Washington and Lee University
The 2007 Washington and Lee Strategic Plan lists targets and initiatives for international learning as follows:
• Attract permanent and visiting international scholars
• Increase international student population
• Introduce more courses related to globalization
• Provide resources for faculty development in global issues
• Establish additional exchange programs with international institutions
• Increase international internship opportunities for students
• Facilitate cross-cultural experience for each student
• Strengthen the International Studies program
As the University moves toward the implementation of those points, the Provost has charged the Center for International Education (CIE) to undertake a comprehensive planning process for a global learning program that will help enable W&L to fulfill its responsibilities to its students in the 21st century. Grounded in the University's Mission Statement, the CIE has proposed an assessment and visioning project to take place over the course of the 2009-2010 academic year. The project is designed to: a) solicit the participation of a broad range of potential stakeholders among faculty, students, administrators, staff and alumni; b) identify current strengths and weaknesses in international education efforts on campus and at appropriate peer institutions; c) identify opportunities for sustainable and achievable change, and; d) recommend strategies to be implemented in short-, middle-, and long-term time frames to give all Washington and Lee students access to an integrated program of global learning.
Planning will be overseen by a Steering Committee, appointed by the Provost and Deans, and composed of faculty, students, staff, and administrators. Five Task Groups - Students, Faculty, Administration, Policies and Procedures, and Curriculum - led by members of the Steering Committee and composed of additional members of the W&L community, will each begin with a set of general questions before focusing on specific issues. Recommendations from the Task Groups will be submitted to the Steering Committee and tested by a series of focus groups. Finally, the Steering Committee will draft a final report to present to the Provost with a complete set of recommendations for consideration.
The project is divided into four separate phases coordinated over a timeline that comprises the 2009-10 academic year.
