have several options. You can call the WORLD Center at 386-822-8165 during the hours of 8:00 am-4:30 pm M-F. Or you can send any one of us an email or make an appointment at calendly.com:
[email protected] or Calendly.com/Phentz
[email protected] or Calendly.com/rlewis1-world
[email protected] or Calendly.com/wviggiano
How can I get advising for next fall while we are affected by the school evacuation? You can reach out to your faculty advisor, or you can make an appointment with one of the WORLD Staff.
Furthermore, Academic Advising will provide supplemental support to our Stetson community virtually. Their website includes helpful content and resources for faculty, current students and prospective students. For specific inquiries you can reach them directly by contacting [email protected] or the Academic Success department main line (ext. 7345). Students in the Discovery Program are required to meet with their Secondary Advisor, Miguel Ortiz-Burgos, Coordinator for First-Year Advising. Discovery students were sent communication regarding their requirement to meet with our area to their Stetson email. Please contact Miguel Ortiz-Burgos at [email protected] for any questions.
Can DSOs electronically send signed Forms I-20 to students instead of physically mailing the forms? Yes, due to COVID-19, DSOs may electronically send Forms I-20 to student email addresses listed in SEVIS. In the case of a minor students, the email address may belong to their parent or legal guardian. Schools do not need to request permission from SEVP or report their plans to electronically send Forms I-20 as part of their COVID-19 procedural changes.
I want to sign up for OPT starting this summer but I am not in the US. Can I apply from my home? No. At this time USCIS has not changed any of the laws impacting OPT. You must be in the US to apply for OPT.
What has the WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning been doing to help international students get through this situation? WORLD has been very busy this summer supporting students, parents, exchange partners, faculty and administrators in an effort to help them understand and comply with the guidelines and regulations associated with international learning in the COVID-19 pandemic. All international students have been contacted at least twice over the summer to check on well being and whereabouts. Staff members have served on committees responsible for advising the administration on best practices for reopening. Others have been updating the WORLD web site to make it more accessible to the user. We have been a clearinghouse of information regarding all things related to international students for Stetson faculty, staff, Deans, V.P.s and the Provost. Efforts have been made to support individual students with unique situations to allow them to remain legally in the United States and major efforts went into identifying and securing support funding for international students with financial hardships due to the virus. (click the link to read the Stetson Today article.
Helpful links:
CDC Travel restricted countries list
ICE Guidance on COVID-19 | ICE
Stetson’s Covid 19 Communication page
Stetson Students Participate in Internship with AIR Guatemala
By Camila Morales Hernandez, ’20
Over the summer, the Stetson students, Sydney Arrington, a Public Health major/Spanish minor, Peter Gruebel, also a Public Health major; and Matinicus C’Senger, double major in Economics and Philosophy and an Environmental Sustainability Fellow at Stetson, did a summer internship with AIR (Alliance for International Reforestation, Inc) Guatemala. During the experience, the students were able to work closely with local farmers to learn the practice of Regenerative Farming. The students also spoke Spanish during the entire time of the experience.
WHAT IS AIR GUATEMALA?
AIR is a non-profit organization improving human and environmental health in Guatemala. With operations in Atlanta, Georgia and central Guatemala, AIR has trained over 4,000 farm families and planted almost 6 million native trees in Guatemala. For over 25 years, AIR has implemented a community-based, five-year approach with great results and success. AIR is a winner of the 2017 Equator Prize from the UN Environment Programme because of this successful model. All salaried employees are local professionals, so ninety-two percent of funds and donations go straight to the field to implement projects and programs: Rural school programs; tree nurseries; farmer training; and efficient, custom stoves. AIR was founded in 1992 at Stetson University after Dr. Anne Hallum, Stetson University political professor, visited Guatemala for the first time and observed first hand the rural hunger and malnutrition, the barren mountainsides and mudslides, and the strength of the Maya people.
GOALS, PROCESS AND ACADEMIC PURSUITS:
Each year, one to three Stetson students are selected to participate in the AIR Guatemala internship program. All of their program expenses are covered by a generous endowment by Drs. David and Leighan Rinker. The main goal of the internship is for the student to provide tangible benefits to the local residents. Likewise, the experience is designed to align with the academic pursuits of the students.
Learning goals for the student interns include:
- Discover the value and method for farming with trees (“Regenerative farming” aka “agroforestry”) for better anthropological and environmental well-being: The students planted trees where they brought the most benefit for the communities: Acatenango, Xibalbay, Paquixic, and Montellano.
- Learn the effect of working with residents instead of for them. Residents requested help constructing efficient stoves from AIR Guatemala. Students constructed 3 stoves for two days, resulting in transformational lessons since they saw the living styles of the Mayan families, the hazards of breathing smoke all day, how close the families are and how fully their connection was to surrounding nature.
