The Distinguished International Scholars Program aims to enhance global engagement on campus and deepen Penn’s ties to universities and scholars around the world.
Any member of the Standing Faculty who is teaching an undergraduate course in an upcoming semester may apply to host an international scholar. The deadline for this application cycle is October 23, 2009. Applications will be accepted for courses to be offered in the next academic year (2010-2011). There will be another call for applications in the spring.
The Distinguished International Scholars Program offers Penn faculty the opportunity to invite a scholar from another nation to contribute significantly to an undergraduate course while visiting Penn’s campus. The total time spent on campus must be at least ten weekdays, which can be compressed into a two-week visit or spread out over the course of a semester. In addition to visiting the course, the scholar participates in intellectual and cultural life on campus, through such activities as visiting other courses, offering public lectures, attending departmental seminars/workshops, and participating in programs through College Houses and Academic Services.
The faculty member and his/her department/school will be responsible for hosting the scholar during the visit, including coordinating all travel and lodging arrangements and planning all educational and social activities. The host department/school will receive up to $20,000 to cover expenses related to the visit, such as an honorarium, visa fees, lodging, meals, and travel. Applications will be evaluated based on the scholar’s reputation and teaching expertise, how well the planned visit integrates the scholar into intellectual and cultural life on campus, and the potential impact of the scholar’s visit on undergraduate education.