Internationalization in focus with new collaborative project
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs will join a prestigious American Council on Education project funded by the Henry Luce Foundation to promote collaboration between internationalization and diversity education initiatives on college and university campuses.
“Colorado Springs is a globally connected community and today’s students must be prepared to navigate a complex world,” Provost Peg Bacon said. “Connecting UCCS students to the world requires particular ingenuity. For many UCCS students, the traditional semester-long study abroad program is not a viable option. We must open additional paths for global engagement.”
UCCS is one of eight universities nationally and the only Colorado university selected to explore connections between on-campus international and diversity efforts that aim to better prepare students for the impact of globalization and improve cultural communication skills among students, faculty and staff. UCCS team leaders, Charles Sweet, executive director, Strategic Planning and Initiatives, and Kee Warner, associate vice chancellor for diversity and inclusiveness, will meet in Washington, D.C., with ACE staff and leaders from the other selected institutions to launch this project, titled “At Home in the World: Educating for Global Connections and Local Commitments.” The ACE Project team will visit UCCS to share experiences and discover best practices with campus leaders during the next two years in support of this national collaboration.
Said Patti McGill Peterson, presidential adviser for global initiatives at ACE, “The interface between multicultural and international efforts on campus is a critical place to engage students, who will face an increasingly diverse and global workplace over the course of their careers. Competition for this project was quite intense and shows a great desire among applicants to effectively address this important relationship. We anticipate great strides from this learning community.”
UCCS was one of eight colleges and universities named to the effort. The other institutions are: Alliant International University-San Diego Scripps Ranch, Arcadia University, Bennett College for Women, Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, Mercy College, North Carolina State University and Washington State University. The group was chosen from 54 applicants.
Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents, and more than 200 related associations, nationwide. It provides leadership on key higher education issues and influences public policy through advocacy.