VCU Humphrey Fellowship Program for 2008-09Arrival information Please plan to arrive in Richmond, Virginia on Monday, August 11, 2008. You will be met at Richmond International Airport (RIC) by a VCU staff person who will take you to your housing. Someone will be waiting to meet you in the baggage claim area holding a sign that reads “VCU HUMPHREY PROGRAM.” If you have any problems during your travel to Richmond, please contact Crystal Thomas at 804-356-4519. If for some reason you will be arriving before August 11, or if you must arrive at some location other than the airport, please let us know. Please complete the enclosed Arrival Information Form and e-mail/fax it to the address/ number listed on the form. This will ensure that we are able to pick you up upon your arrival. If for some reason you miss a connection and you will not arrive as scheduled, please call Crystal Thomas at 804-356-4519. Finally, please bring a sufficient amount of cash to last you the first 10 days of your stay in Richmond. It will take approximately 10 days for your first stipend check to clear the bank so that you can have access to these funds. We understand that it is very difficult to be away from your family for 10 months or more, and that you may want to bring them with you to Richmond. However, as noted in the IIE Humphrey Fellows guidelines, you must consider this matter very seriously. The allowance provided by the Humphrey Program, although sufficient for the individual Fellow, is not adequate to cover the additional costs for family members such as housing, food, and health insurance. The cost of bringing family members to the United States may add as much as $550 to $650 per month for each family member. You should also remember that even while in the United States you will be participating in many activities where your family members will not be able to join you. For example, there will be meetings and conferences in other cities, as well as excursions to social and cultural events. In addition, if you choose to do a Professional Affiliation at a site outside of Richmond, there will be no funds to support your family’s travel to and living expenses in this other site. In general, you will be very busy, and the time required to attend to family matters will make it difficult to fully take advantage of the Humphrey Fellowship experience and meet your professional goals. There are, however, two holiday breaks during the academic year when you may wish to have your family visit you. Winter Break will be at the end of the fall semester from December 15, 2007 through January 14, 2008. Spring Break will be in the middle of the spring semester from March 9, 2008 to March 16, 2008. In addition, you will also have a 30-day grace period at the end of the program when you can travel in the United States as a tourist. This would be another time when your families could join you before you return home. If after considering all of the above, you do decide to bring family members, their arrival should be delayed until at least September 11, 2008. This will give you time to become familiar with the university and the Richmond community, determine the financial implications, and begin your Fellowship program without having to worry about getting your family settled in at the same time. For more information and advice on bringing a family member over to the United States, please contact the Humphrey Fellowship Program office at the Institute for International Education, since the DS2019 paperwork for the F2 visa is processed through that office. Orientation to VCU and Richmond During your first several days at VCU, there will be a variety of structured activities to help you settle into the VCU and Richmond communities and prepare for the busy Fellowship year ahead. The orientation is being jointly organized and led by the Office of International Education and the Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies. A preliminary outline of orientation activities is presented below (see Table 1). Table 1. Humphrey Fellows Orientation Day 1 – Tuesday, August 12 Morning Introduction to your VCU housing (including use of household appliances, heating and air conditioning, garbage collection, internet (Pamela Haney) Afternoon Open bank accounts (Crystal Thomas) Evening Grocery shopping, walking tour of neighborhood and group dinner at neighborhood restaurant (Crystal Thomas) Day 2 – Wednesday, August 13 Morning City Bus to MCV (Crystal Thomas)
