Task Force
Internationalization Task Force Final Report
Addenda: Implementation Plans 2005-2008: Study Abroad
Rationale: This committee seeks to promote increased opportunities for study abroad. This committee recognizes the paramount role that study abroad plays in providing a student with a global perspective of the world and an internationalized outlook. To this end, NMU has developed a number of exchange programs and study abroad consortia. Most of NMU's programs provide opportunities for students to study in Western Europe, the traditional destination of the college study abroad programs. These programs remain popular, and given the importance and the growth of the European Union, these programs should continue to be supported. This includes NMU's membership in the Midwest Consortium for Study Abroad (MCSA) and its associated membership in the Northwest Consortium for Study Abroad. The former coordinates study abroad programs in Macerata, Italy; Vienna, Austria; and Segovia, Spain. The latter, provides opportunities for NMU students (after members of the Northwest Consortium have been served) in four additional European sites and three sites in Latin America.
Today's global economy increasingly recognizes the importance of the pacific rim as a center of economic activity and the Indian Sub-continent. Northern Michigan University has been a member of Japan Center for Study abroad, a joint consortium of the Michigan public universities, for more than a decade. Despite the high cost of living in Japan, the ITF recognizes the value of the Japan Center program, but believes NMU should do more to facilitate study in the region. The ITF proposes that Northern Michigan University move to establish an additional regular study abroad program in a more affordable nation in the Far East. This program should be partnered either with an Asian university or with an international consortium. The nations of China, Thailand, or Korea appear to offer the best possibilities for our students.
The Indian sub-continent with its Gross Domestic Product growth rates of 6-8% in recent years also presents opportunities for educational investment. While NMU may not be able to establish more than one or two new permanent study abroad sites, it seems valuable to provide opportunities for students to travel to India for academic service learning opportunities at the very least.
Another very promising opportunity for study abroad for NMU students is South Africa. South Africa provides students with an opportunity to experience the developing world while enjoying a university experience designed along a familiar Anglophone model. South Africa's new democracy is in the making is often cited as a model social experiment. The South African Rainbow nation has emerged as one of several models of inter-racial harmony. South Africa provides many advantages for our students, not the least of which is the opportunity to enjoy courses taught in English, and to participate in all manner of Service Learning projects which are readily available as the South African university system overhauls its educational system to make it more responsive to the needs of the new nation. NMU should revist and revitalize its South Africa program. Since the days of the Monroe doctrine, the United States have been involved with the peoples of Central and Latin America . Spanish-speaking peoples make up the fastest growing population in the United States. NMU has supported a myriad of piecemeal opportunities for students to study in the Hispanic/Lusaphone world. NMU should seek to establish one or two regular sites for Latin American study abroad.
IV. Study Abroad 2005-2006
Numbers
- The number of NMU students studying abroad should double to about 325. 100-125 students will study abroad through CLEAs, i.e., Faculty-led Study Abroad programs. The remaining 200-225 will find study abroad through NMU's Exchange Programs, NMU Affiliated Programs, and Non-NMU Affiliated Programs. Programs.
Funding
- Develop guidelines for study abroad scholarships
- Distribute 20 scholarships of $1000 to facilitate study abroad
Programs
- Increase the number of CLEAS from seven in Summer 2005 to nine in 2006.
- Run a CLEA to China/East Asia with the view to establishing a base/regular program in the Far East.
- Move to develop an exchange program in China/East Asia
- Run a CLEA to the Hispanic or Lusaphone World with a view to establishing a base/regular program in the Far East.
- Move to develop an exchange program/permanent site in the Hispanic/Lusaphone world.
- Run one or more International Service Learning CLEAs or CLEAs with an Academic Service Learning component. India and South Africa should be particularly explored with a view to Academic Service Learning.
Credits and Standardization
- Standardize issuance of credit procedures for CLEAs and submit to and pass through CUP and the Academic Senate.
- Mandate a domestic component and an international component for all CLEAs.
- Standardize faculty load issues for all CLEAs.
- Develop and mandate pre-departure orientation for all study-abroad students
- Create protocol for exit interviews for all students who have studied abroad
IV. Study Abroad 2006-2007
Numbers
- The number of NMU students studying abroad should reach to about 500. Twohundred students will study abroad through CLEAs, i.e., Faculty-led Concentrated Learning Experiences Abroad and International Service Learning programs. The remaining 300 will find study abroad opportunities through NMU's Exchange Programs, NMU Affiliated Programs, and Non-NMU Affiliated Programs.
Funding
- Develop guidelines for study abroad scholarships
- Distribute 40 scholarships of $1000 to facilitate study abroad
Programs
- Increase the number of CLEAS from nine in Summer 2006 to ten in Summer 2007.
- Repeat CLEA to China/East Asia with the view to establishing a base/regular program in the Far East.
- Develop and solidify exchange program in China/East Asia
- Repeat CLEA to the Hispanic or Lusaphone World with a view to establishing a regular cite in the Hispanic/Lusaphone world.
- Develop an exchange program/permanent site in the Hispanic/Lusaphone world.
- Run one or two International Service Learning CLEAs or CLEAs with an Academic Service Learning component. India and South Africa should be explored with a view to providing Academic Service Learning opportunities for our students.
Credits and Standardization
- Supervise CLEAs for quality control based on standards established in 2005- 2006.
- Oversee domestic component for all CLEAs.
- Standardize faculty load issues for all CLEAs.
- Undertake pre-departure orientation for all study-abroad students. Standardize materials for pre-departure orientation.
- Conduct exit interviews for all students who have studied abroad
- Develop protocols for issuing credit for international service learning
IV. Study Abroad 2007-2008
Numbers
- The number of NMU students studying abroad should reach to about 650. Onehundred and sixty students will study abroad through participation in eight CLEAs, i.e., Faculty-led Concentrated Learning Experiences Abroad, and two service learning programs. Eighty will participate in programs in China/Far East and the Hispanic program. The remaining 410 will find study abroad opportunities through NMU's Exchange Programs, NMU Affiliated Programs, and Non-NMU Affiliated Programs.
Funding
- 80 scholarships of $1000 will be distributed .
Programs
- Retain and stabilize the number of CLEAS offered to eight in Summer 2008.
- China/East Asia program should be solidified.
- First cadre of students study on China/Far East Program
- Repeat CLEA to Hispanic/Lusaphone World.
- Develop permanent site in the Hispanic/Lusaphone world.
- Run one or more International Service Learning CLEAs or CLEAs with an Academic Service Learning component. India and South Africa should be explored with a view to providing Academic Service Learning opportunities for our students.
IV. Study Abroad 2008-2010
- Continue to grow study abroad opportunities until number of student studying abroad reached 1000.
- Develop study abroad opportunities for graduate students
- Assess all progress study abroad initiatives taken up to this time.