Day: August 27, 2009

GSIPM Launches New Semester with Retreat

On Thursday August 20th, the combined faculty and staff of the new Graduate School of International Policy and Management held their semester kickoff retreat.  Over 40 attendees discussed the reorganization and its impact on policies & procedures, reviewed proposals for new degree programs and specializations, and received an update from Dean Tate Miller on the new Center for Advising & Career Services. The retreat kicked off with a session designed to explore our “assests and aspirations”. The following statistics are a representation of the tremendous resources we have within the GSIPM:

-Over 920 years collective professional experience in our fields of expertise
-We have taught 554 different courses
-An amazing 66,264 students taught
–2,024 clients and client organizations served by our faculty and staff

Collectively, an amazing impact on the world!

TOEFL iBT registration online

If you encounter students seeking information about TOEFL iBT, please share the following with them:

The Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) is administered monthly here on the Monterey Institute campus in our Pacific Lab (CF442). Administration dates for Fall 2009 are September 19, October 24 and November 21. The test begins at 9:30 am, and the cost is $170. All test takers register online at the ETS website: http://www.ets.org/toefl. Please note that we no longer process registrations on campus. Likewise, TOEFL score reporting is also done online. Due to the high demand for TOEFL iBT, we encourage test takers to register early. For further information, email english@miis.edu.

Jeff Langholz Reports on Sustainable Development Projects

Professor Jeff Langholz did several summer projects that combined business with policy in the form of sustainable enterprise development.

In June, he traveled to London to advise the CEO of sports apparel giant PUMA Inc. on a major “green business” initiative to be launched in October.  June also saw him writing an analytical report for the World Wildlife Fund that made recommendations on using sustainable enterprises to improve and expand the organization’s efforts. He involved recent IEP alumna and Fulbright Scholar (Brazil) Heather Zissler in this consultancy because of her in-depth knowledge of the subject.

Much of the summer was devoted to researching and writing a 120-page report on sustainable agriculture. Funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and The Nature Conservancy, the report examines the extent to which growers of spinach, lettuce, and other leafy greens in seven Central Coast counties have implemented a “scorched earth” policy on farms in an attempt to reduce food safety risks.

worldwatchLast, the WorldWatch Institute – which produces the annual State of the World reports — has published an article by Dr. Langholz in the current (Sept/Oct) issue of its award-winning WorldWatch Magazine. The provocative piece challenges the international conservation community to double the amount of biodiversity protected globally by investing in nature-based ventures.  Please click here for a copy of the article.