2008 Woodie Awards
Making Connections
International Honorary Organization Brings Study Abroad Students Together
By Jason Fish
4/18/07 - Features
International students have been coming to study at the Colorado School of Mines for years. They have traveled from Europe, the Middle East, even Mongolia. Students from Mines have also gone abroad to many different countries and universities.
To help improve international education for those students visiting or embarking from CSM, the Office of International Programs (OIP) set up a chapter of Phi Beta Delta.
"The Epsilon Mu chapter of Phi Beta Delta was granted in 2002," said Dr. Kay Godel-Gengenbach, who runs the OIP from Stratton Hall. "The first group of 13 students was initiated in 2003."
PBD is an international honorary organization for students, scholars, faculty, and staff at universities who have studied abroad or have been involved in international academic programs.
At Mines, all members in PBD are invited into the organization. The criteria for invitation are to have studied in at least two different cultural environments and maintaining a B average in both places. These rules apply to Mines students going abroad and international students attending CSM.
"Unlike the national organization, our chapter focuses on student achievement and has not actively solicited membership of faculty who share our goals of promoting cross-cultural dialogues, though this is under consideration for the future," said Godel-Gengenbach.
Phi Beta Delta is run by student officers as well as the OIP. Amanda Younessian, a junior in the Materials and Metallurgical Engineering department, took a summer course on the island of St. Kitts two years ago and is currently the PBD Secretary.
"I thought it would be a good way to meet other international students on campus," said Younessian. "I like meeting them, especially the Spanish kids. They're crazy."
At Mines, Phi Beta Delta hosts weekly movie nights, featuring international films from all over the world. There is also a PBD booth set up at Celebration of Mines, providing information about studying abroad and giving assistance to visiting international students.
To help improve international education for those students visiting or embarking from CSM, the Office of International Programs (OIP) set up a chapter of Phi Beta Delta.
"The Epsilon Mu chapter of Phi Beta Delta was granted in 2002," said Dr. Kay Godel-Gengenbach, who runs the OIP from Stratton Hall. "The first group of 13 students was initiated in 2003."
PBD is an international honorary organization for students, scholars, faculty, and staff at universities who have studied abroad or have been involved in international academic programs.
At Mines, all members in PBD are invited into the organization. The criteria for invitation are to have studied in at least two different cultural environments and maintaining a B average in both places. These rules apply to Mines students going abroad and international students attending CSM.
"Unlike the national organization, our chapter focuses on student achievement and has not actively solicited membership of faculty who share our goals of promoting cross-cultural dialogues, though this is under consideration for the future," said Godel-Gengenbach.
Phi Beta Delta is run by student officers as well as the OIP. Amanda Younessian, a junior in the Materials and Metallurgical Engineering department, took a summer course on the island of St. Kitts two years ago and is currently the PBD Secretary.
"I thought it would be a good way to meet other international students on campus," said Younessian. "I like meeting them, especially the Spanish kids. They're crazy."
At Mines, Phi Beta Delta hosts weekly movie nights, featuring international films from all over the world. There is also a PBD booth set up at Celebration of Mines, providing information about studying abroad and giving assistance to visiting international students.
Be the first to comment on this story