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UNCG’S Internationalization Taskforce concludes its Assignment
Eighteen months ago (October 2010) UNCG launched a faculty-led Internationalization Taskforce to assess current internationalization efforts and develop strategies for implementation. To assist the effort, UNCG joined the American Council on Education (ACE) Internationalization Collaborative, a group of more than 100 institutions that helps faculty and administrators to share ideas and strategies for furthering international agendas. UNCG was also among eight institutions selected to participate in the ACE Internationalization Laboratory for 2010-2011. The laboratory, under the direction of Dr. Barbara Hill, senior associate with ACE’s Center for International Initiatives, assists institutions in assessing the challenges and opportunities of implementing comprehensive internationalization strategies. |
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Dr. Penelope Pynes (left), Associate Provost for International Programs, with Dr. Susan Sutton. |
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Dr. Susan Carvalho (left) and Dr. Barbara Hill. |
Provost David H. Perrin stated in his charge to the Taskforce, “With the declaration of internationalization as one of its five strategic directions, UNCG has committed itself to integrating international and intercultural perspectives and experiences into its teaching, learning and service. By working in a concerted collaborative and inclusive manner, UNCG can improve its approach to international education, make it contribute to the benefit of the entire university community, and gain the recognition the University deserves.”
In December 2011, the Taskforce submitted its report to ACE, Provost Perrin, and Chancellor Brady. The report included recommendations to aid faculty in engaging in comprehensive internationalization, to incorporate student international competencies into the curriculum, and to challenge UNCG to raise the visibility of its international activities through a series of high impact initiatives.
At the end of March 2012, Drs. Barbara Hill, Susan Sutton of Bryn Mawr, and Susan Carvalho of University of Kentucky conducted an on-site external review of UNCG, meeting with various stakeholders of internationalization including the Chancellor, the Provost, the deans, the Internationalization Taskforce, faculty/staff champions, and IPC directors. The external review team will provide a written response to the report and visit for the Chancellor and Provost. As the Taskforce is completing its initial work, one taskforce member remarked, “I feel like the work is just now beginning.” The task force co-chairs, Drs. Penelope Pynes, Associate Provost for International Programs, and Jerry Pubantz, Dean of Lloyd International Honors College couldn’t agree more. They expressed their thanks to all who assisted the Taskforce in its work. “We can’t wait to share the fruits of our labor.”
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| Members of the ACE Internationalization Collaboratory during their external review of UNCG’s internationalization efforts. Left to right: Dr. Susan Carvalho (facing away from camera), Dr. Susan Sutton, Dr. Barbara Hill, and Lloyd International Honors College Dean Jerry Pubantz. | UNCG administrators look on during the ACE external review. Left to right: Dr. Terri Shelton, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development; Stephen Flynn, ACE Internationalization Taskforce; Dr. McRae Banks, Dean of the Bryan School of Business and Economics; Dr. Timothy Johnston, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and Dr. James Ryan, Dean of the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. |
Other members of the Taskforce were Drs. Susan Andreatta, Department of Anthropology; Alan Boyette, Office of the Provost; Roberto Campo (Sub-committee Co-Chair),, Language, Literature and Culture; Sarah Carrigan, Office of Institutional Research; Micheline Chalhoub-Deville, Department of Educational Research Methodology; C.P. Gause, Department of Teacher Education & Higher Education;. Kevin Lowe, Department of Business Administration; Kathleen Macfie, Language, Literature and Culture; Vicki McNeil, Division of Student Affairs; David Nelson, School of Music, Cathryne Schmitz (Sub-committee Co-Chair), Department of Conflict and Peace studies/Social Work; and Anita Tesh, Dean’s Office, School of Nursing. Assisting the taskforce was Stephen Flynn, who served as Administrative Assistant to the taskforce.
Interested in learning more about the Taskforce’s research? Feel free to contact Penelope Pynes via email at pjpynes@uncg.edu.