Saint Leo University’s Comprehensive Internationalization

1. Saint Leo University’s Comprehensive Internationalization Dr. David Felsen, Associate Professor of Int’l Business Executive Director of International Programs, Office of Int’l Affairs School of Business Dr. Marcela van Olphen, Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese Faculty Representative, Internationalization Implementation Committee School of Arts & Sciences

2. Foundation of Saint Leo’s Internationalization • Beginning three years ago, Saint Leo University envisioned achieving the objective of becoming a university of international consequence for the 21st century • Achieving “international consequence” means producing graduates who make a positive impact on a global scale • Achieving “international consequence” requires organizational alignment of senior leadership, operational departments, academic programs and personnel, and resource commitment • Achieving “international consequence” necessitates a champion to move things forward and a process to achieve the vision

3. Saint Leo’s Internal Assessment • Saint Leo conducted an internal assessment of the university’s resources, strengths and challenges in its pursuit of internationalization • Assessment of students and student program offerings: international studies programs, student exchanges, language skills, field work, service contributions • Assessment of faculty: Sizeable international faculty, good international research • Assessment of operational departments: Degree of understanding of internationalization in areas of hiring, accounting, risk management - need for changes

4. The Process of Internationalization • University formed a working group made up of personnel from an array of different academic/ administrative units • University invested in people and other resources needs to create a plan for moving forward and developed a process of reflection on internationalization • University selected a champion to lead the process of Saint Leo’s Internationalization • Communicated the internationalization project to the faculty, staff and departments • Began promoting the need for adaptation and change across the university to faculty, staff and departments

5. The Internationalization Vision Articulated • University clearly articulated the vision of where it wanted to go • Wanted student knowledge and skills assessed for global competency • Sought growing international participation and experiences • Set as goal graduates landing major positions at internationally-connected and/or international companies • Sought graduate programs conducted overseas by leveraging use of technology • Wanted that the institution as a whole achieve recognition as a multi-faceted hub for international activity, interactions and global connectedness and larger international composition on campuses

6. New Internationalization Structures and Processes • Appointment of Associate V-P of International Affairs to champion effort (2012) • Creation of a new Office of International Affairs to coordinate international efforts across the universityand appointment of Executive Director of International Programs to manage day to day operations at the Office (2013) • Development of a strategic plan for internationalization that received backing across the university (2013) • Setting up an internationalization steering committee, the Internationalization Implementation Committee (IIC), to oversee internationalization (2013) • IIC composition is inclusive with representation from across academic and administrative departments, including academic Deans, faculty representatives, Communications, Business Affairs/Risk management, Study abroad, student services, Enrollments/ recruitment

7. The Internationalization Implementation Committee and Working Groups • IIC was tasked with achieving specific and measurable goals in four different areas and has working groups that carry out many of these tasks and report to IIC at monthly meetings • International Experience Working Group – growing participation in short-study, semester study, service trips • International Recruitment Working Group – identifying new pipelines, opportunities for the university • Communications Working Group – achieving branding, positioning and communications globally, launching web presence • Training and Development Working group – to launch seminars, modules, training for staff, faculty, students

8. Strategic Internationalization Goals in Action • Evaluating our international partnerships, keeping those that make sense, identifying new collaborative opportunities/projects in those partnerships, developing resultant activities from partnerships • Expanding short-term, semester study abroad and service participation • Identifying new opportunities for international recruitment • Stepping up branding, communicating efforts of Saint Leo • Alignment of all academic/administrative areas to the goals of internationalization through changes to processes • Engaging in training and development to prepare staff, faculty and students on international issues

9. Training & Professional Development • Comprehensive process • Faculty, instructors, and administrators • Students & student organizations • Collaboration across the board • Deans, chairs, and faculty • Support (financial & academic)

10. Academic Strategies • Promote cross-cultural awareness • Provide academic training to faculty and staff working with international students • Generate opportunities for students to participate in international experiences of different lengths • Offer forums for faculty and students to participate in activities that nurture campus internationalization • Cultivate students curiosity about international matters

11. Strategies in Action Promote cross-cultural awareness: • Lunch & Learn: Working with International Students; Cross-Cultural Communication in the Classroom • Office of International Admissions: Cross-cultural Communication for Admission Officers at Saint Leo • Bridge students gatherings, show and tell (open to all students) Provide academic training to faculty and staff working with international students • LRC: Training for university tutors “Academic Writing: Focus on ELL” • Lunch & Learn: Teaching Strategies & Second Language Acquisition

12. Strategies in Action Generate opportunities for students to participate in international experiences of different lengths: • Study abroad (semester & summer) in Spain & Latin America (in the case of SPA students) • IDS: Muslim Influence on Spain (1 credit course with trip to Spain and Morocco, to be offered May 2015) Cultivate faculty, students, and staff curiosity about international matters • Café Series: Café Ole (Spanish Club) & Café Babel (Bridge Program) • Day of the Death: Building an altar, eating “bread of the death” and drinking café con leche

13. Strategies in Action Offer forums for faculty and students to participate in activities that nurture campus internationalization: • Professional Development Day: Generating Classroom Opportunities for Comprehensive Internationalization at Saint Leo • SPA 420: Advanced Spanish through Film and Literature (open class on movie nights) • Academic Excellence Day: World Languages and Cultures Poster Session • Hispanic Heritage Day: Department of English and SPA Club co-sponsored event

14. Questions? Comments?To be continued …