05 May 2015 To UArctic s Membership and Nominations Committee: I would like to add information to our application for membership in the University of the Arctic. In Florida SouthWestern State College s initial application, many points were discussed which pertained to our great desire to access the advantages of such a unique consortium. After speaking to the faculty and students at FSW, it is clear that the case was not made for what Florida SouthWestern could contribute to the University of the Arctic. There are several advantages FSW membership may bring to the University of the Arctic. At the core of the University of Arctic s mission is the communication of the significance of the Arctic region and its complex system of people, cultures, economies, and governments to the rest of the world. Florida SouthWestern State College stands ready to participate in this mission. FSW is eager to create coursework that focuses on this essential idea and include student participation in the many field study experiences offered by the core courses of UArctic s Circumpolar Studies program and the UArctic Field Schools program. FSW is also very interested in creating programs of study that would include UArctic s Circumpolar Studies core courses curriculum, and also through UArctic mobility program allow for our students to transfer into other UArctic member institutions for completion of undergraduate studies. Additionally, FSW has a close relationship with many international companies in the area. Building an enterprise consortium that includes UArctic s members and program leaders would bring a strong international perspective to the research and advice we can offer these enterprises. This would be a unique project and one which could have many benefits for all stakeholders involved. We would also be please to host conferences and exchange scholars and researchers who will have the opportunity to work with our students and carry out their own comparative research in the Floridian / American context. We see this as being very relevant to several of your current Thematic Networks. Furthermore, with FSW membership in UArctic we would bring an extraordinary opportunity to apply for U.S. federal research grants. I believe the membership of Florida SouthWestern State College in the University of the Arctic can be very beneficial to both the consortium and to FSW. The membership will serve both our missions well. You will be helping us prepare truly global citizens in southwest Florida, and the University of the Arctic will be able to create another conduit to teach the world what the Arctic means to each and every one of us. Sincerely. Laura Weir, Ph.D. Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs Laura.Weir@fsw.edu Telephone #: 239-433-6941
Application for UArctic Membership 2015 Application Deadline March 15 th, 2015 For detailed information on the University of the Arctic / UArctic, please visit our UArctic web-pages or contact the UArctic International Secretariat secretariat@uarctic.org 1. MEMBER INFORMATION Name of Institution / Organisation: Florida SouthWestern State College Mail address Street / Post Box: 8099 College Parkway City / Town: State / Region: Ft. Myers Florida Postal code: 33919 Country: United States Web address / URL: http://www.fsw.edu Type of Institution / Organisation x Higher Education Research Non-Governmental / NGO Self-Identification of Institution / Organisation Indigenous Peoples / Issues Northern / Arctic Issues Other: Hispanic, African American, Caucasian Facts and Figures (enter applicable answers) Year your institution / organisation was founded: 1962 Annual Operating Budget in 2014: 52,140,672 This information is used to establish the level of UArctic s annual membership fee for the applicant. Member applicants that are a subsidiary entity of a larger institution or organisation (e.g. independent institutes, branch campuses, faculty, department or unit), the annual operating budget of the subsidiary entity should be given. Expenditure on research: 1 % The percentage of total expenditure on research activities during a given year. For some institutions engaged in teaching as well as research, it may be difficult to single out research related expenditure. In which case an estimate of the share of research from your institutions total activity can be given. Three main international sources of funding: none Provide the names of three main international funding sources, which have supported specific research, projects, or programmes. These can be either public or private international sources. Total number of students: 15,227 Total number of students enrolled in all types of degree and certificate programs during a given year. Number of International degree seeking students: 36 Number of degree seeking students of foreign nationality (international students) of the total enrolment. Total number of staff: 526 Number of academic staff: 170 Number of incoming students in international exchange programs: 3 Total number of students coming from abroad through the framework of international exchange programs during a year. Number of students sent out in international exchange programs: 6 Total number of students sent abroad (outgoing) through the framework of international exchange programs during a year.
