Important Updates from the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO)
- Export control process for Cystart requests is changing. All Cystart requests that include the Export Control e-form will function as follows:
- The Cystart user (that is, the person overseeing the Cystart request) will follow their usual process for obtaining a completed and signed Export Control Worksheet (ECW).
- Then, instead of e-mailing the completed ECW to the Office of Research Ethics (ORE), the Cystart user will upload it to the Export Control e-form and submit the e-form. Submitting the e-form will route the ECW to ORE within Cystart, eliminating the need to email the ECW separately to ORE.
- If ORE has questions or requires edits of the ECW, they will be in touch with the department directly, outside of Cystart.
- Finally, ORE will upload the approved ECW to the Export Control e-form as usual.
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination no longer required to enter the U.S.
- Effective May 12, 2023, the Biden administration ended the requirement for international visitors entering the U.S. to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination. This change was timed to coincide with the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11.
- Electronic Transmission of DS-2019s now permitted by DoS
- Effective April 27, 2023, the U.S. Department of State broke with decades of tradition that prohibited the electronic transmission of Form DS-2019. The ISSO is now allowed to e-mail J-1 exchange visitors a PDF version of their DS-2019, whether that be a scan of a wet- or electronically-signed DS-2019. The scholar must print the DS-2019, take the hard copy with them to their visa interview, and present it at the border. We are giving departments the choice of e-transmission vs. traditional mailing of the paper DS-2019. However, we anticipate that e-transmissions will become the overwhelming default for obvious reasons, except in a few rare cases when a scholar may not have access to a printer. We suggest that if you are overseeing a Cystart request, you communicate with the department that you will assume they prefer e-transmissions unless they notify you otherwise.
Questions regarding any of these changes? Email issoscholar@iastate.edu.
CALS Study Abroad 2022-2023 Academic Year Statistics


Students served through the CALS Study Abroad office (2018-2023)