Afternoon Get VCU ID and walking tour of MCV Campus (Crystal Thomas) Tour of Fellowship Office (Crystal Thomas)
Day 3 – Thursday, August 14 Morning Professional Advising (Mentors) Afternoon Tour of Richmond (Crystal Thomas) Day 4 – Friday, August 15 Morning Paper work for IIE (Crystal Thomas) VCU Information Technology Training
Afternoon Internet Option for Apartments and Cell Phones (Crystal Thomas) Day 5 – Saturday, August 16 Morning Intro to the Richmond Bus System/Shopping (Crystal Thomas) Evening Welcome Reception with OIE, IDAS and Fellows (Randy Koch) Day 6 – Sunday, August 17 Afternoon Recreational/Cultural Activities (Crystal Thomas) Day 7 – Monday, August 18 Morning Review IIE and IDAS Policy and Procedures (Crystal Thomas)
Health Services and Policies (Crystal Thomas)
Afternoon Individual Academic Advising (Betsy Turf) Individual Meetings with Mentors (Mentors) Day 8 – Tuesday, August 19 Morning English as a Second Language (ESL) and Placement Test (for those taking ESL) (OIE & Crystal Thomas) Individual Academic Advising (Betsy Turf) Individual Meetings with Mentors (Mentors) Afternoon The Life and Vision of Hubert H. Humphrey (Robert Balster) Humphrey Fellow Mentorship Program (Robert Balster) Individual Academic Advising (Betsy Turf) Individual Meetings with Mentors (Mentors) Day 9 – Wednesday, August 20 Morning Cultural and Recreational Resources (Randy Koch and Crystal Thomas) Afternoon Social/Cultural Activity Day 10 -- Thursday, August 21 Morning Orientation to the VCU “Outer Loop” Shuttle Bus (Crystal Thomas) First Day of Classes Day 11 – Friday, August 22 Morning Review of “Humphrey Fellow Guidelines” (Crystal Thomas and Randy Koch)
Afternoon Driving Tour of Richmond (Crystal Thomas and Randy Koch) September 5 Afternoon OIE Orientation (Office of International Education)
Evening Reception with Host Families The VCU Humphrey Fellowship Program The VCU Humphrey Fellows Program is a non-degree program designed to provide mid-career professionals with advanced leadership training that combines academic, practical and cultural activities. Our program involves the public health, substance abuse and other expertise of the entire university faculty as well as that of local health/substance abuse agencies and local and state government in a real-world exposure to research, treatment, prevention and policy in a mid-size American city. Please visit our website, http://www.vcu.edu/idas/humphrey/index.html to be introduced to the 2006 – 2007 and 2007 - 2008 Humphrey Fellows. By May 2008, you will also be able to connect with the VCU Humphrey Fellowship Listserv so that you may ask specific questions of the staff “talk” to the other Fellows. Program organization Substance abuse and other health research are flourishing at VCU and are regularly identified as areas of scholarly excellence. The VCU Humphrey Fellowship program provides a university-wide experience for Humphrey Fellows that includes many opportunities for contact with all of the VCU programs in the substance abuse field. We are able to do this because the entire university effort in substance abuse is coordinated through the Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies (IDAS), directed by Dr. Robert Balster, who also serves as the Coordinator of the Humphrey Program. Other key units are the Office of International Education (OIE) and the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health. Our program also includes a major role for local government and community-based organizations in the execution of the Program. The Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies (IDAS) serves as the administrative home to the VCU Humphrey Program and coordinates individualized program plans for the Fellows, assists Fellows in developing Professional Affiliations, etc. The academic portion of the VCU Humphrey Program is led by the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, a core department in the emerging School of Public Health. This Department has lead responsibility for conducting the Humphrey Seminar Series, and it provides a variety of other course options for Fellows. The Office of International Education assists Fellows in moving to Richmond, coordinates housing, identifies host (“friendship”) families and offers numerous opportunities for a meaningful cultural experience in the Richmond area. In addition to the Program Coordinator, VCU has many faculty with significant international scientific and leadership experience in public health and substance abuse research and training who can serve as mentors, including the following.