2. APPLICATION / ASSESSMENT DETAILS UArctic has two membership categories and within each category there are two membership types (see Annex 1 at the end of this application. Please indicate the category and type which best corresponds to your Institution / Organisation. Membership Categories x Arctic Member Non-Arctic Member Membership Types x Higher Education Institution Other Organisation 2.1. Profile Description of Institution / Organisation Provide a summary description of your institution / organisation, which in addition to its main activities, may include brief details on history or major accomplishments. Should membership be granted, this description will be used for your institution / organisation public profile on the UArctic Member Profile webpage and online UArctic Studies Catalogue. The text may also be used for other promotional materials to market our member institutions, so it should be suitable for international institutional marketing and student recruitment purposes. Note: Limit of 300 words (half a page), which can also be provided in a separate document. Florida SouthWestern State College was founded in 1962. FSW has a presence that includes three campuses and one center in a massive five county area of Southwest Florida. FSW s service area covers 5,500 square miles which is almost the size of the entire state of Connecticut. Florida SouthWestern is part of the Florida State College System, awarding 10 Bachelors and 19 Associates degrees, and 10 Certificate Programs. In 2013, Florida SouthWestern State College brought over $410 million in economic impact to the five counties it serves. Students come to Florida SouthWestern State College because our faculty believes passionately in teaching and in a commitment to excellence. We value student success, integrity, intellectual inquiry, and academic rigor. For example, graduates of FSW s nationally accredited Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene program have had 100% pass rates on the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination for the past 17 years. Additionally, graduates of Florida SouthWestern nationally accredited Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology have had 100% pass rates on the certification examination for the past 8 years; this pass rate ranks the program nationally in the top 15%. We aspire to have Florida SouthWestern State College be the catalyst for creating an innovative education system which provides accessible educational pathways that prepare students to be enlightened and productive citizens. 2.2. Main interests for joining the University of the Arctic What does your institution / organisation hope to gain from participation in the University of the Arctic network? In addition to providing information describing the interests for joining UArctic, we welcome ideas on how your institution / organisation sees itself contributing to the network, for example in such value areas as indigenous peoples, research on northern issues, or sustainability of the Arctic region. Note: Limit of 300 words (half a page), which can also be provided in a separate document. We share similar global concerns. We share the same missions focusing on students. Florida SouthWestern State College is carrying out many of the same activities in a microcosm of Southwest Florida. Our goal is to strategically engage our institution in the global challenges that will face the next generation. Therefore, we are already working on issues of community viability, social and human capital, environmental risks, energy challenges, human security, health security, and international education.
Locally, we have taken advantage of different research and service learning activities going on through our Rookery Bay project (marine, environment, and wildlife), the Everglades (fragile ecosystem under threat), and the Immokalee Foundation (education and social support for migrant populations). We know the interconnectedness of these problems to the larger, global issues. We would like to bring the international context to our curriculum and have the capacity to exchange scholars & students and contribute to the work being done in the UArctic network. 2.3. UArctic Thematic Networks and Programs Please indicate to which of the following UArctic Thematic Networks or Program Areas your institution / organisation is particularly keen to participate in. Note: For detailed information about each thematic network or program area, each option is hyperlinked to the corresponding UArctic web-page. These can also be access by visiting www.uarctic.org x Arctic Fisheries and Aquaculture x Arctic Engineering and Science x Arctic Extractive Industries x Arctic Geology X Arctic Law x Arctic Sustainable Arts & Design Thematic Networks x Commercialization of Science and Technology for the North x Communicating Arctic Research X Digital Media and Media Arts x Distance Education and e-learning x Energy in a New Time x Environmental Impact Assessment of Industry Contaminated Areas x Environmental Impact Assessment of Industry Contaminated Areas Impact Assessment of Industry Contaminated Areas (NETESDA) x Global Change x Health and Well-being in the Arctic x Indigenous Arts and Crafts x Local and Regional Development in the North X Managing Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in the North x Northern Food Security x Natural Hazards x Northern Governance x Northern Tourism x Permafrost x Polar Ice, Climate and Land Dynamics (PICD) x Social Work x The Verdde Program x Geopolitics and Security x World Images of Indigenous Peoples of the North Program Areas x Circumpolar Studies x Mobility x Research 3. CONTACTS / RELATION TO UARCTIC Head of Institution / Organisation Name: Jeffery S. Allbritten, D.A.