- Shadow the president of AIR Guatemala, Dr. Hallum. During the second week, a large group of volunteers arrived from Florida and Georgia, and all three Stetson students were enormously effective in welcoming these volunteers and showing them what they had learned the first week. Dr. Hallum also had all three students accompany her on important meetings with the AIR staff. The interns were especially helpful in an unforeseen way: Dr. Hallum was prefacing a network technology of registering via GPS the exact location where each tree was planted, and then “selling” the planted trees to a company in Hong Kong for purpose of combating climate change. The staff—and Dr. Hallum—had to learn how to use this technology and naturally, the Stetson students were very comfortable with this fascinating technology and taught the staff the functions of it.
- Learning about the Mayan and Ladino cultures in Guatemala. An overarching goal is that students learned about the regional cultures while planting trees and building stoves in rural communities. For instance, one day, the women of the communities brought lunch in the field where the students were planting trees —they carried tortillas and hot soup in containers on their heads. The team also participated in two school programs with Mayan dances which the class students had prepared especially for AIR visitors.
FOOTPRINT LEFT IN GUATEMALA
The three students supported the construction of three fuel-efficient stoves which involved mixing cement, soaking and laying bricks—each stove required six-hours of work. The stoves have a chimney to ventilate smoke and prevent lung diseases; they also help to conserve trees.
The volunteers this summer—including the three students—planted approximately 2,000 trees. The trees were strategically located to prevent soil erosion and improve crops with nitrogen-fixing roots; prevent mudslides, and to protect water sources. As previously mentioned, the students taught AIR staff members and Dr. Hallum how to use the technology for photographing and syncing each tree. By the end of the two weeks, the team had registered and sold 886 trees to a company in Hong Kong.
The three students also participated in two rural school programs—helping to judge environmental contests and playing with children.
THE ADVENTURE DOES NOT STOP THERE!!
Apply to join this journey and work with Guatemalan communities in Summer 2020!!! Applications are due by February 1, 2020.
This article was written based on Dr. Anne Hallum’s annual Air Guatemala report.
A Summer with UNITAR
By Camila Morales ’20
On Friday, October 18, I had the honor of giving a presentation to Stetson’s University Board of Trustees about my previous internships and the impact they have had in my professional life. This article is about the most recent one I had this 2019 summer in the United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York Office (UNITAR NYO).
I had the honor to work under the supervision of H.E. Ambassador Marco Suazo, UNITAR-NYO head of office ambassador, and Mr. Pelayo Alvarez, programme coordinator. Both of them served as invaluable mentors during this journey. I also worked alongside with remarkable young professionals, who I am happy to call my colleagues. UNITAR is a training arm of the United Nations, whose mission is to develop capacities to enhance global decision-making and to support country-level action for shaping a better future. The organization provides training and capacity development projects to assist mainly members of the least developed countries. In my time here I gained experience in finances and multilateral diplomacy.
UNITAR allowed me to work in tasks that enhanced my two areas of studies: finances and world languages and cultures. I was able to hone my financial skills by presenting the project and budget proposals to members of the Permanent Missions to the United Nations and other organizations. Likewise, I was able to strengthen my technical skills by administering the underground finances and by developing the finance and statistics sections of the Midterm Summary Report.
During the internship, I assisted the office by supporting the logistics and program management to meet and work alongside mission representatives such as ambassadors and diplomats. I also supported developing and leading projects that equipped members of the diplomatic community with the capacity to contribute to the United Nations deliberative process and policy-making.
The most remarkable thing about my internship was the mentorship I received from my supervisors and my colleagues.
The UNITAR-New York Office team would always promote collaboration and professionalism. We were incentivized to take part in learning more about the United Nations and its projects. For example, I had the opportunity to attend the elections of the 74th President of the General Assembly, and the meetings of the Security Council. The UNITAR-New York Office also allowed interns to take part in the organization and the implementation of the UNITAR Economic and Social Council resolution.
We were invited to attend bilateral meetings among high officials of the United Nations. Additionally, we had the opportunity to manage and develop capacity building events which were co-organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development Goals and UNITAR for the SDGs Learning, Training and Practice Center during the High-Level Political Forum.
The professional background I acquired in UNITAR was exceptional, but the unique opportunity to be directly exposed to the United Nations system I experienced in UNITAR was invaluable. This is a chapter in my life I will forever treasure.
Camila Morales,’20, is a security analyst in the Roland George Investments Program at Stetson University. Morales, a senior finance major, works at WORLD: Rinker Center for International Learning.
UNITAR supports governments to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This article originally printed in LinkedIn and published at Stetson Today.
International Day of Peace –Join us today
Join WORLD and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace.
