International Student and Scholar Services
Director: Christina Luther
Associate Director: Jill Townley
Assistant Director: Joshua Davis
Karl Miller Center, Suite 660
503-725-4094
International Student and Scholar Services staff work with admitted international students, visiting scholars, and international faculty. The office is a central source of information on the services and programs available to these groups. The office works closely with sponsoring agencies, diplomatic missions, and other government agencies to resolve academic, financial, immigration and adjustment issues.
Services and programs offered to international students, scholars and faculty include:
• Intensive orientation programs for all incoming international students and faculty.
• Immigration advising for students, visiting scholars, exchange students and scholars.
• Administration of three scholarships specifically for international students.
• A variety of educational and social events for international students and scholars with University and community groups, including a mentoring program which matches new international students with returning students.
• Weekly or quarterly workshops on issues affecting internationals, such as insurance, work permission, taxes, etc.
• A weekly International Coffee Hour open to all PSU students, staff, and faculty.
• Advising for faculty and staff regarding the invitation and employment of international faculty.
• Advising of international faculty (and their dependents) on regulations and procedures for maintaining legal status, travel, employment authorization, and other issues.
For more information about staff and services, please visit our websites:
www.pdx.edu/international-students and www.pdx.edu/international-scholars.
For information about international student admissions, contact the Office of Admissions at 503-725-3511 or intladm@pdx.edu.
For information about English as a Second Language (ESL), contact the Intensive English Language Program, University Center Building Suite 400, 503-725-4088 or esl@pdx.edu.
Education Abroad
Director: Jen Hamlow
Karl Miller Center, 6th Floor
503-725-5309
www.pdx.edu/ed-abroad
PSU supports the long-standing value that studying other cultures and places is an essential component of modern education. As a result of our commitment to internationalization, the Office of International Affairs sponsors a wide variety of education abroad programs for PSU students year-round. The University administers some of these programs directly, while others are conducted in cooperation with educational associations such as IE3 Global, the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), and the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC).
Advisors in Education Abroad provide guidance and assistance for students who seek to enrich their university education through education abroad. PSU offers over 200 programs in more than 80 countries. Because these programs offer residence credit and home campus registration, participating students who are eligible for financial aid at PSU may apply it, in most cases, to these study programs.
PSU also has a long-standing tradition of working with faculty to develop a variety of short-term overseas experiences for students. The length of these programs ranges from ten days to six weeks, and they are offered throughout the academic year. PSU faculty members have taken students to countries all over the world, including China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, and Vietnam.
Education Abroad opportunities are subject to change throughout the year. For the most current listing of programs available and to learn how to get started, please visit our website at www.pdx.edu/ed-abroad, or come to our offices on the 6th floor of the Karl Miller Center.
International Special Programs
Director: Jeff Baffaro
Karl Miller Center, 630A
503-725-4181
www.pdx.edu/intl-special-programs
International Special Programs (ISP) provides non-credit short-term training and education programs for professional and student groups, custom-designed for specific international organizations/agencies/institutions, which draw on resources and expertise of PSU faculty and the Portland community to provide specialized instruction.
ISP provides administrative, logistical, and curricular support services to provide for a custom-designed group package experience which includes instruction, extra-/co-curricular activities, transportation, housing and meals. ISP hosts 30-35 groups a year. For more information visit our website at www.pdx.edu/intl-special-programs.
International Partnerships
Director: Sally S. Mudiamu
Karl Miller Center, 630D
503-725-5726
go.pdx.edu/international-partnerships
The Office of International Partnerships (OIP) is the focal point for all Portland State University international partnerships. PSU is committed to developing robust, multi-faceted partnerships that include transfer & pathway programs, study abroad at PSU, short-term special programs, education abroad for PSU students, collaborative online international learning, alumni involvement, private sector engagements, and scholarly exchange. Linking these opportunities together under the umbrella of a single comprehensive partnership facilitates a rich international experience for PSU students and faculty. OIP manages 293 partnerships in 54 countries and serves as a bridge to connect PSU faculty and staff to international opportunities. OIP also provides robust cultural and institutional expertise to PSU faculty, staff, and international partners seeking to navigate the complex international university landscape.
