CEHS View From Here - Jim Benes

02 Apr 2020     By Jim Benes

“CEHS View From Here” is a weekly series in the College of Education and Human Sciences that offers a glimpse at how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the efforts of faculty and staff.

It seems that in a matter of weeks, our entire world has changed.  In an effort to flatten the curve to slow the COVID-19 pandemic, the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has taken drastic measures to keep public safety at the top of the priority list. Almost every facet of daily work life in the college has changed. Principle among the changes has been international travel, namely the college’s study abroad programming in spring and summer of 2020. As the college’s global exchange coordinator, here is my view.

First, it is important to understand that building these programs requires faculty members to devote 100+ hours outside of their normal responsibilities. So, the professors and instructors that do plan to take students on an international educational journey truly do it out of passion and commit to a lot of unrecognized work. Together, the faculty leaders and I work closely with the UNL Education Abroad Office and their liaison to CEHS, Stephanie Benes. Yes, we actually are distantly related! All this is to say that these programs are a lot of work that involve multiple offices and approximately 1.5 – 2 years to plan and implement. This makes it especially devasting when a program cancels for any reason.  In 2020, CEHS was offering:

Of these fine offerings, Canada and Finland/Estonia were first-time programs. The first to cancel this year was the spring break program to China, led by Professor Dipra Jha in the HRTM program within NHS. Drawing upon his expertise in international travel and tourism, Professor Jha was concerned at the end of January and wisely decided to pull the plug on January 28^th. At that time, many of us in international education thought that the novel coronavirus would simply become contained and we were not as alarmed as we would later become. 

Another international program that was canceled for spring break was a humanitarian audiology experience to Nicaragua in the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders. Drs. Stacie Ray and Hannah Ditmars and I were planning on traveling to León, Nicaragua. I was going to deliver a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the connection between CEHS and the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, and Drs. Ray and Ditmars were going to fit hearing aids to the underserved populace along with two other SECD doctoral students. Haley Apel, Kelcey Buck, and I were drafting plans to create a spotlight story to highlight the work that SECD has been working toward in Nicaragua. 

Dr. Jenelle Reeves also had been awarded a Fulbright-Hayes for summer 2020. This unique award provided funding for 12 current Nebraska schoolteachers in social studies, geography, world history or world languages to travel to South Korea for one month. Once there, Dr. Reeves would lead the teachers to observe and participate in Korean educational systems and complete a homestay in a Korean teacher’s household. 

All of these experiences have been canceled due to the novel coronavirus worldwide pandemic. The students who gave security deposits are in the process of being refunded.  Some of them are now graduating and will not be able to travel during their time here at UNL as a result. Some students will be able to go next year. Two students in our college were awarded Gilman Scholarships for the Ethiopia/Zambia program, and three more are still awaiting news of their applications. While it is troubling and stressful for all of us to adjust the summer plans, it is best for the health and safety of all of the students, faculty and staff in CEHS to postpone. Everyone understands this, yet it remains a difficult task. As with everything, time moves things along. Keep an eye out for the marketing materials for 2021, being produced now, and soon we’ll be moving ahead with budgets, recruitment and planning for those programs. You can find the latest information on my webpage: https://cehs.unl.edu/global/ And don’t forget to follow me on social media, if you haven’t already: Twitter: @cehs_global and Instagram: cehs_global

One bright spot — Dipra Jha and Dr. Kristen Malek in HRTM are leading a fall study abroad program to Dubai, U.A.E. in November for the World’s Fair Expo. As of now, the program is still planned as scheduled, and 24 students have signed up to go…I hope you’ll join me in wishing that CEHS will be able to send at least one faculty-led study abroad program in 2020.     

eading a fall study abroad program to Dubai, U.A.E. in November for the World’s Fair Expo. As of now, the program is still planned as scheduled, and 24 students have signed up to go…I hope you’ll join me in wishing that CEHS will be able to send at least one faculty-led study abroad program in 2020.