Project Title:
Canadian Studies Pilot Project
Project Director and Other Associated Faculty and Staff:
Paul Sando, Assistant Professor of Geography, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Contact: psando@mnstate.edu, Tel.: (218)477-2241
Andrew Conteh, Professor of Political Science,, MSU-Moorhead, Contact: conteh@mnstate.edu, Tel.: (218)477-4009
Project Design:
In order to offer a wider range of international experiences and knowledge, MSUM seeks to create a Canadian Studies minor within the International Studies program. The major efforts involved in creating this minor are (1) to initiate a Canadian Studies course, (2) to establish research and faculty exchange contacts with Canadian universities, (3) to investigate student exchanges, (4) to explore joint distance courses, and (4) to arrange visiting faculty opportunities. There are currently no Canadian studies programs within MnSCU.
Project Evaluation and Outcomes:
The new Canadian Studies course was developed for Spring 2005 and there was ample student interest. However, serious problems arose due to complications involve in obtaining approval for international students enrolled in the course to travel to Canada. Because of the new security processes, significant paperwork requirements have been established and the project manager did not have ample time to submit all of the required paperwork needed to permit the students to travel as a group so the course was cancelled. However they did implement the other goals of the project including: (1) established contacts with geography and political science faculty at University of Winnipeg and University of Manitoba., (2) explored the opportunities for joint student exchanges, (3) explored possibility for distance courses and joint lecturing, (4) explored visiting faculty possibilities. Since much of the evaluation was tied to the Canadian Studies course, which was not offered, the evaluation was not possible.
Lessons Learned, Dissemination and Sustainability
While the ultimate goal of completing the pilot Canadian Studies course was not achieved some important lessons were learned and the following activities are ongoing: (1) They will offer such a course in the future and have discovered that a group trip to Canada can be done but they will need to identify students early and have them complete the security process as a prerequisite for taking the course. (2) They are in the process of setting up exchanges with Canadian programs both at faculty and student levels, (3) they will create a listing of faculty and programs that have been contacted and who are interested in participating in Canadian Studies program at MSUM, (4) they are working on details related to offering a distance course to be taught partly at MSUM and partly at Univ. of Manitoba (5) they are pursuing grant resources to create the Canadian Studies minor.
