All posts by kchipman

Global Focus Costa Rica – Reading with Ari Tison Resources

March 17, 2022 kchipman Leave a comment

Chatham University’s Global Focus Program seeks to instill global competence in Chatham students by leading a campus-wide initiative focused on a specific country or region of the world over the course of an academic year through curriculum, films, lectures, performances, and cuisine. 2021-2022 is the Year of Costa Rica.

On March 15, 2022, Chatham’ Global Focus Program had the pleasure of hosting Ari Tison, an award-winning Bribri (Indigenous Costa Rican) American poet, essayist, educator, autoethnographer, and author of YA hybrid novel SAINTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD (2023) + Untitled YA (TBD) with FSG/BFYR. She is also forthcoming in anthologies including Latine YA anthology OUR SHADOWS HAVE CLAWS with Algonquin Young Readers (2022). Her poetry and essays have been published in various literary journals including POETRY’s first issue for young people. Ari has her MFA from Hamline University and teaches creative writing. She lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Following the reading, Ari shared the below resource list:

Language and Story Videos

-Follow Ditsöwö Ùnīwák on YouTube Link

Picture Book in English

-“When Woman Became the Sea” by Susan Strauss Link

Indigenous Journalist

-Follow Johan Dominguez on Instagram Link

Land Rights & Activism

UN’s State of World’s Indigenous Peoples V.5 Published 2021 Link

New York Times “Conflicts Over Indigenous Land Grow More Violent in Central America” Link

Forest Peoples Programmes (www.forestpeoples.org)

Further Educational Sources

University of Costa Rica Link

National Museum of Costa Rica Link

Ari Tison’s Info

Join Ari’s Newsletter for Updates, Poetry, & Pop-Up Class Discounts + A Costa Rica-Themed Coloring Page 🙂 Link

Pre-Order Ari’s debut novel SAINTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD at Barnes & Noble Link

Pre-Order Latine Folklore/Horror Anthology OUR SHADOWS HAVE CLAWS out this September! Barnes & Noble Link

Read “The Storyteller Gets Her Name” on Poetry Foundation Link

Twitter: @AriTison Instagram: @AriTisonWrites

Other Costa Rican American Authors & Poets

John Manuel Arias http://www.johnmanuelarias.com/bio

Gaby Orozco Belt https://gabrielabelt.com/

For more: Check out Latino Stories “Costa Rican Americans Making a Name for Themselves” Link

Please see Chatham’s Global Focus Program for upcoming events and more information and reach out to internationalaffairs@chatham.edu with any questions.

Deadlines, Education Abroad, Scholarships

Closing Soon: Study Abroad Scholarships

March 9, 2022 kchipman Leave a comment

Please see the below scholarship opportunities that are closing soon.

Freeman-Asia Awards provide need-based funding to assist students studying in East or Southeast Asia with the cost of the study abroad program and related expenses, including airfare, basic living costs, local transportation, books, etc. Check your eligibility and application instructions. Applications are open for Academic Year 2022-2023, including the following terms: Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Academic Year 2022-2023, Spring 2023, and Calendar Year 2023. The Application deadline is March 29, 2022 at 5:00 PM, ET.

Bridging Scholarships for study in Japan for fall 2022 are expected to open for applications shortly.

The Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship for fall 2022 closes on April 15, 2022.

Through the generosity of donors, a number of Chatham scholarships are offered to Chatham undergraduates for participation in semester and summer study abroad programs:

For Fall 2022: IFSA Scholarship— Scholarships of up to $4,250 to study abroad for semester in Cyprus (Nicosia), Thailand (Mahidol) or Costa Rica (Veritas). The deadline to apply for an IFSA Scholarship for Fall 2022 study abroad is March 15, 2022. Benter Scholarship – Scholarships of up to $5,000 to study abroad for a semester at any Chatham exchange or partner institution. The deadline to apply for a Benter Scholarship for Fall 2022 study abroad is March 15, 2022.

Additionally, eligible undergraduates can have their study abroad vouchers ($1200) and International Studies Certificate vouchers ($1800) applied toward in-person or virtual credit-bearing experiences abroad.

For information on approval of mobility-based travel beginning with summer 2022, see Chatham’s updated Travel Approval Policy.

Are you looking for information on study and internship abroad program options? If you have any questions, or for more information on study abroad vouchers, programs and scholarships contact internationalaffairs@chatham.edu or make an appointment: https://calendly.com/kchipman.

Announcement, Education Abroad

Important Update to Chatham’s Travel Approval Policy

March 3, 2022 kchipman Leave a comment

An update to Chatham’s Travel Approval Policy now makes some travel to USDOS Level 3 and 4 locations approvable beginning with summer 2022 programs.

