Model UN Team Wins at the National Collegiate Security Conference

• January 22nd, 2021
• in International Main

January 22, 2021

This past weekend the Alabama Model United Nations Team competed at the 48th National Collegiate Security Conference hosted by Georgetown University. The 12 delegates representing the University of Alabama debated in a wide array of committees ranging from anti-terrorism policies to Chinese direct foreign investments in Tanzania. The team won three individual awards, a strong start to the spring season.

In Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet 1980, Freshman Ash Lussier tackled three primary issues: inflation, the IRA, and Afghanistan. While seemingly simple, the committee quickly evolved into power grabs in South America, new militias being formed, and even the royal family being accused of working for the Soviet Union! Ash’s performance as Ambassador Sir Nicholas Henderson led to her winning a Verbal Commendation – her second award of the season!

Freshman Sean Atchison earned his third win of the season with a verbal commendation competing in the Asamblea Legislativa of El Salvador, 1993. Delegates were tasked with solving various crises plaguing the country such as police violence, economic free fall, and a broken system of government. Though the committee’s prerogative seemed impossible to solve, delegates created and passed innovative solutions like building a community based policing program and a clinical rehabilitation system. In the end, the Asamblea Legislativa of El Salvador passed two resolutions that would revolutionize the nation.

In the French Third Republic 1871 JCC, Head Delegate Sarah Conrad addressed the rising of the Paris Commune and treaty negotiations in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War. The committee worked to free POWs, bolster alliances with Britain and Austria and debated the role of the French colonies. Sarah won Best Delegate representing Foreign Affairs Minister Jules Favre.

The competition hosted over 500 talented delegates from across the nation and the weekend was a test of historical knowledge, creativity, and policy creation. Alabama competed against delegates from 30 universities including Harvard College, The University of Chicago, and Florida International University. We are so proud of all that the team has accomplished so far and look forward to the rest of the spring season!

Up next for the Model UN team is the McGill Model United Nations Assembly January  28th-31st. Students interested in learning about Model UN can attend a meeting of the Alabama International Relations Club. Meetings are currently being held over zoom on  Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm. Information can also be found at https://international.ua.edu/airc/.

UA’s Model UN team is part of the Capstone International Center’s Alabama International Relations Club. The Model UN team is the cornerstone of the AIRC, the premier student-led global affairs organization at UA that continuously provides opportunities for its members to learn, develop, find community and make an impact at the Capstone and the world beyond.

Indefinite Entry Bars Rescinded

• January 21st, 2021
• in Capstone International Services

On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, President Biden issued a Proclamation Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to the United States.

This action rescinds prior executive orders 9983 issued on Friday, January 31, 2020 and 9645 issued on September 24, 2017 which impacted citizens of Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar (also known as Burma), Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

For a breakdown of how the now-revoked Executive Orders’ impacted travel for all 13 countries please look here: https://www.nafsa.org/professional-resources/browse-by-interest/executive-order-travel-ban-nafsa-resources.

References:

• January 21, 2021 Executive Order
• January 31, 2020 Executive Order
• September 24, 2017 Proclamation
• Supreme Court Decision on Travel Ban
• A full history of the Executive Order Entry Ban Litigation

Permanent Residents in Tuscaloosa

• December 16th, 2020
• in English Language Institute International Main

ELI student Abduljabar from Yemen

The English Language Institute serves not only students on student visas but also international permanent residents of Tuscaloosa.

Abdulwanab Fadhel, 35, has just completed the ELI program. He escaped the war in Yemen in 2016 and came to Tuscaloosa two years later. Abdulwanab established a store here and is improving his English to better conduct business and to pursue a master’s degree in law.

Abduljabar Saleh, 18, also left Yemen because of the war. At the age of 13, he went to Jordan and then graduated from high school in Turkey. In the fall of 2020, he joined his father, a businessman in Tuscaloosa, and began his studies at the ELI. Abduljabar hopes to earn a degree in international business law and improve the conditions in Yemen.

Abdulwanab summed up the ELI experience by saying, “Y’all made a change in us that could never be forgotten.”

Drive to Succeed at Home and Abroad

• December 7th, 2020
• in International Main

From UA News | December 1, 2020

When Austin Pearson came to The University of Alabama, he didn’t speak a word of German. Three years later, he was sitting in conference rooms at Mercedes’ headquarters in Germany, participating in meetings spoken in German about the company’s newest car models.

Pearson took part in a unique program at The University of Alabama, learning German alongside his engineering courses while working for Mercedes-Benz in Alabama and in Germany.

Offered through the UA College of Engineering, Two Steps Ahead: International German Student Exchange Program is designed for a select group of students to gain experience with multi-national companies in automotive engineering while learning German. It is a huge reason why Person left the Chicago, Illinois, area to come to UA.

