Feb. 2017 Academic Affairs, B4

B4, Create a Learning Environment that Attracts Intellectually Motivated Students: 

International Learning

WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning, directed by Paula Hentz, accomplished the following:

• Established a new mission and guiding principles to help guide decision-making, resource allocation and future program development;

• Shepherded the establishment of Stetson University as School of Record for the School of Russian and Asian Studies;

• Welcomed over 200 local elementary school students to WORLD Fair to learn about new cultures and study abroad;

• Welcomed 12 new international exchange students and eight (8) new international degree-seeking students from 11 countries for the spring 2017 semester;

• Facilitated a diverse International Education Week program during November 2016;

• Re-launched the Center’s web site to provide a more engaging online experience. 

Provost Faculty Fellow for International Learning, J. Anthony Abbott, Ph.D., accomplished the following:

• Initiated conversations with senior executive leaders, supported with background documents, to envision comprehensive internationalization in terms of their units and assessable outcomes that span the university;

• Developed a model program for mentored field experiences to expand the program;

• Participated as a member of the 2016 cohort at the American Council for Education’s International Learning Institute in Washington, D.C., to learn successful strategies for intentional and comprehensive internationalization in higher education.