Humphrey Program staff There are five key personnel responsible for conducting the VCU Humphrey Program: Coordinator, Associate Coordinator, Academic Coordinator, Assistant Coordinator, and the OIE Liaison. In addition, several other VCU personnel dedicate portions of their effort to this project for performing specific functions as described below. Coordinator: Robert L. Balster is Director of the Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies (IDAS), Butler Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Research Professor of Psychology. He has been funded by the NIH since 1976 and is the recipient of an NIH MERIT Award. He has participated in many multidisciplinary activities, which include membership in the Robert Wood Johnson Research Network on the Etiology of Youth Tobacco Dependence, serving as Editor-in-Chief of Drug and Alcohol Dependence, an international multidisciplinary journal with a heavy concentration in the areas of behavioral and clinical sciences and epidemiology and as Director of IDAS, a multidisciplinary program involving faculty in twelve departments and three schools. Dr. Balster also has extensive experience in international research and training. He was the co-PI of an NIH Fogarty Center grant with Pavlov Medical University in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has hosted international scholars in his laboratories from Mexico, the Czech Republic, Colombia, Russia and France. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the European Behavioral Pharmacology Society and has been an advisor to the WHO for over 20 years, participating in several Expert Advisory Panels, authoring two WHO documents and working with the pharmaceutical industry to improve the functionality of international drug control treaties. He has authored a review of national and international guidelines for drug abuse potential assessment. Dr. Balster also brings extensive leadership and policy experience to this project. They include being President of the CPDD and the Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse Division of the American Psychological Association, and Chair of the Board of Scientific Affairs of the American Psychological Association. From 1994 to 1999 he served as the chief Public Policy officer for the CPDD, working with their Washington lobbying organization to bring science to bear on national drug abuse policy. He has had significant federal government advisory responsibilities, including service as Chair of the FDA Drug Abuse Advisory Committee which provided recommendation on drug abuse control of new medications and on the approval of new drug abuse treatments. Associate Coordinator: J. Randy Koch, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the VCU Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies. Prior to joining VCU in 2003, he was the Director of Research and Evaluation for the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services, a position he held since 1989. Dr. Koch is a member of several national committees and work groups including, the Outcomes Roundtable for Children and Families and the Forum on Performance Measures in Behavioral Healthcare and Related Service Systems. Dr. Koch has conducted research in university, state government and private-for-profit organizations. He is a community psychologist with expertise in program development and evaluation. Dr. Koch’s research interests include co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, adolescent substance abuse, the etiology and prevention of youth tobacco and other substance use, program performance and outcome measurement, and the dissemination of evidence-based practices. Dr. Koch assists in the administration of the VCU Humphrey Program and coordinates university- and community-based affiliations for the Fellows. Academic Coordinator: Dr. Betsy Turf is the Academic Coordinator. In this role, she is primarily responsible for developing and conducting the Humphrey Seminar Series and helping Fellows identify and register for coursework appropriate for their development. Dr. Turf was the Director for Graduate Programs in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, overseeing VCU’s Master of Public Health (MPH) Program and a doctoral program in epidemiology until July 2007. Dr. Turf is trained as an infectious disease epidemiologist but has worked in several areas, including youth tobacco use, television as a medium for promotion of key health messages, program development and evaluation for mental health and substance abuse services and needs assessments for both addiction, chronic and infectious diseases. Assistant Coordinator: Crystal Thomas is the Assistant Coordinator and will work directly with Fellows on a daily basis and will have an office in proximity to them. Ms. Thomas will plan volunteer and out reach activities for the Fellows as well as attend to day-to-day coordination, planning and problem solving. Ms. Thomas has a degree in psychology. OIE Liaison: Pam Haney is the Director of International Student and Scholar Services. She will assist the Humphrey Fellows with housing and coordinate their assimilation into the Richmond community through the Friendship Partner program. OIE Logistics Support: Elizabeth Hiett is VCU's Executive Assistant for the Center for Integrative Mediterranean Studies and also works with the Office of International Education's Executive Director on VCU's international partnerships. Elizabeth will be helping the Fellows with a variety of logistical issues. Humphrey Program Staff Contact Information Coordinator Associate Coordinator Assistant Coordinator Academic Coordinator International Education Coordinator Director of International Student and Scholar Services
