Global Perspectives Opportunities Posted on October 9th, 2009 by Barb Larson Taylor

Recommendation from the Academic Programs and New Initiatives Task Force:

Expand opportunities for students and faculty to increase global perspectives and cultural competencies on-campus and off-campus.

Additional explanation:

On-campus: 1) Curricular offerings: Expand curricular offerings in areas such as Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and circum-global cultures. 2) Curricular possibilities: Faculty can explore how to shape other curricular and program development through the understanding of global and national dynamics, considering international studies courses focused on the current world economic powers (i.e., Brazil, Russia, India, China), expansion of world religion offerings, and ways to connect with study-away opportunities in countries where student outcomes are strong. 3) Faculty hiring: Recognize essential aspects in faculty hiring and replacement are global awareness and cultural competency. 4) International Visiting Scholars: Supply students with increased global perspectives through providing opportunities for interaction with visiting international scholars at Gustavus. 5) Library Holdings: Strengthen library holdings to expand and globalize the collection to meet faculty/student requests. Off-campus: 1) Study Away Programs: Develop meaningful and unique Study Away opportunities tailored to maximize integration with the rest of a Gustavus degree. 2) Student Study-Away Learning: Every graduating student should have had the opportunity for a study-away learning experience during at least one Interim Experience (January) or semester. Emphasis should be on global awareness and cultural competency through a domestic or international program. 3) Immersion experiences funding: Provide financial aid to enable students to study away from campus in an affordable way with quality opportunities to enhance language development, cultural understanding, and global perspective. Understanding the growing importance of experiential learning, various immersion programs must be available to all students to enable students to gain knowledge and experience within a different culture. These include both domestic and international experiences.  4) Reflection: Formalize an existing program, for example a non-curricular course, required for pre- and post-study-away reflection.

This recommendation was placed in the Cultural Perspectives Strategic Framework Substantive Category using the language:

Expand opportunities and increase scholarships and fellowships for students and faculty to increase global perspectives and cultural competencies on-campus and off-campus.

This recommendation was placed is Tier 1 and is being monitored by the Provost and Dean of the College.