International faculty to receive subsidies after all

In another mysterious turn, officials in charge of the program would not disclose the exact source of the funds or give information about who handles them.

Carol Carpenter, program director for the UA Office of International Faculty and Scholars, released a memo last Wednesday, addressed to the University of Arizona community, stating that "due to a loss of subsidies that have been supporting this office for the last two years, there will be a suspension in advising services and processing of (visa) petitions," effective Monday.

In an interview yesterday, Carpenter refused to comment on some of the program's details, including the original funding source.

"We had several sources - they were temporary," she said.

Carpenter said a "business office" handles such matters, but would not furnish a name, location or phone number.

Kirk Simmons, executive director of international affairs, said quick action on behalf of university administration saved the program.

"With the support of the administration, we were able to get funds," Simmons said. "We're receiving full support for this office."

Simmons said Mike Gottfredson, vice president for undergraduate education, was "highly responsive" in finding the money for the office to continue business.

Originally, support for the office came from "temporary auxiliary funds" provided by the university, Simmons said.

Funding for the office is now permanent and he doesn't foresee such a suspension happening again, he said.

"We worked very hard in gaining support," Simmons said. "I'm very pleased with the outcome."

Carpenter said the funding loss was "somewhat unexpected," and that the original decision to suspend services happened quickly.

The suspension would have affected international research faculty who require advising and processing of their visas.

Although Carpenter said she didn't know where the office's funding originally came from, she and the administration were committed to resolving the issue, which is now "taken care of," she said.

"The university administration understands the importance of international exchange," Carpenter said. "We are just very grateful."

Simmons said technically, services were never suspended and the office remains up and running.

"New applications are being processed immediately," he said.

Erin Mahoney can be reached via e-mail at Erin.Mahoney@wildcat.arizona.edu.