Please review the below policy carefully and reach out with any questions about how this may affect you and your program choice or a pending application. If you had previously delayed making plans it is not too late to apply for many summer and fall programs abroad.

Updated Travel Approval Policy 03.03.22

In line with peer institutions and in response to recent changes in Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for COVID-19 mitigation, beginning with summer 2022, Chatham’s Travel Approval Policy has been updated.

Chatham’s Travel Approval Policy covers any travel for which a student is receiving academic credit for their activity abroad (coursework, internship, fieldwork, research, etc.). The policy states that students will be approved for travel to locations that have a US Department of State (USDOS) Travel Advisory of Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions or Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Applications to travel to locations that are Level 3: Reconsider Travel or Level 4: Do Not Travel for COVID-19 only will be reviewed and may be approved on a case by case basis. The designation for Health Risk (H) and information on COVID-19 risk will be stated at the top of a location’s Travel Advisory, along with any other risk factors. Locations that include any other risk factor (except Health for COVID-19 only) of Level 3: Reconsider Travel or Level 4: Do Not Travel will not be approved. Students should review the USDOS Travel Advisory Level of their travel location and contact the Office of International Affairs with any questions.

Students approved to travel to a Level 3: Reconsider Travel or Level 4: Do Not Travel location will be required to 1) sign an Acknowledgement of Risk and Release Related to the Level 3 or Level 4 Travel Advisory and 2) to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19; boosters are highly recommended and may be required for entry into certain countries. It is each student’s responsibility to monitor and be aware of entry requirements, including vaccine documentation, mandatory quarantine, testing, masking or any other restriction as detailed by country and local authorities.

Please note that US DOS Advisory Levels change often – please check the USDOS Travel Advisory listing regularly for any updates.

Students may apply to programs abroad that include other risk factors as designated on the USDOS Travel Advisory, including in Level 3 and Level 4 locations and be conditionally approved by Chatham, however, if the location’s Travel Advisory Level does not exclude Level 3 or Level 4 risk factors other than Health for COVID-19 by 60 days prior to the program start date, they will not be approved. It is not recommended that students make nonrefundable deposits or plans that cannot be changed until fully approved by Chatham.

As of today, some countries that could be approved under the updated policy include: Japan, Germany, Greece, France, Costa Rica, Brazil, Spain, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy. United Kingdom, Jordan, Morocco, Argentina, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia. These countries are Level 3 or Level 4 for Health (H) and may have other risk factors that do not exceed Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution). Please review the USDOS Travel Advisories to check other locations and to confirm advisory levels and risk factors.

Please contact internationalaffairs@chatham.edu with any questions.

Deadlines, Education Abroad, Opportunities, Scholarships

Funding for Study Abroad – Summer 2022, Fall 2022 and beyond!

January 6, 2022 kchipman Leave a comment

Chatham students, it’s January, it’s cold and grey here in Pittsburgh and you may be starting to plan to get away for summer, next fall, and beyond.

If you are thinking of taking your studies abroad see the below roundup of scholarships and exciting funded opportunities with upcoming deadlines to consider and apply for!

Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship is a funded summer study abroad program designed for students of color as part of CIEE’s commitment to open doors for all students from all backgrounds. Based in Dublin, Ireland, Fellows will explore the impact that effective leaders have had on social justice movements and critical peace and conflict resolution efforts around the world. Applicants must be a current undergraduate freshman, sophomore, or junior; have a minimum GPA of 3.00; be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or permanent resident; identify as an ethnicity typically underrepresented on study abroad programs (e.g. American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander) and submit a complete application no later than February 14, 2022. Qualified applicants who are not selected as Fellows are awarded a $1.500 Frederick Douglass Scholars Grant toward a CIEE program.

Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are three to four-week programs for US undergraduate students, who have no or very little travel experience outside North America. Participants can explore the culture, heritage and history of the UK while experiencing higher education at a UK university. The Institute costs covered by the Fulbright Commission and its partner institutions include round-trip airfare; tuition and fees at the host institution; accommodation; and in some cases, a small daily allowance for meals. Check eligibility requirements and frequently asked questions and apply by February 21, 2022.

Gilman International Scholarship – Undergraduate students who are US citizens and Pell grant recipients can apply for up to $5,000 toward a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program of at least three weeks. The March 2022 application cycle will open soon for applicants whose programs start between May 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023. This cycle encompasses Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Academic Year 2022-2023 and Spring 2023 programs. The application deadline is Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 11:59pm Pacific Time.