Program components The Humphrey Fellowship Program at VCU has many components and required activities, and it also provides lots of opportunities for you to explore your individual interests. The program components are described below, and a list of major required Program activities/projects are attached to this document (see Summary of Major Program Requirements). Individual Program Plan: Working with your mentor, the Program Coordinator and/or Associate Coordinator, you will develop an Individual Program Plan describing your activities for the Fellowship. This plan will be flexible, but it will have measurable goals for progress during the year. Individual Program Plans will include five types of activities: 1) Humphrey Seminar; 2) other academic coursework in your areas of interest; 3) Professional Development Activities, which may include day trips to local substance abuse and other health facilities, attendance at conferences, workshops and seminars, and meetings with state and national experts; 4) Professional Affiliations, including off-campus and on-campus affiliations; and 5) cultural excursions including visits to museums and historical sites, participation in ethnic festivals and so forth. Humphrey Seminar Series: The Humphrey Seminar Series is intended to provide Fellows with the opportunity to learn about the U.S., its political and health care systems, the role of epidemiology in identifying needs in a population, program development and evaluation for the control of adverse health events, translation of research into public health policy and characteristics of the public health system in the United States. Examples are drawn from different adverse health outcomes but primarily from the field of addiction. The seminar includes sessions on the scientific basis of addiction and addiction research methods, the history of regulation and policy development in the U.S., on-going prevention efforts, how to determine what constitutes best practices in prevention and treatment, and comparative discussions of current U.S. and international policies. The series will vary somewhat from year to year based on the objectives of the Fellows. In addition, Fellows will have the opportunity to learn from their classmates about international experiences with public health issues. The primary objectives of the Seminar Series are: The Seminar Series is held in both the fall and spring semesters, with Fellows meeting once a week for approximately two and one-half hours. A portion of the session is didactic lecture, but 15 to 30 minutes are reserved for class discussion, both on the topic of the session but also of current events and other matters of general interest. The seminar has been established as a 5-credit per semester graduate-level course (pass/fail) open only to Humphrey Fellows. The course director is Dr. Elizabeth Turf of the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health. Early in the semester, an initial needs assessment will be conducted to identify key areas of interest. The Fellows, together with Dr. Turf, will guide the development of the spring semester offerings. Table 2 lists some topics included in the 2007-2008 Humphrey Seminar and the VCU faculty member/Richmond agency responsible for either presenting the information or identifying an expert in the field as a guest speaker. Table 2. Humphrey Fellows Seminar- Selected Topics from 2007-2008
Elements of leadership training and knowledge are interwoven throughout the lectures, activities, and discussions of the Humphrey Seminar. Fellows have many opportunities to interact with both junior and senior leaders in the SA field, especially through interactions with their Mentor and the Coordinator. As part of the Humphrey Seminar, you will also be required to take a web-based course in research with human participants. In addition to providing you with valuable information about ethical issues in the conduct of human research, successfully completing a web-based test on this material is a prerequisite for participating in any VCU research project involving human participants. You will be required to submit a certification of completion by December 1, 2008. The seminar component will culminate with each Fellow giving a formal presentation of their project in the late spring. The Fellow’s mentors and other VCU faculty may be invited to attend these presentations. Fellows will receive a formal evaluation of their presentation conducted by Program staff. The Humphrey Seminar is a critical