Join us today, Sept. 18 from 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m., in the Conrad Hall Lounge for conversations over lunch on the following topics:
- Personal peace with Sensei Morris Sullivan, University Chaplain
- Interpersonal peace with Dr. Leila Roach, Department of Counselor Education
- Environmental peace with Nate Bodger ’19
Moe’s and Cultural Credit will be provided.
PEACE DAY 2019 THEME: CLIMATE ACTION FOR PEACE
The theme draws attention to the importance of combatting climate change as a way to protect and promote peace throughout the world.
Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.
WORLD Students Participate in Global Leadership Summit
by Gabby Cassidy
Over Spring Break 2019, WORLD ambassadors Zoe Weaver and Caylyn Gunby attended the Global Student Leadership Summit in Boston, MA.
This conference, for students who had participated in study abroad and other international programs, had a goal to help them develop skills as successful global leaders. It also focused on students from diverse and underrepresented populations, such as first-generation, racial/ethnic minority, students with disabilities, high financial need, LGBTQ+, etc. Many face obstacles acquiring educational and leadership opportunities.
Throughout the conference, Weaver found herself learning more than she expected from the sessions. She was pushed to see the bigger picture of education abroad.
“I was pushed to see my study abroad as a time that I developed personally and was finally able to articulate the challenges of my trip to those who would understand. Then, after listening to others tell their own stories, I realized that we each had a unique experience that created the larger picture of diversity abroad.”
The connections she made with other students helped her to understand her own experiences and the education she received while studying in South Korea and Taiwan. Weaver also learned about the importance of diversity in study abroad and was inspired to do more here at Stetson. She expressed her desire to connect with the Black Student Association, the Asia Pacific American Coalition, the Caribbean Student Association, and other multicultural organizations to develop more initiatives to get their members involved in study abroad programs.
“Although being a woman brings its own challenges to international travel, I further developed an understanding of my privilege during this conference as an able-bodied, white, American student. Through this understanding, I began to build a standard for myself when it comes to becoming an ally both abroad and domestically to students who lack the opportunity to do the same as I.”
Gunby felt that the conference was a great professional opportunity for her. The panels and speakers had a profound impact and helped her feel confident in her plans post-graduation. The chance to connect with graduate schools and professionals, as well as other students in her same positions, helped her to reflect on her identity and improve her confidence in speaking about her experiences.
“Being able to speak with professionals who are now in International Education, who taught English abroad through JET, Fulbright, and TAPIF made me feel like I was taking the right steps towards a career in International Education or International Affairs.”
Gunby would like to bring more networking opportunities to Stetson’s campus for international careers. Events such as the Global Citizenship Fair and Acerima could benefit from having a keynote speaker or speakers from minority groups.
“The keynote speakers at the conference were inspiring and helped all of the students get involved and excited about the activities.”
Overall, her experiences at the Global Leadership Summit helped her to grow professionally as well as to have more confidence in her abilities and plans for the future.
Enrollment in Scottish Experience up 37%
Student enrollment peaked during the fourth annual study abroad Scottish Experience, a collaborative of the University of the Highlands Islands Inverness College, Stetson University, Utah Valley University, and Jacksonville University. A total of 33 students participated in courses taughted by faculty from UVU, Jacksonville, and Stetson.
This is what partnerships look like!
Congratulations to another successful Scottish Experience #studyabroad Abroad program @IC_UHI @StetsonU @UVU @JacksonvilleU. We ❤️ #Inverness #StetsonWORLD pic.twitter.com/HLKttjgDDu
— BrownCenter@StetsonU (@browncenter_su) June 25, 2019
A centerpiece of the study abroad program is an embedded case study component where groups of students act as consultants to Scottish businesses and organizations to address an issue of pressing need.
Students and faculty take a quick break after presenting the outcomes of their case studies to business and organizational leaders.
Highland Adventures
As Robert Burns, regarded as the national poet of Scotland, so eloquently wrote: “Wherever I wander, wherever I rove, the hills of the Highlands forever I love.”
Ample camaraderie is evident among students and faculty during Stetson’s Summer Scotland, with the Urquhart Castle in the background. Students who participate in the summer program earn four credits upon completion.
The endearing qualities of Scotland have inspired many a writer and poet over the years. Travelers from every corner of the globe also have been enchanted by Scotland’s beauty, typically describing it as “mystical” and “awe-inspiring.”
For Stetson students, a study-abroad program, now going into its fourth year, is providing them with the opportunity to experience that splendor firsthand in Inverness, a city in the Scottish Highlands and the northernmost city of the United Kingdom.
“I had never traveled outside the country before, so it was suggested that Scotland would be a good first study-abroad experience. It was a life-changing experience, and I caught the travel bug after that,” said Caylyn Gunby ’19, a double-major in international studies and world languages and cultures whoparticipated in the program in the summer of 2016. Gunby added she since has participated in two additional study-abroad programs in Austria and Thailand, plus an internship in France.
Such a trip has that kind of impact.