“I’m happy that I chose to come here and be a part of this program,” he said. “The whole experience opened my eyes, and learning a new language and going abroad was a great experience.”

Pearson graduates with his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and German this semester, and has already begun his graduate studies toward a doctorate.

He came to UA in 2016 never studying German, but was quickly immersed in his German major while beginning his engineering studies. After his sophomore year, he worked the summer at Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, an automotive manufacturing facility near UA. He interned as a process engineer in the paint and body shop helping improve output and troubleshooting technical and automation issues that arose.

He continued his engineering studies, even taking an automotive engineering course taught in German by Dr. Bharat Balasubramanian, an engineering professor who was vice president of Daimler AG’s group research and advanced engineering before joining UA.

In fall 2018, Pearson moved to Germany to study for a semester at Hochschule Esslingen, University of Applied Sciences, and work for Mercedes in Stuttgart in project management during the spring and summer of 2019.

“It was really cool seeing what goes into these cars,” Pearson said. “You think about what goes into a car, especially a Mercedes S-Class with all its complexity and detail, it was a great learning experience to work with the engineers on the project.”

The deep cultural immersion that came with a year in Germany was worth the hard work it took to be part of UA’s program, he said.

“I have a great respect for people who come to the U.S. to study,” he said.

For now, Person envisions a path in research, having worked in the lab of Dr. Kalyan Srinivasan, associate professor of mechanical engineering, on internal combustion engines. He will continue studying under Srinivasan as a graduate student.

His undergraduate research work culminated with being selected as one of two undergraduate winners for his virtual presentation at the 2020 Fall Technical Conference of the Internal Combustion Engine Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Learn more about the Fall 2020 graduating class on UA’s commencement page.

Changes to H-1B and Prevailing Wages – UPDATED DECEMBER 1

• December 1st, 2020
• in Capstone International Services

PREMIUM PROCESSING FEE INCREASES TO $2500 – EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 19, 2020

Effective October 19, 2020 the premium processing fee will be $2,500 for premium processing requests on H-1B Petitions, I-140 cases and other types of employment petitions, as authorized by the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act signed into law on October 1, 2020.

For more information, see USCIS’s October 16, 2020 announcement. Prior to October 19, 2020, the premium processing fee had been set at $1,440 since December 2, 2019 by 84 FR 58303.

UA International Student & Scholar Services has updated its H-1B Packet and pages with the updated Premium Processing fee.  Please use the most recent H-1B Packet when processing filing fee requests for H-1Bs going forward.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CHANGES TO PREVAILING WAGES – UPDATE – STRUCK DOWN ON DECEMBER 1

UPDATE:
On December 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted the plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgement, and set aside both the Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security interim final rules. This blocks both rules from being enforced or implemented. Read the court’s order and judgement, which found that the agencies did not have just cause to promulgate the rules without notice and comment. The case is Chamber of Commerce et al. v. DHS et al., Case No. 4:20-CV-7331 (N.D. Ca., October 19, 2020).

BACKGROUND:
On October 8, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) published an interim final rule (IFR) titled Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States.

The rule changes how DOL computes Level I through Level IV wage rates when it uses Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) wage data to make a National Prevailing Wage Center (NPWC) prevailing wage determination or to certify an LCA that relies on OES wage data.

The interim final rule went into effect on the date of publication, October 8, 2020.

In short, the rule meant that official prevailing wages which we use for H-1B petitions and which are required for labor-based Permanent Residency/Green Card filings was higher for many positions.

With the court decision on December 1 striking the rule down, it means that going forward, UA can rely on previous prevailing wages that were in effect prior to October 8, and can rest assured knowing that H-1B regulations won’t prohibit our sponsorship of staff or faculty positions.

H-1B CHANGES –  UPDATE – STRUCK DOWN ON DECEMBER 1

UPDATE:
On December 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted the plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgement, and set aside both the Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security interim final rules. This blocks both rules from being enforced or implemented. Read the court’s order and judgement, which found that the agencies did not have just cause to promulgate the rules without notice and comment. The case is Chamber of Commerce et al. v. DHS et al., Case No. 4:20-CV-7331 (N.D. Ca., October 19, 2020).

BACKGROUND:
On October 8, 2020, DHS published an interim final rule (IFR) titled Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program.

The new rule would have gone into effect on December 7, 2020.

Changes include revised definitions of and standards for a “specialty occupation” that make use of the H-1B category for staff positions more challenging.

This rule amends the definition of a “specialty occupation” at 8 CFR 214.2(h)(4)(ii) to clarify that there must be a direct relationship between the required degree field(s) and the duties of the position.

