Columns::October 7, 2002

Bulletin board

Employing international students and scholars
The year since Sept. 11, 2001, has been an extremely active one in the area of Immigration and Naturalization Service and U.S. Department of State regulations governing the status of non-resident aliens. Institutions will come under intense scrutiny during the months ahead to ensure compliance with extensive and complicated policies and procedures.
Lack of knowledge among faculty and staff about the hiring process can adversely affect the university, the academic department and the individual who would like to pursue teaching and research opportunities here. Further, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 assesses financial penalties on anyone who employs an individual who does not have permission to work.
The penalty for each infraction is approximately $5,000, an expense that is the responsibility of the hiring department. OIE-SSIS staff will assist departments and guide potential employees regarding regulations and documentation to prevent such infractions.
The Office of International Education also will present two half-day workshops, Nov. 19 and 20, to provide information and training. UGA administrators, faculty and staff who may wish to employ non-resident aliens, pay an honoraria to a non-resident alien or invite an exchange visitor to the campus should attend. Presenters will be from Student, Scholar and Immigration Services and from the International Taxation Coordinator in the payroll department. Those interested in attending may register with the Training and Development Center, 542-7062.

Grant program deadlines
The Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute announces the availability of two collaborative grant programs. Information on these programs can be found at www.biomed.uga.edu or by contacting Stuart Feldman, 542-5250, sfeldman@rx.uga.edu, or Linda Buffington, 542-2684, lbuff@uga.edu.
Shepherd Center-UGA Grant Program. This program links the expertise and resources of the university and those of the Shepherd Center with the goal of developing programs and exploring opportunities to advance scientific discoveries relevant to understanding, diagnosing, preventing and treating disease and disability that will improve the quality of life for Georgians and for society as a whole. Faculty and staff from these two institutions are invited to submit grant applications for funding to support projects that address these goals. The application deadline is Nov. 1 with funding to begin Jan. 1.
Medical College of Georgia-UGA Intramural Cancer Grants Program. This program links the expertise and resources of UGA and MCG with the goal of developing programs and exploring opportunities to advance scientific discoveries relevant to understanding, diagnosing, preventing and treating cancer so as to improve the quality of life for Georgians and for society as a whole. Faculty and staff from UGA and MCG are invited to submit grant applications for funding to support projects that address the goals outlined above. The application deadline is Nov. 15 with funding to begin Jan. 1.

Master Gardener class
The 22-session Master Gardener Program provides gardeners with an intensive educational experience in horticultural principles and practices and in pest management. The 2003 sessions will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan. 9 through March 27, 5:45-8:15 p.m., at the State Botanical Garden. Cost is $130.
Topics range from soils and nutrition to vegetable gardening and landscaping. Space is limited; students are selected through an application process. Applications must be returned by Nov. 1.
Participants must pass a final exam and agree to return 50 hours of volunteer service to Clarke County before the end of 2003.
More information and applications are available from 542-6195 or www.arches.uga.edu/~klduke/.

Study-abroad procedures
Over the past several years, there has been rapid growth of new study-abroad and exchange programs offered by UGA faculty.
The Office of International Education and the associate provost for international affairs have authority to approve and oversee programs abroad. Before taking students abroad in any capacity, or making arrangements for UGA students to study, conduct research or participate in internships or practica abroad, faculty must secure OIE approval.
To initiate a new program, faculty should meet with the OIE director or a study-abroad adviser to discuss their plans. They should then fill out the approval forms for the appropriate type of program, which are available on the OIE Web site (www.uga.edu/oie/frforms.htm) or from the office. The forms must be signed by the department head and dean, then forwarded to the director of OIE, who will secure the remaining signatures for final approval.
In many instances, UGA faculty accompany a small number of students overseas to do research or internships, or they make arrangements for such overseas experiences for their students. If these activities are arranged by a UGA professor, or could be construed by the student as UGA-sponsored, they need to go through OIE approval. A set of abbreviated approval forms for non-traditional programs is available from the OIE Web site or staff.
The approval forms for May term, summer, fall, or academic year programs are due in the OIE by Jan. 15. Those for spring semester programs are due Sept. 15. Exchange program approval should be secured approximately six months before students are sent or received.
Faculty should not promote programs or recruit students until OIE and UGA approval is secured. Obtaining early approval will allow faculty to use OIE resources such as the Study Abroad Fair and the System Study Abroad Catalog to promote their programs.

Non-profit board training
The Non-Profit Management and Community Service Program at the Terry College of Business will sponsor a one-day seminar designed to train non-profit organization board members in how to maximize the experience of board participation. Seminar sessions will be led by UGA faculty and will cover board responsibilities, legal obligations, strategic planning and fund raising. The seminar is scheduled for Oct. 16, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., in the Tate Student Center. There is no registration fee, and lunch is provided. An organization may send as many as four board members.
For more information or to register, call Natalie McLean, 542-3750.

Bulletin board is limited to announcements from campus-based organizations whose membership includes UGA faculty and/or staff.