The Inverness program, called Summer Scotland, is a multi-university, faculty-led consortium including professors from Stetson, Jacksonville University and Utah Valley University, all congregating at The University of the Highlands and Islands – Inverness College to teach students management and marketing as they relate to the international community. With approximately 8,500 students, Inverness College is the main campus for The University of the Highlands and Islands.
The program occurs three or four weeks over summers. Summer Scotland 2019 is set for May 28-June 27.
“Five years ago, we got together with Jacksonville University and suggested Scotland as a great place for a study-abroad program,” cited Paula Hentz, director of international learning at WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning at Stetson. “We wanted to build something that included best practices and incorporated case-study projects with local Scottish businesses. Utah Valley University and Inverness College joined the consortium, and it has turned out to be really beneficial for students.”
As part of these case-study projects, students are paired with local businesses (five students per company) and work on real-world business issues. They apply their coursework and offer solutions to actual problems to help the businesses, presenting a final report at the end of the project.
Group projects vary based on the current business needs. In the past, companies have included WOW! Scotland (a travel company); a fashion designer who has designed items for the Queen; Robertson Construction; Walker (an international shortbread company); local craft breweries; a Highland bakery that provided baked goods for the 2012 London Olympics; local social enterprises that support youth; and Cobb (a hotel company).
“This represents an incredible opportunity for students to not only get real-world experience but also real-world international business experience — learning how to do business in another country with another culture. It’s a great challenge for them,” Hentz added.
In 2016, Gunby and her team worked with Café Artysans, a social-enterprise café in Inverness that uses some of its profits to help homeless Scottish youth.
“We helped with advertising, met with the director and talked about growth and international outreach,” Gundy said. “We focused on social-media coverage and how to better reach out to Americans.”
Students who participate in the program are offered a choice between two courses — Global Marketing: Business Without Borders and Principles of Management — and earn four credits upon completion. The course counts as an elective for nonbusiness students.
“These study-abroad programs teach students about international business and how countries operate and do business differently because of cultural nuances,” said Carol Azab, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing in the School of Business Administration, who teaches, lectures and represents Stetson on the trips. “In Scotland, people are more laid-back than we are when it comes to their business culture. And it’s important for students to be able to adapt to whatever company they’re working for, wherever that may be.
“When I see students presenting at the end of the program, I feel so proud. Their marketing proposals and plans get praise from these companies, and they’ve resulted in direct changes and improvements made in many of the businesses. It’s a life-changing experience for these students, who come back more enlightened and also improve academically.”
Students start some coursework online prior to their arrival in Inverness. Once there, they have regular class time, Monday through Friday, and also interact with advisers to work on their case studies. Additionally, they hear local guest lecturers talk about topics such as the effects of Brexit (the U.K. leaving the European Union), the general business environment and business practices in Scotland. Students have the option to stay in the dormitories at Inverness College or with a Scottish host family.
Further, there is cultural immersion. Among the highlights is a guided tour of the Isle of Skye, the largest and most northerly large island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.
“It was stunning,” Gunby recalled. “We actually went to Fairy Pools [on the River Brittle in the Isle of Skye].”
Other excursions include visits to Loch Ness, the deepest lake in the United Kingdom and where students can take a boat tour and hear stories about the Loch Ness Monster; Urquhart Castle, one of Scotland’s most iconic castles on the banks of Loch Ness; the Quiraing, a landslip on the eastern face of Meall na Suiramach, the northernmost summit of the Trotternish on the Isle of Skye; and Edinburgh, the ancient capital city of Scotland.
Also, this past summer students participated in mini-Highland Games, so they could try some of the activities. Previously, they had watched the actual Highland Games. “We learned about Scottish food, music, sports, folklore and even got to hear Gaelic from the local Highlanders,” noted Gunby.
“We want students to step out of their comfort zones,” Azab said, simply.
“It’s a chance to build intentional opportunities for students to meet local people,” Hentz affirmed. “Everything we do there is geared toward giving our students the most immersive cultural experience possible.”
For Gunby, who missed not having black pudding and sausage when she got back to the States, her Scotland experience opened many doors and widened her eyes. And she will never forget the Scottish people, while she also became close with other Stetson students who participated in the program.
“They’re so friendly and much more laid-back then we are,” she said about the Scottish. “People understand how to enjoy life there, and that taught me something about how to live my life.”
When Gunby graduates this spring, she plans on teaching English abroad, as a gap year, then attending grad school to get a master’s degree in international affairs or global development.
The study-abroad effect is transformative.
“I believe in student learning and stepping out into the world as a life-changing experience,” Azab concluded. “Helping students realize this is very rewarding to me. In the end, we’re celebrating differences, and this is a beautiful thing and a great lesson for these students to learn.”
-Jack Roth
Online at Stetson Today March 27, 2019