Atlantis partners meeting, Spring, 2008

 Atlantis partners met in Warsaw on April 21-22, 2008.  Attending were Dr. Monika Suchowierska of WSSP; Dr. W. Joseph Wyatt of Marshall and Dr. Istvan Hidegkuti of Debrecen. 

 The meeting was highly productive.  The following was accomplished:

• With minor revisions to the February document, a joint curriculum document was agreed to by those attending.  We await final approval from the respective university officials.
• Dr. Hidegkuti presented a list of the courses that visiting students will take at Debrecen.  He also discussed creative arrangements so that visiting student may be home for Christmas.  That involves a possible early start to classes so that final exams will be concluded prior to Christmas.
• Dr. Hidekuti also provided information as to the dorm arrangements on the Debrecen campus and pointed out that the student health clinic is next door to the dorm.  He was able to have several discussions with the Marshall University students who will be attending Debrecen in September.
• Dr. Wyatt met with the Marshall students who are presently at WSSP.  They stressed the value of their orientation and mentoring programs at WSSP as arranged by Dr. Suchowierska, the WSSP international office and the Erasmus Program Director.   Marshall students reported doing well in terms of health, academics and personal growth.  No major problems were reported.
• Dr. Wyatt reported that the students from Poland and Hungary who are presently at Marshall are getting along very well—no grades lower than B, and enjoyment of a true international experience.  They have traveled to New York, Washington DC, Florida and Chicago.  They were admitted to the West Virginia Psychological Association as student-members and attended its convention.  They have attended several picnics, a pumpkin festival, toured a glass factory and were recognized at the West Virginia State Legislature.
• Dr. Wyatt made a presentation in one of Dr. Suchowierska’s classes as a guest presenter.  The Marshall students attended, as they were taking that class.  They also attended his presentation at the Polish Association for Behavior Analysis whose conference was piggy-backed with the Atlantis meeting.
• Dr. Suchowierska has completed selection of the next group of WSSP students to travel.  Two of them were able to briefly meet with Dr. Wyatt.  Dr. Hidegkuti will complete selection of the Hungarian students next month, and Dr. Wyatt has selected five students, with two more to come, for travel next fall.
• Dr. Suchowierska and her parents hosted a dinner party for the Marshall students, Dr. Wyatt and Dr. Hidegkuti. 

 A meeting is planned for late September at Debrecen.  A representative of the European Commission will attend.

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FEBRUARY 07, 2008 UPDATE

The Atlantis Exchange Program, the Psychology Department, and Psi Chi (the Psychology  Honorary) in conjunction with the WV Autism Training Center, the U.S. Department of Education, and the European Commission are sponsoring two presentations by Dr. Monika Suchowierska, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Warsaw (Poland) School of Social Psychology.  For more information on the presentations, click here.

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Huntington, West Virginia

April 19, 2007

Atlantis Program Update

Warsaw, Poland – Debrecen, Hungary –Huntington, West Virginia USA

 

       In March, 2007, a planning/training meeting was held in Brussels.  Akos Munnich (U. of Debrecen, Hungary), Monika Suchowierska (Warsaw School of Social Psychology, Poland), project evaluator Nedka Dineva and I accomplished a great deal of planning, and left with more tasks to complete at home.  We had individual time to plan, and we also attended plenary sessions led by officials of the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Education.  This was the first time that representatives of our three partner schools had met together in the same room.  This experience proved quite valuable in our planning and getting to know each other.

       We essentially finalized our General Agreements and Exchange Agreements.

       We agreed on some principles of the Articulation (curriculum) Agreement, although this remains a work in     progress.

 

       Presently, Marshall University President Stephen J. Kopp & his wife Jean, along with Marshall’s Director of International Programs Clark Egnor and I, are planning a trip to visit our European partner schools. 

       We have tentative plans to do so during the last week of July, pending the schedules of the Rectors of our partner schools.

 

       We are also in the process of student recruitment.  As an example, here at Marshall our student recruitment activities have included:

       Development of an informational brochure.

       Announcements (about 5 min. each) in nearly all of our 50 undergraduate courses that are presently in session. 

       Posters placed around the psychology building.

       The first informational meeting for interested students was held on April 18.  Nine students attended.  I discussed the project, showed pictures of our European partner schools including the dorms, etc., discussed funding, advising and more.

       Soon to come are additional publicity, nominations of students by faculty members, and student selection.

 

       Marshall’s selected students are required to take a 3 cr. course next fall, prior to travel, to acquaint them with the histories, cultures and “survival” language skills for Hungary and Poland. 

       We are delighted to have hired Dr. Warren Charminski, a native of Poland and Director of the Meat & Poultry Inspection Division of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, to teach the first eight weeks of the course. 

       We presently are recruiting an individual to teach the Hungarian portion of the required course.

 

W. Joseph Wyatt, Ph.D.

Atlantis Program Coordinator

Professor of Psychology

 

Marshall University

1 John Marshall Dr.

Huntington, WV 25755

USA