Portland Center
Director: Sally S. Mudiamu
Karl Miller Center, 630D
503-725-5728
strand@pdx.edu
www.pdx.edu/transnational-programs
In Fall 2018, the Office of International Affairs launched the Portland Center to run programming and support for visiting, non-degree seeking international students at PSU. The Portland Center collaborates closely with the Intensive English Language Institute to offer language and academic support to students from partner institutions wishing to take regular PSU undergraduate classes as part of their home baccalaureate degree. The program accepts students four times per year on a rolling admissions basis and assist students with housing, registration and student support. The Waseda Transnational Program, which has been running for nearly two decades at PSU, has been folded into the Portland Center. Sally Mudiamu will serve as Director, and the Portland Center will be housed in the Office of International Partnerships. The Office of International Affairs is excited about offering this opportunity to institutional partners and their students. It will offer PSU an opportunity to more intentionally meet the needs of short-term visiting international students while simultaneously offering an opportunity to advance the internationalization of the PSU undergraduate curriculum by working collaboratively across units and schools to offer programming that showcases Portland.
Confucius Institute at PSU
Director (interim): Ron L. Witczak
Karl Miller Center, 610D
503-725-4094
Associate Director: Yu (Angela) Wang
Karl Miller Center, 660T
503-725-8561
www.pdx.edu/confucius-institute
The Confucius Institute at PSU (CIPSU) is a joint educational project of Portland State University and the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). CIPSU seeks to promote a deeper understanding of Chinese language and culture in the greater Portland area and fosters mutually beneficial educational exchanges between the United States and China. CIPSU’s offerings include non-degree Chinese language and cultural courses for pre-K and K-12 school students, college and graduate students, as well as the general public and business, corporate and government employees. In addition, CIPSU offers Chinese language teacher professional development and training; Chinese proficiency HSK/YCT/BCT tests; academic programs and lecture series related to Chinese culture and contemporary China and scholarships for PSU and Oregon students. The Institute also organizes and hosts local, regional, national and international conferences, forums, symposiums and seminars.
CIPSU hosts visiting faculty from the PRC and has a Board of Directors drawn from the greater Portland area. The Board consists of professors from Portland State University and other educational institutions, as well as representatives from Portland-area businesses and individuals with a strong interest in China. Dr. Eric Einspruch, Adjunct Professor at Portland State University, serves as the Board Chair.
CIPSU is an independently funded entity that reports to PSU’s Office of International Affairs.
Institute for Asian Studies
Director: Suwako Watanabe
Karl Miller Center, 6th Floor
503-725-8575
www.pdx.edu/asian-studies
The mission of the Institute for Asian Studies (IAS) is to promote understanding of the landscapes, histories, cultures, politics, and peoples of Asia. The IAS leverages the energy and expertise of PSU faculty with deep-rooted and wide-ranging interests in Asia to support research and education about Asia. IAS serves as the center for Asia-related research, teaching, and outreach in Portland and the wider region through academic and cultural programs.
Founded in 1997, IAS provides programming related to Asia including lecture events of both academic and practical nature and cultural events covering a wide range of regional focuses and issues through networking and collaborations with the institutional units and community organizations.
Middle East Studies Center
Director: Lindsay Benstead, PhD
Outreach Coordinator: Corinne Hughes
Karl Miller Center, 660R
503-725-4074
www.pdx.edu/middle-east-studies
The mission of the Middle East Studies Center (MESC) is to serve our students, city, and world through the creation of a diverse, inclusive community and the promotion and sharing of scholarship on the Middle East, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. The Center was created in 1959 as one of the first two federally supported undergraduate program for Arabic language and Middle East area studies in the nation. Over the years, the university expanded to offer courses and programs in the four major Middle Eastern languages including Persian, Arabic, Hebrew, and Turkish and programs across different academic disciplines such as International and Global Studies, Political Science, Sociology, History, and Business. Middle East studies at Portland State boasts a distinguished faculty and vast library resources. The Center serves as a resource on issues pertaining to the Middle East through activities that reach students and scholars, as well as businesses, educators, and the media. In addition, the Center supports academic conferences, workshops, cultural events, and lectures and provides support to area elementary and high school teachers and community college instructors.