Federal University of Vicosa Ph.D. Student studies soybean breeding and Artificial Intelligence research at Iowa State University
Crislene Vieira Dos Santos, a Ph.D. student at the Federal University of Vicosa in Brazil, is partaking in a visiting scholar program under the guidance of Dr. Asheesh Singh, a professor in the Department of Agronomy. Growing up just a few miles from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) in Brasília, Brazil, Cris has been interested in agronomy and plant breeding since a young age. When she turned 17 years old, she started working at the research company, which allowed her to meet experts in the industry that became mentors for her motivation and current career path.
Through a connection with her academic advisor at the Federal University of Vicosa and Dr. Singh, the opportunity arose for Cris to participate in breeding and Artificial Intelligence focused research activities in soybeans. Since her arrival last December, Cris has been working with members of Singh’s lab to experience the entire breeding and research pipeline, including project planning, protocol development, preparation of field experiments, planting, and data collection. She will continue gaining valuable data collection experience using various sensors, harvesting, data analysis, and post-harvest seed processing. In addition, Cris is involved in various studies, including investigation of small millet growth and development, seed composition, and drought screening.
“There is a lot of technology and advancements such as sensors, drones, and other equipment that I am learning about and using regularly in the lab. This type of technology could be beneficial in Brazil, but due to the high investment and cost of the equipment, we do not currently utilize this type of technology. Currently, crop analysis and reporting in Brazil are done visually by physically visiting the fields and taking notes based on personal perception. Utilizing advanced technology could create more accuracy and efficiency in the crop production industry.”
As her program continues, Cris values all the personal and professional opportunities she has gained at Iowa State University. “Coming to the U.S. for the first time, I was worried about the culture and meeting other people. To my surprise, there is so much diversity, and everyone I have met at Iowa State has been so friendly and willing to help answer my questions and push me to be successful!” From a professional perspective, Cris has utilized the advanced technology available in the lab, learned about crop production in Iowa, and met and networked with peers and faculty eager to help her and share their knowledge.
Before Cris returns to her home country in November 2023, she looks forward to experiencing the full cycle of planting, harvesting, and analyzing the production hands-on with Dr. Singh and his lab. Cris plans to defend her Ph.D. in March 2024, hoping to continue learning about plant breeding and crop production while sharing the wealth of knowledge she has learned from Dr. Singh and others during her visit.
Through her program at Iowa State University, Cris is partially supported by the NSF/USDA-funded AI Institute for Resilient Agriculture (AIIRA) project.
Original story posted, https://global.ag.iastate.edu/news/2023/federal-university-vicosa-phd-student-studies-soybean-breeding-and-artificial.
Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Extends FundISU Campaign
Iowa State’s Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and its Uganda Program use education to develop responsible global citizens and thriving local communities that benefit from food and financial security, healthcare, civic participation, social inclusion, and environmental stewardship. A key ingredient in achieving this mission is skills development for self-reliance. Currently, they cannot accommodate the number of mothers and youth who wish to develop their skills. With your help, we can assist more individuals in obtaining the knowledge and boost they need to provide for themselves and improve their families’ long-term livelihoods. The FundISU campaign deadline has been extended until July 8.
https://fundisu.foundation.iastate.edu/CSRL23
To Infinity and Abroad: CALS Study Abroad Podcast
Episode 6: Get involved with the ISU-Uganda program! (with Dr. Schultz)
The ISU-Uganda program has been sending CALS students to Uganda since 2006 through semester-long, spring break and summer programs. Learn about the summer program and what it entails from one of the longtime program directors, Dr. Dick Schultz. Dr. Schultz is a faculty member in the Department of Natural Resources Ecology and Management and Global Resource Systems. In this podcast, he describes the life-changing opportunities available for students that are willing to step outside their comfort zone!
Episode 7: Recapping our May Travel Courses (with Maddi Klemme, Liz Riniker, Lee Ammons, Danielle Begle, and Evelyn Greenbury)
In this special episode, hear from students who participated in our May travel courses as they talk about what they saw, learned, and experienced in each program! Each of these five travel courses had a class component that met during the spring semester. Students learned about the culture, experiences, and food/livestock/wildlife/industries they would visit, followed by traveling for the last two weeks of May. Use the timestamps below to find specific interviews about each course!
Workshops on Experiential Learning held with agriculture academic staff from three public universities in Kosovo
During the week of June 12th, 2023, the Private Sector Partnerships to Strengthen Higher Education Activity successfully organized a series of highly informative training workshops titled "Structured Internships in Agriculture." These workshops provided valuable insights into internship management procedures, featuring presentations by the esteemed Animal Science Department at Iowa State University (ISU). The event was held at the universities of Prishtina, Prizren, and Peja and was skillfully led by Christen Burgett, M.Sc., Associate Teaching Professor and Internship Programs Director for the Animal Science Department at ISU. Assisted by Dr. Curtis Youngs, Morrill Professor and ME Ensminger Endowed Chair of International Animal Agriculture at ISU, Christen delivered a comprehensive training package that left participants well-informed and engaged in lively discussions.
The attendees comprised professors, experiential learning coordinators, and administrative staff from the Faculties of Agriculture at the Kosovo partner Universities. The presentations delivered during the workshops provided a comprehensive explanation of how Iowa State University's animal science department manages agriculture internships, covering various stages from the enrollment of students in the internship course to credits earned, agreement drafting with companies, monitoring, documentation, promotion and the assessment of internship experiences. Read More
2023 Dean's Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program Student Presentations
Since 2009, Iowa State University students have worked with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome as part of the Dean’s Global Agriculture and Food Leadership program. Through this program, students work on research projects related to global agricultural production, resources, and food issues. The students start the program during the spring semester, where they learn about the work of the United Nations and refine their critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Then, they travel to Rome for the summer to work from the FAO headquarters.
This summer, the group of students split up into two different teams that worked on a project to analyze how countries manage animal genetic resources, how these resources are affected by climate change, and what countries could be doing to adapt to the changing climate. The first team discussed gene editing and what the implications could be for producers and consumers. The second team worked on measuring and recognizing the traits and phenotypes of livestock that could be beneficial as climate changes. Before returning to campus in June, the seven students participating in the Summer 2023 program presented their research findings to members of the FAO with the possibility of their work being used in future publications. Below is a recording of their presentations.
The Summer 2023 program was led by Carmen Bain, Elisabeth Lonergan, Steven Lonergan, and Shelley Taylor.
May 2023 Travel Course Recap
During May, 76 students traveled to Greece, Italy, Tanzania, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and California on 5 different travel courses offered by CALS Study Abroad.
2023-2024 Guide to CALS Study Abroad
The CALS Study Abroad office offers domestic and international travel opportunities for students to learn about agriculture and life sciences on a new platform. Each study abroad experience enables students to become global citizens and develop valuable skills that will benefit them academically, personally, and professionally.
The Guide to CALS Study Abroad (2023-2024) is an in-depth resource for faculty, staff, and students in the college to learn about the array of programs offered, explore scholarship and funding opportunities to help offset program costs and showcase international opportunities outside of CALS that are available for students to participate in.
Questions about studying abroad? Contact Marta Grant, CALS Study Abroad Advisor, at mmgrant@iastate.edu or call 515-294-1206.

Tropical Agricultural Production, International Business, and Trade in Panama, Fall 2023
The Tropical Agricultural Production, International Business, and Trade in Panama travel course is still accepting applications until July 30, 2023. Students participating in the program will gain an introduction and first-hand exposure to tropical agricultural production, economics, international business, culture, and rural life. Students will have an opportunity to learn about Panama's strategic location and experience the Panamanian culture while learning about how history and culture play a key role in shaping the relationship between Panama, the United States, and other countries in the world.
Students will meet on-campus during the Fall 2023 semester to learn about the trip and participate in the pre-departure orientation. Students will travel to Panama from December 29, 2023, to January 10, 2024. Students interested in learning more about the program or applying can visit, https://isuabroad.iastate.edu/?go=PanamaWinterProgram.
Application Deadline: July 30, 2023