Additionally, the rule changes the qualification as a “specialty occupation” to require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree for all positions.

The changes would have impacted future filings, extensions, and amendments of H-1Bs.  The primary impact would have been to our ability to sponsor non-teaching staff positions in the future.

With the court decision on December 1 striking the rule down, it means that going forward, UA can rely on previous prevailing wages that were in effect prior to October 8, and can rest assured knowing that H-1B regulations won’t prohibit our sponsorship of staff or faculty positions.

Starting Your English Success (YES!) Online

• October 1st, 2020
• in English Language Institute International Main

Starting Your English Success (YES!) Online

This fall the English Language Institute (ELI) at UA is starting a new online 3-week certificate course program called Your English Success (YES!) Online.

The YES! Online program is for anyone who wants to improve their English skills. It is easy to enroll, and no visas or placement tests are needed. The courses include the following:

• 2 hours of Zoom class meetings
• 2 additional hours of activities/tutoring per week
• Personal attention and feedback from teachers who have master’s degrees in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
• Certificate following successful completion of the program

There are two courses beginning October 13. These courses will be offered at different times in order to allow people living in different time zones to study easily.

• Pronunciation Skills
• Business English Topics

Another two courses will be November 12.

• Intermediate Speaking & Listening
• Advanced Speaking & Listening

For more information about YES Online, visit the ELI’s website: https://international.ua.edu/eli/yes/

UA’s Model UN Team Starts the Year Strong

• September 25th, 2020
• in International Main

September 20, 2020

The Alabama International Relations Club’s traveling Model United Nations team proved that even Covid-19 could not stop their momentum with a strong start to the 2020-2021 season. Despite a moratorium on travel and the adaptation to zoom debates, the team managed to win seven awards. The 24 delegates selected to represent Alabama at ElonMUN, hosted by Elon University, competed in three committees centered on the topic of immigration. These delegates, all new to collegiate Model UN, represent the next generation of the Alabama International Relations Club.

In the African Union committee, the delegates responded to terrorism across the continent, the role of authoritarian regimes, and the desertification of the Sahel. Debate focused on resources for refugees fleeing Boko Haram and those impacted by environmental disasters. Alabama delegates dominated the debate and took home all three awards in the committee. Freshman Shrishti Dubey awarded Best Delegate (1st place) representing Ethiopia. Freshmen Turner Koch, representing South Africa, and Abigail Brewer, representing Chad, brought home the Outstanding Delegate (2nd place) and Honorable Mention (3rd place) respectively.

In the Viva Italia? Migration, Politics and the Chaos of Italy Committee delegates discussed the impact of immigrants on the Italian economy and the consequences of accepting versus rejecting immigrants. The Alabama delegates shined brightly compared to their competitors, leading debate and progressing the committee to its peak, where the nation left the European Union. In her first ever Model UN Conference, freshman Ash Lussier took home the Best Delegate award, representing the Minister of the Interior, and junior Elle Sauli won the Honorable Mention representing the Minister of Health.

Several Alabama Delegates also competed in Erdogan’s Dilemma: The Growing Pressure of Migration in Turkey. Delegates were tasked with solving the complex issues of migration in Turkey while simultaneously dealing with different social and political crises. After successfully overthrowing the Foreign Minister, this committee established a successful plan to address the migration issue by redirecting funds and establishing new immigration protocols.  Junior Carolyn Adams won Best Delegate representing Burak Özügergin and Julian Wyatt won the Honorable Mention representing Feleknas Una.

After finishing the 2019-2020 school year ranked #25 in the World Division of Collegiate MUN, the team has started the fall semester with an exceptionally strong performance. With the lack of conferences due to the pandemic, the team hopes to continue to build up its new talent for the spring season.

Up next for the Model UN team is Florida State University’s Regional Training Conference September 25^th-27^th. Students interested in learning about Model UN can attend a meeting of the Alabama International Relations Club (AIRC). Meetings are currently being held over zoom on Thursday evenings at 7:00pm. Information can also be found at https://international.ua.edu/airc/.

UA’s Model UN team is part of the Capstone International Center’s Alabama International Relations Club. The Model UN is the cornerstone of the AIRC, the premier student-led global affairs organization at UA that continuously provides opportunities for its members to learn, develop, find community and make an impact at the Capstone and the world beyond.

UA Students Win Gilman International Awards

• July 29th, 2020
• in International Main

Ten University of Alabama students were awarded scholarships through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program during the 2019-2020 academic year.

“The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship allows students to study abroad who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints,” said Carolina Robinson, director of Education Abroad at UA’s Capstone International Center. “We are thrilled that we had 10 UA students selected as recipients for this award.”

