Submitted by: Herb Schmidt, PDG 2016-2017
International Service Chair
Besides December being a month of giving, the Rotary monthly theme is Disease Treatment and Prevention.
One of the best ways to address and support this month’s Rotary theme is to train and encourage international students in the public health field, especially those who will take the knowledge and expertise gained back to their native communities and/or countries.
International students enrolled in the Masters of Public Health (MPH) program at North Dakota State University (NDSU) have urgent needs. The attached letter from the chair of the NDSU Public Health Dept, Dr. Don Warne, describes these needs and challenges. As you prepare for end of year giving, please consider the huge impact you can make in world health by supporting these international students through scholarships. For those who want to support these students in this (2017-18) Rotary year, there are still some matching grant funds available that can make your contributions have an even greater impact. These funds are available on a first-come first-serve basis and must be applied for through a district matching grant application. If your club wants to do this, the matching grant application needs to be initiated in the very near future. For those needing or wanting help, I will gladly help you write the matching grant application. Just contact me at 701-361-0547 or at hjs2107@gmail.com.
As you plan and prepare for projects in the 2018-19 Rotary year please consider supporting these MPH international students through scholarships. Matching grant applications for the 2018-19 Rotary year are due by Mar.31, 2018. Again, if your club wishes to do a project that can have a long term impact on world public health I will gladly help you prepare the grant application.
Thank you for all you do to help make this a healthier world.
Many best wishes from Bonnie and myself for a happy and healthy holiday season.
Herb Schmidt
Rotary D5580 PDG 2016-17
D5580 International Service Chair
October 17, 2017
Dear Mr. Schmidt,
Graduates from the North Dakota State University Master of Public Health (MPH) program are prepared to tackle some of the world’s most challenging health problems, including relief and rebuilding after natural disasters, infectious disease pandemic risks such as Zika virus, and improving access to affordable health services. A challenge that students have, though, is securing sufficient financial support for our professional program. More specifically, international students do not qualify for U.S. federal financial aid and have minimal scholarship and external loan opportunities as well as eligibility for employment. Tuition rates for international students are also higher than North Dakota and Minnesota resident rates; over $300 per credit hour higher which can add up to over $12,000 more in tuition costs for international students.
Our international students are exceptionally well positioned to make a global impact on health and wellbeing. The financial strain on our international MPH students can lead to students dropping classes or struggling with coursework due to the stressful financial environment in which they live. Scholarship opportunities from the Rotary International would greatly reduce student financial burden and allow international students to focus more on public health coursework. Funding of $1,000 - $5,000 per semester would have an immeasurable positive impact for many of our students. NDSU MPH graduates have local, regional, and worldwide impact in improving communities, and scholarships for international students will meet “the four way test” of Rotary International.
Thank you for your consideration of financial support for International MPH students at North Dakota State University. I can be reached at (701) 231-6323 for questions or further follow-up.
Yours in Health,
Donald K. Warne, MD, MPH
Department of Public Health, Chair and Professor
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
NDSU Dept 2662 I PO Box 6050 I Fargo ND 58108-6050 I 701.231.6323 I Fax 701.231.5586 I
http://www.ndsu.edu/publichealth
NDSU is an EO/AA university.