component of the VCU Program. However, it is recognized that there may be other professional development opportunities that may conflict with the scheduled class time. Therefore, Fellows are allowed one absence per semester in order to attend other professional development activities. Academic Coursework: A variety of other courses are available that can be taken for credit or audit. We have an Addiction Studies track in the MPH program that includes specific courses on epidemiology, treatment and prevention, drugs and crime, public health organization and management, behavioral pharmacology, etc. (see http://www.epidemiology.vcu.edu/MPH_Program/tracks/addition_studies.htm). Professional Development (Short-term) Activities: A wide variety of training and professional development activities are available to enhance your skills in specific areas. These include various on-campus seminars, short courses on such topics as information technology (e.g., software classes, library usage), teacher training, grant writing, and others. An up-to-date listing of these opportunities will be provided to you after your arrival. Somewhat less formal professional development will occur through attendance at local and national meetings and conferences and short site visits to a variety of public health and substance abuse treatment programs, state and local agencies, and advocacy organizations. In addition, you will be expected to attend and make a presentation at the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s International Forum, and to attend the annual meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) immediately following the International Forum in June, 2009. We anticipate that you will attend at least one additional conference or workshop during your Fellowship. Professional Affiliation (Long-Term) Activities—Off Campus: The Richmond metropolitan area is home to a large number of substance abuse organizations that will be excellent sites for Professional Affiliations. These organizations cover a broad range of functions including prevention and treatment services, policy development and program planning, program evaluation, funding, and advocacy: Professional Affiliations will be approximately 6 weeks (30 school/work days), but may be extended (if all parties agree) to allow Fellows to complete a project. Typically, Fellows will have one or two outside Professional Affiliations during the course of the year. Professional Affiliations may be located on campus or in the Richmond metropolitan area; however, to accommodate the special needs/interests of individual Fellows and within IIE program budget limitations, Professional Affiliations may be identified in other areas of the country. Fellows will meet with the Coordinator or Associate Coordinator and their individual mentors to identify potential Professional Affiliations and to develop a plan for the affiliation. Specific tasks to be completed, scheduled, etc. are negotiated between the Fellow and the host organization. The emphasis for each affiliation is on obtaining practical experience and the development of leadership skills in the chosen area. Drs. Balster, Turf and Koch will monitor the quality of the Professional Affiliation experience through at least semi-weekly discussions with the Fellows and contacts with the host organization. Professional Affiliation (Long-Term) Activities—On Campus: Beginning shortly after their arrival at VCU, Fellows will become affiliated with one of the substance abuse programs housed at VCU. These may include basic research laboratories in animal or clinical pharmacology, the Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory which conducts program evaluation, as well as policy and survey research (including a regular state-wide phone survey), the Mid-Atlantic Addiction Technology Transfer Center, the Virginia Impaired Health Practitioners Program, the NIDA Clinical Trials Network, the Criminal Justice National Drug Treatment Studies project, the Virginia Youth Tobacco Project or many others. VCU has 19 faculty currently funded by NIDA who will be able to serve as Professional Affiliations for those fellows with common research interests. Most typically, these on-campus Professional Affiliations will be with the Fellow’s mentor, but alternative arrangements can be made to accommodate the special interests of individual Fellows. Typically, this work will require approximately eight hours per week for eight weeks. Cultural Excursions: Over the course of your Fellowship, we intend to provide several opportunities for you to take advantage of the many historical and cultural resources in the Richmond and surrounding area. We are very fortunate to live in a city that is rich in history and culture, with several fine museums, art galleries, and historical homes and buildings. In addition, we are within easy driving distance of an amazing array of cultural, historical, and political resources in Washington, D.C. These experiences will greatly add to your enjoyment of your Fellowship experience and provide you with additional opportunities to learn about the United States.
About Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Commonwealth University is an urban, public institution enrolling approximately 30,000 undergraduate, graduate, professional and doctoral students on its two thriving campuses, located in the heart of Richmond. More than 1,750 faculty members and over 1,000 adjunct faculty members comprise the University’s teaching force. VCU faculty attracts more than $205 million in sponsored research funding, and it is ranked by the Carnegie Foundation as one of the nation’s top research universities. The total workforce of the University — faculty, physicians, nurses and administrative and support staff — is more than 17,000. Research strengths at VCU include the basic and health sciences, business, behavioral sciences, public affairs, and the humanities. Among VCU’s many national rankings are 23 programs in the top tier of the U.S. News and World Report review, with two ranked number one in their discipline (for more information see: www.vcu.edu/ranking). As part of a long-range strategic plan, VCU has been enhancing its stature as one of the nation’s leading research universities. Strategic projects have included establishing a new School of Public Health, which will be an important factor in translation of research into practice and for health promotion. The university has lead in the establishment of the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park in collaboration with business, civic and government leaders. When it is fully developed, the research park will cover 34 acres in downtown Richmond and employ an estimated 3,000 professional and technical personnel. VCU offers 62 baccalaureate, 69 master’s, 31 doctoral as well as first professional degrees in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and a variety of applied health fields; providing students with the unique opportunity to pursue their own educational goals and making VCU the most comprehensive university in Virginia. For more information about VCU, please see our website at www.vcu.edu. Richmond, the capital city of the state of Virginia, has a metropolitan area population of nearly 1.2 million. Richmond combines the excitement and opportunity of a large urban and international business center with the pace and traditions of an historical and residential area. Within easy driving distance of Washington, D.C., the U.S. capital, Virginia Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, and the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, Richmond’s location offers many sites of interest outside the city as well. For more information about Richmond, see www.richmond.com. We sent to each of you a copy of Old Richmond Today which will give you a better idea of our community. About the Institute for Drug and Alcohol StudiesThe Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies (IDAS) was established at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1993 to promote excellence in research and education on substance abuse. Currently, the Institute is comprised of approximately 50 faculty members from thirteen different departments within the university, thus enabling a multidisciplinary approach to addressing the complex problems associated with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. With the efforts of VCU faculty and the help of other institutions focusing on alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse, IDAS has become a thriving research enterprise for VCU students and faculty, a national leader in addictions research and a valuable resource to the commonwealth of Virginia. The substance abuse research conducted by IDAS faculty spans the disciplines of medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, as well as clinical and services research on community-based treatment and prevention. A major focus of our research is on the biological basis for the actions of drugs of abuse on the brain; significant contributions have been made to the study of cocaine, opiates, marijuana, alcohol, hallucinogens, tobacco, inhalants and PCP. This research has been particularly valuable in providing the scientific basis for developing new drug abuse treatments. Other important areas of substance abuse research include the study of behavioral and genetic factors related to drug addiction, the evaluation of abuse liability of new medications, and the development and evaluation of new prevention and treatment models. IDAS faculty also have made major contributions to the study of tobacco use and dependence in youth. This multi-disciplinary focus has enabled VCU to become one of the leading universities in the world in attracting research support for studies of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. In 2007, IDAS faculty members generated over $22 million in external funding from numerous federal, state and private sources. In addition to the large amount of sponsored research conducted by IDAS faculty members, they are widely recognized for their scholarly contributions to the field of substance abuse. The Humphrey Program Coordinator and director of IDAS, Dr. Robert Balster, serves as editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, and, during a typical year, faculty members published 100 books and scientific journal articles on drug and alcohol abuse. Four faculty members are past presidents of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD), the longest standing organization in the United States addressing problems of drug abuse and dependence. Individual faculty members also have received numerous awards, including three recipients of the Nathan B. Eddy Award for lifetime scientific achievement, an award for mentoring young addictions scientists, the Joseph Cochin Award for early career contributions, and the Michael Morrison Award for service to the profession, all from CPDD. The Institute is affiliated with several large research and knowledge-application efforts of national prominence. These include a research center grant and a pre- and postdoctoral training grant from NIDA. IDAS also has joined with faculty at Johns Hopkins University to be one of the first collaborating centers of NIDA’s Clinical Trials Network. This network of community-based treatment programs linked to regional universities conducts research on the effectiveness and feasibility of new science-based treatments for addictions. VCU hosts the Virginia Health Practitioners Intervention Program for assessment, treatment planning, referral and monitoring of impaired health practitioners in the commonwealth. Finally, the Institute is home to the Virginia Youth Tobacco Project, a statewide research effort addressing the causes and prevention of youth tobacco use, and it actively collaborates with the Mid-Atlantic Addictions Technology Transfer Center, also located at VCU. IDAS has strong ties to other institutes and centers at VCU, including the Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, the Institute for Women’s Health and the Massey Cancer Center. You can learn more about the Institute at our website: www.vcu.edu/idas. About the Office of International Education The Office of International Education at VCU comprises six units and serves the needs of international students and scholars as well as students who desire an educational experience abroad. OIE provides immigration and admissions services, English language programs, study abroad opportunities and outreach for students and scholars. Most importantly for you as a Humphrey Fellow, OIE coordinates your housing while at VCU.