Recipients were selected by the Institute of International Education through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State.

UA awardees include India Cary, of Louisville, Kentucky, selected to study in the Czech Republic; Koriella Graham, of Tuscaloosa, selected to study in Italy; Opal Khotsombath, of Montgomery, selected to study in South Korea; Meredith Mosley, of Union Grove, selected to study in Belgium; Michael Murphy, of Mount Prospect, Illinois, selected to study in Spain; Victoria Oldham, of Belleville, Illinois, selected to study in France; Paris Powell, of Mableton, Georgia, selected to study in Greece; Teagan Stanley, of Columbia, South Carolina, selected to spend a semester at sea visiting 11 countries; and Connor Todd, of Tuscaloosa, selected to study in Jordan.

Nicole Arnold, of The Colony, Texas, was selected as an alternate for the award to study in the Czech Republic.

In addition, Meredith Ward, of Niceville, Florida, was selected as a recipient of the Gilman-McCain Scholarship to study in Italy.

The Gilman-McCain Scholarship, a congressionally funded initiative of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and named after the late senator John S. McCain, provides awards to child dependents of active service members to study or intern abroad.

“Our Education Abroad office invests heavily in increasing awareness and supporting students in refining their stories and scholarship applications,” said Robinson. “Our efforts are paid off with each student who wins a scholarship, which allows them the incredible opportunity to experience a new country and culture.”

Students interested in educational opportunities around the globe can visit Education Abroad.

Leaving Home for a Brighter Future

• July 29th, 2020
• in International Main

From UA News | Melissa Parker

Nasir Eisty has come a long way from the small Bangladeshi town where he grew up. But the constant love and care from his parents and teachers made it possible to get where he is today.

Since the opportunities in his small, underdeveloped hometown were few, his parents sent him to the capital city, Dhaka, to finish school, in hopes of providing him with a better life.

“I had to leave my home at an early age for a higher-quality education and more opportunities,” said the spring 2020 UA graduate. “I lived alone in a student hostel during the 11th and 12th grades. It was very difficult for me to survive without having my parents at such a young age.”

As challenging as it was, it all paid off, as Eisty went on to earn three college degrees, including his most recent from UA, a doctorate in computer science, the highest degree anyone in his family has earned.

“Because of the current virus situation, I missed celebrating my degree with my family,” said Eisty, who hasn’t seen his parents in over two years. “I’m the first doctorate degree holder in my entire family. I’ll be very happy when I get the chance to celebrate with them, as I can imagine how happy and proud they will be seeing me after getting such a degree.”

Eisty came to UA four years ago with his wife, also a computer science doctoral student, because he was attracted to the exceptional computer science program, the small-town living that Tuscaloosa provides, UA football and the weather, which he says is similar to his home country.

While at UA, Eisty was involved with organizations such as the Graduate Student Association and the Bangladeshi Student Association, as well as with helping organize Alabama robotics contests and teaching at UA’s engineering summer camp.

Last semester, as he was wrapping up his college career, Eisty received one of the top honors for those in his field. He was selected as a 2020 Better Scientific Software Fellow, a program that provides funding for leaders and advocates of high-quality software.

“I was very excited to receive this award,” said Eisty, who received $25,000 from the program to develop a tutorial on automated testing for scientific software. “It is quite an achievement, in fact, one of the best achievements. It’s not about the funding but the recognition. It’s very difficult to be chosen, especially as a doctoral student.”

Eisty will be working on the tutorial, which he plans to present to national labs and conferences, over the next academic year.

Since he has a passion for research and teaching, Eisty accepted an academic position with the computer science and software engineering program at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California, as a tenure-track assistant professor. He will begin this fall.

And when the time is right and the pandemic is over, he will celebrate with his parents, as well as introduce them to his newest accomplishment, his newborn daughter, Eiliyah.

Turkish Consulate Scholarship Students at the ELI

• June 12th, 2020
• in English Language Institute International Main

World Friend’s Day at University Place Elementary, October 2019

 
Since 2008, Turkish students have come to the English Language Institute under the sponsorship of the Turkish Consulate. Their goal is to improve their English proficiency during six months of intensive language study at the ELI and then enter a graduate degree program, usually in the U.S. but also in countries such as China, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands and Australia. The Turkish students at ELI often fall in love with The University of Alabama and then hope to be admitted to a program here. They are currently studying in several departments, among them Geology, Civil Engineering and Education. The ELI looks forward to continuing a fruitful relationship with Turkey.

World Friends Day, Faucett-Vestavia Elementary School, February 2020

World Friends Day, Faucett-Vestavia Elementary School, February 2020