MU Global Scholars suspended until 2010

The program is expected to return in 2010.

By Katie Moritz and Kelly Hagen

Published Feb. 6, 2009

The MU Global Scholars program, designed to internationalize faculty teaching and scholarship at MU, will be suspended for one year, International Center Director David Scott said.

"The office of the provost provides $2,500 for up to 10 MU faculty members selected by their deans," Scott said. "Deans must provide matching funds, so in total, (the program's cost) is typically $50,000 per year."

The program has been suspended based on the instructions from UM system president Gary Forsee and MU chancellor Brady Deaton, which demand all discretionary travel to be suspended.

Graduate School Associate Dean George Justice emphasized the temporary nature of the suspension.

"The provost and chancellor are deeply committed to internationalizing the campus, and the program will return in 2010, or as soon as we're out of the current financial crunch," Justice said. "This was an expense that we could suspend right now without an immediate effect on instructional quality."

Although the effects may not be immediate, the impact this program has on participating faculty as well as on MU in general, is far-reaching.

"Since the program began in 1998, over 100 faculty members have participated," Scott said. "This has led to dozens of revised courses taken by hundreds of students each year. I organized a Global Scholars trip to Ireland. One of the faculty participants, professor Bill Kerwin, has organized new course offerings in Irish literature. This summer, he and I will lead a brand new study abroad course to Ireland."

Scott said journalism professor Clyde Bentley traveled through the Global Scholars Program in 2008, visiting Mongolia, where he blogged about his experiences. His visit will serve as the subject of a campus-wide lecture Monday.

Justice also said the program, which embodies "the long-term university mission of engaging with the international world," will be put on hiatus.

"I feel disappointed any time we're unable to make good on strong, long term initiatives to support education on campus," Justice said. "But in the context of current events, this kind of temporary cancellation is far superior to the possibility of lost jobs on campus."

The program had been in the process of nominating faculty to travel to Turkey and Vietnam when it was cancelled. Scott said the outlook is optimistic for the program to restart in the summer 2010.