Through the generosity of donors, a number of Chatham scholarships are offered to Chatham undergraduates for participation in semester and summer study abroad programs:

For Summer 2022, there are several experiential learning scholarships including the Glenda Rich DeBroff Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Sally Mercke Heym Award for Cross Cultural Understanding, the Lorin Maazel- Rachel Carson Award for Environmental Field Studies and the Theo Colburn-Rachel Carson Endowed Scholarship for Environmental Field Studies. The application deadline for summer experiential learning scholarships is February 28, 2022.

For Fall 2022: IFSA Scholarship— Scholarships of up to $4,250 to study abroad for semester in Cyprus (Nicosia), Thailand (Mahidol) or Costa Rica (Veritas). The deadline to apply for a IFSA Scholarship for Fall 2022 study abroad is March 15, 2022. Benter Scholarship – Scholarships of up to $5,000 to study abroad for a semester at any Chatham exchange or partner institution. The deadline to apply for a Benter Scholarship for Fall 2022 study abroad is March 15, 2022.

For information on approval of in-person mobility during COVID-19, please see the blog post on Study Abroad for Summer 2021 and Future Terms.

Global Focus, Student experience

Global Focus Costa Rica: Costa Rican Murals

November 18, 2021 kchipman Leave a comment

On November 10, the Office of International Affairs and Global Focus Costa Rica hosted 15 students for an afternoon of Costa Rican mural-inspired painting. Check out their colorful artwork!

Student Caitlin Augustine, as part of her Spanish LNG 162 course wrote the following reflection.

En el evento, mis compañeros y yo pintamos un mural de Costa Rica en un pequeño lienzo. Usamos muchos colores brillantes para representar una similitud con los murales que se encuentran en Costa Rica. Bebimos sidra de manzana y comimos bolitas de coco. Las bolitas estaban deliciosas. Son galletas con coco y galletas saladas. No soy buena dibujando, así que Natalie me ayudó a dibujar algunas frutas en mi lienzo. Usé colores brillantes para que se pareciera al mural. Mis compañeros de clase hablaron sobre a dónde queremos viajar y cómo son las clases. ¡El evento fue muy divertido!

For more Global Focus Costa Rica information and to learn about upcoming events, please see https://chatham.edu/academics/international-programs/global-focus-program.html and contact the Office of International Affairs at internationalaffairs@chatham.edu with any questions.

Announcement, Education Abroad, Events, International Education Week (IEW), International students, Local resources, Opportunities, Reflection, Student experience

International Education Week (IEW) 2021

November 15, 2021 kchipman Leave a comment

Join Chatham University and the US Department of State/US Department of Education for International Education Week (IEW) 2021 as we celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide! The theme of the week at Chatham University is Engaged Resilient Global.

Events for this week include:

Monday, November 15, 5:00 PM

Join Chatham’s Vira I Heinz (VIH) Scholarship Program 2021 cohort for the Finding Resilience Roundtable. This presentation focuses on a discussion regarding finding resilience and motivation in unprecedented events and lost opportunity. Community resources based around arts, crafts, and mental health will be shared! Join via Zoom at https://chatham.zoom.us/j/98351013633

Tuesday, November 16

Connect with an international student today! Did you know that students from 29 different countries are studying at Chatham this semester? The top five countries are Canada, Mexico, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and China. All of our international students have so much to share and can broaden your perspectives. Please take the time to say hello and see what you can learn today.

Wednesday, November 17

Explore the international opportunities available to Chatham students. Chatham students can participate in a variety of programs, ranging from Chatham field experiences of just a few weeks to summer internships and study abroad to exchange and partner semesters and even a full academic year abroad! Learn more at https://chatham.edu/academics/international-programs/education-abroad.html . Financial support and scholarship opportunities are also available.

Thursday, November 18, 3:00 PM-5:00 PM

Support your classmates at Chatham’s IEW Symposium, held in the Carriage House Main Lounge from 3:00 PM-5:00 PM. Our student presenters will deliver Ted-style talks and make poster presentations on the theme of Engaged Resilient Global and the audience will vote on the best two presentations to be awarded gift card prizes.

Friday, November 19

Pittsburgh has so much to offer! Round out this year’s IEW by learning more about local, global organizations, including Global Links, GlobalPittsburgh, World Affairs Council, and many more. Check out these organizations and more resources to see how you can engage locally at the below links: https://theglobalswitchboard.org/ https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/category/topic/international-organizations

We hope you enjoy IEW 2021.

Please email internationalaffairs@chatham.edu or stop by our offices in Falk Hall, lower level for more information.

