International Studies Summer Institute (ISSI)

International Studies Summer Institute (ISSI)

Every summer between 1996 and 2010, hundreds of educators, from middle school through college levels, came to this annual residential program on the Bloomington campus, sponsored by the Center for the Study of Global Change. They joined IU professors and other internationally prominent speakers to explore global themes such as environmental change, food security, and international trade through simulations, panels, interactive communication technology connections, and cultural events. The goals of the institute were to assist educators:

  • To learn about significant and current global issues
  • To apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to these issues
  • To experience world cultures
  • To develop pertinent lesson plans or units
  • To develop a global network of colleagues
  • To acquire top-quality Interactive Communication Technology (ICT), library, web, and instructional resources

ISSI was the precursor of the Institute for Curriculum and Campus Internationalization.

ISSI's impact

  • Jeannine Kuropatkin, Arizona (ISSI, 2009) Kuropatkin was awarded a Fulbright-Hays GPA in Indonesia (summer 2010); she was selected as one of the state co-Coordinators for National Geographic's Geography Awareness Week: Freshwater and Geography Action: Oceania educational programs for the 2010-11 school year.
  • Gail Chastain, California (ISSI, 2001, 2009) “I believe, due to ISSI, I received two major teaching awards (one local, one national), and an opportunity to teach on a two-week exchange to Armenia,” says Chastain.
  • Jenny & Juan Banal, Philippines (ISSI, 2008) The Banals involved parents in their school, appeared in a news article about the work that they initiated, received a letter from the mayor of Makati, their country's financial district, that lauded their efforts to make a difference in teaching the children and their parents about global issues and concerns.
  • Michael Sixtus, California (ISSI, 2007) Sixtus was a finalist for the 2008 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship.
  • Leslie Casanova, Connecticut (ISSI, 2007) Casanova was a 2008-09 Fulbright Grantee for a teacher exchange in Morocco.
  • Pren Woods, South Carolina (ISSI, 2006) Woods participated in the 2008 Toyota International Teacher program on the Galápagos Islands.
  • Gwendolyn Devins, North Carolina (ISSI, 2005) Devins was named the 2007 North Carolina Association for the Advancement of Health Education (NCAAHE) High School Teacher of the Year.
  • Lisa Adeli, Arizona (ISSI, 2002) Adeli won the 2009 History Channel Teacher of the Year Award at the National History Day Competition in Washington, D.C.
  • Souley Dounda, Maryland (ISSI, 2001) Dounda was named the 2010 MD Language Teacher of the Year (MFLA).
Group members posing for picture