International Programs in Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (IPFANS) is a nexus within the college connecting our collegiate community to the global community.  International Programs seeks to integrate an international perspective into the land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach.  In conjunction with the priorities of the college, the office provides avenues for our faculty, staff and students to interact or have a first-hand experience with our peers and colleagues outside the USA.

International Programs in CFANS accomplishes our mission by:

• Supporting our faculty and researchers to establish international programs of collaboration.
  Beginning with current faculty efforts, International Programs works to expand individual relationships into institutional partnerships.  International Programs manages the administrative tasks to facilitate these international exchanges as identififed by departments and faculty.  International Programs monitors new opportunities offering multidisciplinary projects for all the college departments.

• Providing leadership to offer options for international experiences for our students.
  International Programs leverages the logistical support from the University of Minnesota Office of International Programs and the Learning Abroad Center to develop quality student programs through partner universities matching our degree program requirements.  MAST International offers an alternative international experience through non-campus, work experiences as a reciprocal cultural exchange program.

• Promoting faculty expertise in support of USDA/CSREES and USDA/FAS international initiatives. 
  International Programs serves as the liaison on behalf of the college with the USDA to connecct the research and outreach expertise of our faculty to the needs for education and training requests of the USDA offices.

• Joining the land-grant university community to reinvigorate agricultural and natural resources research and training in USAID rural development programs. 
  International Programs represents the college in the national effort to expand the role of research and training within USAID priorities for the development of countries around the world.

• Enhancing the internationalization of the curriculum within the college. 
  In collaboration with the faculty and Curriculum Committee, International Programs assists in the development of materials for courses to prepare student for the multicultural work world they are entering.