Title: President FL, United States, 33919 president@fsw.edu Telephone #: 239-489-9211 Fax #: na Head of International Relations Office Name: Title: Laura Weir, Ph.D. Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs FL United States 33919 Laura.Weir@fsw.edu Telephone #: 239-433-6941 Fax #: na All members of UArctic have equal rights of representation on the Council of UArctic, with each member having one Representative and one Alternate representative. Each member institution or organisation is entitled to develop its own procedures for selecting their two representatives for the Council. Please provide the names and contact information of the individual you wish to represent your institution / organisation in the Council of UArctic. Member Representative on the Council of UArctic Name: Title: Laura Weir, Ph.D. Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs FL, United States, 33919 Laura.Weir@fsw.edu Telephone #: 239-433-6941 Fax #: na Alternate Representative on the Council of UArctic Name: Title: Cathleen Fuller, MA Director, Center for International Education FL, United States, 33919 Cathleen.Fuller@fsw.edu Telephone #: 239.432.5234 Fax #: na UArctic has an annual membership fee (see our UArctic Membership Fee page for full details), and to ensure that the appropriate individual receives the invoicing notice, please provide the name and contact information for the person in your institution / organisation who handles such financial transactions. Note: new members are to pay their first membership fee in the year that they have been voted in as a member of UArctic. Contact person handling financial transactions
Name: Title: Laura Weir, Ph.D. Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs FL United States 33919 Laura.Weir@fsw.edu Telephone #: 239-433-6941 Fax #: na 4. SUPPORTING DOCUMENT In addition to this application form, applicants must also submit a Letter of Support signed by the head of the institution / organization. Written in free form, this letter simply needs to state the institution or organisation s interest in and support for joining the University of the Arctic. 5. SUBMITTING APPLICATION Completed Application Forms and a copy of the signed Letter of Support can be sent by e-mail or fax, but must be received by the deadline. Note: the original signed Letter of Support must be sent by regular post mail to the address below, and can arrive after the deadline. E-mail: Secretariat@uarctic.org Fax: +358-16-362 941 Post: UArctic International Secretariat c/o University of Lapland P.O. Box 122 FI-96101 Rovaniemi, FINLAND PROCEDURAL NOTES: 1) Once the application for membership is received, a confirmation of receipt e-mail will be sent, including further details on the next steps. 2) Should the application receive approval for consideration by UArctic's Membership and Nominations Committee, then a representative from the applicant institution or organisation or an appointed proxy representative is expected to be present at the next Council meeting (June 2015 in Ulan-Ude, Buryatia, Russia) to give a presentation of the institution or organization and answer any questions from the Council. Applicants who do not fulfill this requirement will have their membership application deferred to the following year, when the same conditions will apply. ANNEX 1. Descriptions of UArctic Member Categories / Member Types Arctic Members of UArctic are institutions or organisations, with an interest in and commitment to higher education and research in the Circumpolar North, located in the eight Arctic countries of Canada, Denmark / Greenland, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Russia, and the USA.
Non-Arctic Members of UArctic are institutions or organizations, with an interest in and commitment to higher education and research in the Circumpolar North, located outside the eight Arctic countries. ------------------------------------------ Higher Education Institutions are independent universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education having their own registered students. Other Organizations include research institutions and other organisations concerned with education and research in and about the North. Subsidiary entities of Higher Education Institutions, such as independent institutes, branch campuses, and departments, qualify as Other Organisations. UArctic also welcomes indigenous peoples organisations as members.