Virginis State University News September 25, 2012 VSU joins International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) consortium Virginia State University recently signed a membership agreement to join the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) consortium, a collaboration of over 300 colleges and universities in 50 countries providing students affordable access to cultural immersion experiences abroad. VSU will participate as an ISEP Direct Member Institution, which will allow students to participate in international exchange programs throughout 28 countries. This membership enables the institution to offer students a wider range of education abroad destinations, without the necessity of negotiating and maintaining individual agreements with universities in each country. Students are directly enrolled in the host ISEP institution, but will pay tuition and fees to their home institutions. Programs through ISEP will be much more affordable to students than other study abroad options. Established in 1979 under the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act as the International Student Exchange Program at Georgetown University, ISEP was supported by a grant from the former United States Information Agency (USIA) until 1996. In 1997, ISEP was incorporated as an independent organization. Located in Alexandria, VA, ISEP operates as a non-profit organization which coordinates with member institutions to administer exchange programs that offer students access to schools in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and Oceania. The short-term, semester and year-abroad programs develop students' intercultural competence and personal maturity while internationalizing their academic experience. Many programs feature service-learning and internships, providing avenues for civic engagement in diverse global communities. The VSU/ISEP Direct program will be managed by the Dr. George H. Bennett Office for International Education. Students of all majors who are interested in planning to study abroad during the summer or the next academic year should contact the office, which is located in Trinkle Hall 205. Students must have a current passport and a minimum GPA of 2.75 in order to apply. For more information contact Maxine Sample, Ph.D., Professor of English and Director of International Education, msample@vsu.edu<mailto:msample@vsu.edu>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.