Meeting

Florida Language Consortium

Statement of Shared Purpose

Higher education is undergoing challenging transitions in the first decades of the 21st century. The interactive relationships made possible by networked technology are balanced by challenges in funding, changes in enrollment patterns, and emergence of new competitors for the attention of students and families. Failing to navigate these changes has consequences including the under-enrollment in and cancellation of language and culture courses just at a time when competency in global and international affairs has become critical.

Renewed Interest in Language Arts

Small private liberal arts institutions in Florida individually offer a limited number of modern languages. This fact does not represent disinterest on the part of students in studying a rich curriculum, nor does it reflect resistance on the part of institutions in providing a broad array of modern language courses. Indeed, most of these institutions posit internationalization as a strategic goal and recognize language study as an important component of internationalization.

Partnerships for Success

The Florida Language Consortium builds upon the experience developed in the formation and implementation of similar consortia in Texas and Virginia. The Texas Language Consortium was created in 2010 and includes five colleges. The Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges has also formed a consortial arrangement for the teaching of foreign languages. NITLE – the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education – has been instrumental in supporting colleges to collaborate and to develop consortia.