Office spaceWe will provide office space for you in Old City Hall, a beautiful and historic building located on Capitol Square and just across the street from the VCU Health Sciences campus. It is very close to most classes and meetings you will need to attend, and it is on the bus line. Office furniture and equipment (including shared photocopier, telephones and fax machine) will be provided at no cost. The Humphrey Fellowship suite includes your office, which you will typically share with another Humphrey Fellow, a conference/meeting room, and an office for the Assistant Coordinator. E-mail and computersYou will be provided with free e-mail and internet access at VCU. Your office will include a PC for your individual use that is connected to a shared laser printer. If you already have a good quality laptop, you should consider bringing it with you. Health careImportant: As you know, you will receive accident and sickness coverage through the Humphrey Fellowship Program. However, this will not cover pre-existing conditions. Given this, if you do have any pre-existing medical conditions that may require treatment while you are in the U.S., we strongly encourage you to keep your current insurance if that option is available to you. The Humphrey accident and sickness coverage requires a co-payment for each insured health care incident. This year the co-pay was $50. All insurance claims must be handled by each Fellow with assistance by the Humphrey staff if problems arise. As a registered, full-time Fellow at VCU, you will have access to the university health clinic which provides limited no cost health care within the clinic’s capacity. This does not include prescriptions or visits to specialists. Again, you will be required to have health insurance for any family members you bring to Richmond—this will be at your expense. Healthcare in the United States is very expensive, and neither VCU nor IIE will cover the cost of healthcare for your dependents in the U.S. If you are currently taking any prescription medications, if possible, please bring an adequate supply with you. Also bring copies of prescriptions or information regarding dosage in case you need to obtain an additional supply while you are in Richmond—an original prescription written by your physician would be best. In addition, since the Humphrey Program accident and sickness coverage will not cover dental services, try to have all necessary dental work done before you leave for the United States. The Code of Virginia (Section 23-7.5) requires all full-time students to provide documentation of their immunizations. Proof of the following is required: Please send your immunization records to Jeannine Uzel, the Immunization Coordinator for VCU Student Health PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL and bring a copy with you, also. Her address is: Jeannine Uzel Ms. Uzel will review the records and let us know what is missing. We will arrange for group clinics once you have arrived in Richmond to provide any immunizations you are missing. Please Note. All Fellows will be given a tuberculin skin test at VCU. One exception is if you have documented proof of a definite positive reaction previously. In that case, you will be sent directly for a chest x-ray, which must be done here at VCU. Having been vaccinated with BCG does not make any difference. You will not be expected to pay for the chest x-ray; only the skin tests. Any Fellow who will have patient contact will have additional immunization requirements. If you have not already had any of the required vaccinations before you arrive in the U.S., you will be responsible for the costs to have them done here.