The Center's core responsibilities are to coordinate and promote academic and outreach activities across the university and beyond, including conferences, speakers, and training programs for area students, teachers, faculty, and community members. The Center further seeks to guide and train students who plan to make a career in this field. To support these initiatives, MESC closely works with academic and administrative units across campus. As an outgrowth of these core responsibilities, it also conducts outreach activities with local, national, and international educational and community organizations.
Middle East-related degree programs at PSU include:
-Certificate in Middle East Studies
-Certificate in Global Studies
-Major or Minor in Middle East Language with programs in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Hebrew
Please take a look at the various activities of our center on our web page and consider becoming a friend of MESC.
Fulbright Program
Director: Debra Z. Clemans
clemansd@pdx.edu
Assistant: Karin Waller
wallerk@pdx.edu
Karl Miller Center, Suite 610
https://www.pdx.edu/fellowships/
Portland State participates in the Fulbright Program, first founded in 1946 by Senator J. William Fulbright and expanded in 1961 as the Fulbright-Hays Act. Awards available include those offered by the U.S. government, foreign governments, universities, and private donors, and most are managed by IIE, the Institute of International Education. Grants are available to qualified undergraduate and graduate students and alumni for teaching or advanced research, to qualified faculty for lecturing and research, and to teachers for overseas teacher programs. Non-US citizens also have opportunities through Fulbright.
Grants for Study, Research, or Teaching Abroad
Fulbright opportunities for US students are announced annually on April 1 with submission deadlines in late Summer/early Fall. The annual campus deadline is September 8 for awards in the US student program that begin the following academic year. Information sessions are held in Spring term. The director manages PSU’s campus interview process and assists applicants throughout the application cycle. https://us.fulbrightonline.org/
US/UK Summer Institutes for Undergraduates
Fulbright Summer Programs to the UK are available to undergraduate US students with at least two years of study left to complete. Contact Debra Clemans to learn more. http://www.fulbright.org.uk/going-to-the-uk/uk-summer-institutes Deadlines occur in winter term.
University Lecturing and/or Advanced Research
The Office of International Affairs provides information to faculty on grants for university lecturing or advanced research. The application deadline for many faculty and professional level programs is late summer each year. This program also sends non-US scholars and researchers from overseas universities to the US. Visit https://www.cies.org/ or contact Debra Clemans to learn about how to invite a scholar from overseas to study, teach, or do research in your department at Portland State University.
Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad
This Fulbright-Hays program provides grants to colleges and universities to fund individual doctoral students who conduct research in other countries, in modern foreign languages and area studies for periods of six to twelve months. Deadlines vary. Visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsddrap/index.html and contact Debra Clemans at clemansd@pdx.edu if you decide to apply.
Fulbright for Foreign Students
Fulbright offers awards to students from outside the US through embassies and Fulbright commissions overseas. To learn more about this program, visit this site: https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/ Typically the student should be applying while still living in their home country.
Boren Programs
David L. Boren Scholarships (NSEP)
Director: Debra Z. Clemans
clemansd@pdx.edu
Assistant: Karin Waller
wallerk@pdx.edu
Karl Miller Center, Suite 610
https://www.pdx.edu/fellowships/
Scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students are available through this federally funded program for the purpose of helping more Americans learn the languages and cultures of countries and regions deemed critical to U.S. national security and is managed by IIE, the Institute of International Education. It aims to build a base of future leaders and professionals who can help the United States make sound decisions, deal effectively with global issues, and to enhance and increase the faculty who can educate U.S. citizens toward achievement of these goals. This scholarship includes a service requirement once a student has completed his or her degree. Applications are due early in winter term each year. Interviews are held on the PSU campus prior to Boren deadlines. Those interested should contact the Boren director listed above for more information on requirements and application details and visit https://borenawards.org/. Information sessions are available during fall term.
Critical Language Scholarship
Director: Debra Z. Clemans
clemansd@pdx.edu
Assistant: Karin Waller
wallerk@pdx.edu
Karl Miller Center, Suite 610
https://www.pdx.edu/fellowships/
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) is a program managed by American Councils for International Education that sends current and recent US students (graduate and undergraduate) to other countries as a cohort for immersive summer programs that focus on languages considered critical to US National Security. This fully funded summer program has early November deadlines each year for programs that typically begin in June. Debra Clemans offers info sessions about this program in early Fall. See the site for more info: https://www.clscholarship.org/.