Announcement, Deadlines, Education Abroad, Opportunities, Scholarships

Fully Funded Summer 2022 Study Abroad – CLS Program

October 7, 2021 kchipman Leave a comment

The application is now open for the 2022 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program. The CLS Program is a fully funded study abroad program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State that provides intensive overseas language and cultural immersion and is open to U.S. students enrolled in all degree programs at Chatham. The deadline to apply is November 16, 2021.

Through CLS, students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 15 critical languages and earn academic credit for their work. The scholarship includes travel expenses, coursework, group excursions, and even a small stipend to cover your daily living expenses. Most languages offered by the CLS Program do not require applicants to have any experience studying critical languages.

The CLS Program seeks participants with diverse interests, and from a wide range of fields of study and career paths; students from all academic disciplines, including business, engineering, law, medicine, science, social sciences, arts, and humanities are encouraged to apply.

Please take a look at the recorded CLS information sessions, including sessions specific to the 15 separate language programs and a session for beginners who may not know where to begin when selecting a language for their application. Recordings of these webinars are available here.

Our office is here to support you in applying for this and other international opportunities! Please reach out to set up an appointment if you’re interested in more information, or want help brainstorming how learning a language could benefit your future career. Contact us! Office of International Affairs, internationalaffairs@chatham.edu.

Announcement, Deadlines, Education Abroad

Summer 2022 Chatham Field Experiences!

September 28, 2021 kchipman Leave a comment

Field experience students in Greece, 2019

Chatham Summer 2022 Field Experiences are now open for application! Program options are:

Costa Rica: Biodesign and Sustainability, Prof. Saglinda Roberts

Greece: Discovery Course, Dr. Carrillo and Dr. Lettan

Taiwan: Tunghai Summer Mini-Semester, Dr. Kingsbury and Dr. Tippen

Please click on the above links for program details and application information. The application deadline is 12/3/2021.

Important Notes:

At this time, Summer 2022 field experiences are conditionally approved and will only run if health and safety conditions, including visa and entry restrictions, US Dept. of State Travel Advisory and CDC Travel Health Notice for each location, permit. Chatham does not approve study abroad to US Dept. of State locations with a Level 3 or Level 4 Travel Advisory; or to locations with a CDC Travel Health Notice of Level 3. Restrictions on entry, including quarantine and testing requirements, and other travel conditions may also affect Chatham’s ability to offer these field experiences.
Chatham will announce a decision on if summer 2022 study abroad will be permitted by early January 2022. There is no risk or cost to students in applying for a summer field experience. Deposits for students participating in these field experiences would not be due until after the January 2022 announcement.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, conditions may require changes to field experience programs, including program dates, cost, facilities, activities, transportation, and itinerary. Students considering participating in these field experiences will need to be flexible, understand the risks of participation, and will be required to agree to health and safety protocols and any restrictions put in place by Chatham, in-country partners, and country, regional and local agencies. Chatham is monitoring travel conditions and is working closely with in-country partners for updates on current protocols, restrictions and health and safety information. Chatham is committed to transparency in communicating information that may affect these field experience programs.
Students may apply their $1,200 study abroad voucher toward any of these field experiences. This one-time voucher is available to each undergraduate student who has 30+ credits, at least 15 of which have been completed at Chatham. Students do not need to apply for the study abroad voucher; it is applied to your Chatham account for the term in which you study abroad, reducing the amount you pay by $1,200. For the Costa Rica and Taiwan field experiences, students completing an International Studies Certificate may apply their $1,800 certificate funding toward the program cost. For more information the International Studies Certificates, please see the Certificate checklists at https://my.chatham.edu/tools/_departments/advising/checklists/ Eligible students should complete the International Certificate verification form and have your International Certificate advisor sign the bottom half of the form. Please submit completed verification forms to the Office of International Affairs, Falk Hall lower level, internationalaffairs@chatham.edu.
Students may apply for Chatham experiential learning scholarships which offer summer funding (application deadline is 2/28/22). These awards are competitive as funding is limited. For application and more details on Chatham experiential learning scholarships see https://chatham.edu/academics/international-programs/scholarships-and-vouchers.html
Students who receive Federal Pell grants may be eligible to use Pell funding toward summer programs of 6 or more credits, including the Costa Rica and Taiwan field experiences (please contact Office of Financial Aid for details of your financial aid award) and should consider applying for a Gilman Scholarship for additional funding (there are two application deadlines -10/5/21 and 3/1/22 for summer 2022 study abroad).

Please reach out to the Office of International Affairs, internationalaffairs@chatham.edu with any questions on Chatham field experiences or other study abroad opportunities.