Food and dietary restrictionsPlease complete a dietary restrictions [PDF] form and fax it to the number listed on the form. We will use this information when we plan any group meals. Richmond offers many diverse restaurants and food markets including, Asian, Latin and South American, African and Middle Eastern. Dietary requirements, such as a Halal and vegetarian diets can also be supported here. TransportationAs a medium size city, Richmond does not have the same highly developed mass transit system available in many of our larger cities such as Washington, DC and New York City. However, it is also free of most of the traffic congestion common in larger cities and most of the places you will need to travel to are conveniently located. Your housing will be located a short distance from the VCU Monroe Park campus. From your apartment, it is a very short walk (10 minutes or less) to a bus stop where you can get a VCU bus that provides quick access to each campus and points in between at no cost. A city bus stop is located across the street from your housing that will take you to most places in the Richmond metropolitan area, and you can purchase a bus pass that is good for one semester for a very reasonable $50. This can also be used to take you to the MCV campus, stopping approximately 4 blocks from your office at Old City Hall. Your apartment is also located a short bus ride away from several state and local agencies where you are likely to have meetings and where you may choose to do your Professional Affiliation as well as many restaurants, nightclubs historical sites and art galleries. You will also find that there are numerous recreational, athletic and cultural resources on both campuses, typically free or at minimal cost, that are easily accessible by the VCU bus system or within easy walking distance. The greatest transportation challenge you are likely to have is traveling to low cost shopping areas. Most shopping malls and discount stores are located outside the city center, and while it may be more convenient for you to shop on weekends, bus service to these areas is very limited at this time. While we will coordinate some shopping trips, you will need to consider these things when planning other shopping outings. If you can obtain an international driver’s license before coming to the United States, you may find this to be very helpful. This will allow you to rent a car or be an occasional driver during your stay in the U.S. If you plan to buy a car while you are in the U.S., you should bring with you papers documenting your driving record and insurance, translated into English, as these documents may enable you to purchase car insurance more inexpensively. Banking/credit cardsIt is recommended that you arrive with a Visa or MasterCard attached to your bank account back home. If you are not able to obtain a credit card before coming, be sure to bring a current bank statement, translated into English, so that you can obtain a card a little more easily once you are here. During your program orientation, additional banking options within the U.S. will be explained. Extracurricular interest surveyAlthough you will be very busy with your professional development activities, we recognize that you will want to continue to pursue your individual hobbies and other recreational activities or perhaps explore some new interests. Fortunately, VCU and the Richmond community have the resources available to meet almost any interest. This past year, a volunteer organized several outings to go dancing and gave free swimming lessons to several of the Fellows. To help us begin to identify what resources will be of particular interest to you, please complete a short Extracurricular Interest Form [PDF] below and fax it to the number provided on the form. We think you’ll find that there are many recreational and cultural activities at VCU and the greater Richmond community. These include sporting events, ethnic festivals, art museums and galleries, dance, music and much more. We will organize several recreational and cultural events during your time in Richmond, but the best way to take advantage of what the community has to offer is to be adventuresome! Get out and explore! When you do, you’ll make new friends, learn more about our culture and have opportunities to share your culture with others. To help you get started, below are a couple of web sites that you’ll want to check on a regular basis to see what is going on in Richmond and at VCU. www.usca.vcu.edu/ WeatherThe weather when you arrive in Richmond during the summer months (June to September) is hot and humid. During early fall (October to November), daily high temperatures will be much cooler. In the winter (December to March), temperatures are colder, but still relatively mild. Snowfall is infrequent and rarely amounts to more than a couple of inches. When it does snow, it usually melts away within a day or two. Average temperatures (in degrees Fahrenheit) and precipitation for Richmond is presented below.
Source: www.hellorichmond.com/Weather.Cfm DressWhen packing clothing, you should consider preparing for all types of weather during the program year. Light clothing is recommended for your arrival, as August can be very warm in Richmond. For winter you will need a warm coat, hat, scarf and gloves. It is possible to purchase all types of clothing in Richmond after you arrive, but they may be less expensive in your home country. Dress for classes at the university is generally casual. Jeans, skirts, shorts and athletic shoes (sneakers) are acceptable. Professional dress will be essential for meetings off campus, formal events, conferences and your Professional Affiliations. This can include suits/sport coats and ties for men, and skirt suits, pant suits and dresses for women. Both dress and causal shoes are needed and should be comfortable for a lot of walking. You may also want to bring clothing that is specific to any sports or hobbies in which you participate. There will be opportunities during your Fellowship to wear clothing currently or historically typical for your country. You are welcome to bring these with you (see below).
What to bring with youAs you know, your Humphrey Fellowship will include a combination of professional, academic, and cultural activities. To fully participate in these activities and to ensure that your experiences here are as relevant as possible to the work you will do when you return home, we suggest that you consider bringing the following with you: ATTACHMENTS/FORMS
|