FBIE Working Group Open Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, May 27, 2003, Noon - 1:15 p.m.
Salt Lake City, UT

Blue group brainstormed for FBIE Workgroup's rationales

• Concerns that NAFSA is too U.S. focused/oriented despite its mission of internationalizing
• Not using international resources/expertise in the offices/organizations effectively
• Lack of support specifically to our issues
• Being proactive -- we should focus more on not what "they [NAFSA]" aren't doing for "us" but what we can do for them. "we," not "they". Think of what it is that "we" aren't doing yet?
• Need more workshops/sessions for international educators
• More support for newcomers and senior FBIEs --> entry and continuing support for career development
• Career path --> what ways are there for us as International/interculturalists?
• Issues vary upon foreign born but US citizens, foreign born and LPR, or foreign born VISA holders (maybe future subgroups within FBIE?)
• A need for a forum for more opportunities to talk to each other about our experiences within the group and as a whole within NAFSA (need more publicity, presentations, sessions at NAFSA??)
• Raise national awareness, presence within NAFSA
• experiences as FBIEs in US campus (ex. balancing identity between international student and professional)
• assessing why we are important to NAFSA and the international education field, "what can we do?"

Blue group narrowed down its focus to two attainable/immediate goals:

• Needs assessment of FBIE "who we are"-- who? how many? --> survey of FBIE
• Recognition and Proactivity -- workshop/session presentations; website/publication (newsletter)

Orange group narrowed down its focus to:

• NAFSA Advocacy for FBIEs
• Increase FBIE's visibility at NAFSA
• Ongoing FBIE Mentor-Mentee group/FBIE Network
• Support professional development (e.g. career development, career guidance)
• Conduct research/survey on FBIEs
• Establish an FBIE Website
  

Final Large group discussion/decisions:

Immediate goals:
1. Recognition/visibility --> taking proactive approach
2. FBIE assessment of who we are --> numbers, issues, challenges, career opportunities
3. Advocacy to NAFSA on FBIE's perspectives through presentations
4. Professional development of FBIE --> Active participation in mentoring and networking at conferences

Action Plan and duties:
1. Create a brief mission statement (by Mid June) -- Susan/ Parul
2. Needs assessment of FBIE (web?) push at Regional Conf --> Susan/Jin/Hitomi
3. Present at NAFSA national and regional. Select a topic of importance to presenters; use results of our assessment as a springboard for discussion (Aug, Nov, May) --> Ravi, Rudie, Yuki

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Submitted by Yuki Kodera, Lesley University & Alex Chang, San Francisco State University