Taking an international focus
The Committee on International Programs-an ad hoc faculty group convened by Chicago's provost in September 2000-released its report in October after an investigation of the University's international educational and research programs.

The Committee's recommendations include allowing faculty teaching abroad more time to conduct research; increasing publicity and funding for international-student exchange programs; expanding the Center for International Studies to include courses in international relations and security; endowing merit scholarships for foreign graduate students; and creating "Chicago Houses" in major international cities-like London, Paris, Singapore, and Buenos Aires-for academic use, alumni gatherings, and fund-raising events.

The report praises the new administration at International House and its recent increase in programming, suggesting that I-House could serve a larger role in the University by becoming the "primary delivery site" for the Office of International Affairs-currently housed in the administration building-and by hosting more academic programs and workshops.

Perhaps the most significant recommendation is to create an associate provost or assistant vice president position to oversee Chicago's international programs. "One of the things the faculty likes about this university is that it is decentralized-it allows for entrepreneurial activity both intellectual and otherwise," says committee head Chris Faraone, chair of classical languages and literatures. "But the downside is that the lack of centralization of certain things means there is no one with their finger on the pulse of international programs." By monitoring standards of the various campus programs, overseeing the Office of International Affairs, and chairing a proposed ad hoc Committee or Working Group on International Alumni and Development, this administrator could provide a degree of consistency in the quality of international programs at Chicago.

Originally recommended by the Committee on the Future of International House ("Chicago Journal," October/00), the Committee on International Programs conducted numerous interviews with members of the University community to evaluate the state of Chicago's international programs. "The provost didn't want a master plan," says Faraone "but a series of very practical suggestions."
-C.S.