Announcement, Deadlines, Education Abroad, Opportunities

Apply for Funding for a US Passport – Deadline extended!

August 30, 2021 kchipman Leave a comment

Chatham has received funding from the Institute of International Education (IIE) to award up to 25 first-year Pell eligible students with funding for a US passport to study abroad. Pell eligible Chatham students with 0-29 earned undergraduate credits can submit an application.

What is study abroad?

Study abroad is an opportunity to pursue an educational program in a foreign country. Study abroad is available for students in every field of study and the length of these opportunities varies – Chatham students participate in study abroad and internship abroad programs ranging from short-term programs of just a few weeks to spending a whole academic year abroad. Students receive academic credit toward their undergraduate degrees through successful completion of these programs abroad.

What options are available? Is there funding to study or intern abroad?

To review Chatham’s Education Abroad and Field Experience opportunities, please see our website. Chatham students may also study or intern abroad on non-Chatham programs provided they meet Chatham approval criteria.

Many scholarship opportunities are available for eligible students. All Chatham undergraduates can receive a $1200 study abroad voucher to use toward any credit-bearing international experience. Additional funding is available for students pursuing an International Studies Certificate.

Apply now for funding for a US passport (valid for 10 years!)

To apply for funding for a US passport to pursue study abroad during your Chatham education complete this form. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will close on October 18, 2021 or earlier if all passport funding has been allocated.

Please reach out to the Office of International Affairs, internationalaffairs@chatham.edu, if you have any questions about the passport funding application or opportunities abroad!

Deadlines, Education Abroad, Opportunities, Scholarships

Study Abroad Scholarships and Deadline Roundup

August 27, 2021 kchipman Leave a comment

Hello Students and welcome back for Fall 2021!

Are you thinking of taking your studies abroad? Here’s a roundup of scholarship opportunities to consider:

Gilman International Scholarship – Undergraduate students who are US citizens and Pell grant recipients can apply for up to $5,000 toward a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program, or a virtual international program of at least three weeks. The October 2021 Deadline application is open now for applicants whose programs start between December 1, 2021, to October 31, 2022. This cycle encompasses Spring 2022, Summer 2022, Fall 2022, and Academic Year 2022-2023 programs. The application deadline is Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at 11:59pm Pacific Time.

Vira I Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership – Undergraduate sophomore or junior women with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and no previous international experience can apply to win a $5000+ scholarship toward a summer international experience. The application deadline is November 1, 2021.

Freeman-Asia Awards provide need-based funding to assist students studying in East or Southeast Asia with the cost of the study abroad program and related expenses, including airfare, basic living costs, local transportation, books, etc. Check your eligibility and application instructions. Applications will open in February 2022 for applications for Academic Year 2022-2023, including the following terms: Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Academic Year 2022-2023, Spring 2023, and Calendar Year 2023,

Fund for Education Abroad supports US citizen or permanent resident undergraduate students who are underrepresented in study abroad. The deadline for Spring 2022 study abroad program scholarship applications is September 15, 2021 at 12 noon.

Through the generosity of donors, two Chatham scholarships are offered to Chatham undergraduates for participation in semester study abroad programs:

IFSA Scholarship— Scholarships of up to $4,250 to study abroad for semester in Cyprus (Nicosia), Thailand (Mahidol) or Costa Rica (Veritas). The deadline to apply for a IFSA Scholarship for Spring 2022 study abroad is September 30, 2021.

Benter Scholarship – Scholarships of up to $5,000 to study abroad for a semester at any Chatham exchange or partner institution. The deadline to apply for a Benter Scholarship for Spring 2022 study abroad is September 30, 2021.

There are several experiential learning scholarships offered by Chatham for summer study abroad. These include the Glenda Rich DeBroff Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Sally Mercke Heym Award for Cross Cultural Understanding, the Lorin Maazel- Rachel Carson Award for Environmental Field Studies and the Theo Colburn-Rachel Carson Endowed Scholarship for Environmental Field Studies. The application deadline for summer experiential learning scholarships is February 28, 2022.

Additionally, study abroad vouchers ($1200) and International Studies Certificate vouchers ($1800) can be applied toward in-person or virtual credit bearing experiences abroad.

For information on approval of in-person mobility during COVID-19, please see the blog post on Study Abroad for Summer 2021 and Future Terms.

Are you looking for information on study and internship abroad program options (in person or virtual)? If you have any questions, or for more information on study abroad vouchers, programs and scholarships contact internationalaffairs@chatham.edu or make an appointment: https://calendly.com/kchipman.