Action Project - Internationalize the Campus and Curriculum

1. Description

FHSU has long recognized the importance of preparing students to meet the challenges of living, working and prospering in a diverse global marketplace. The adoption of an internationalization goal demonstrates our commitment to bring a global perspective to a broad range of course offerings, to actively promote study abroad opportunities, to grow relationships with international partners that benefit Kansas students, and to infuse campus life with multicultural understanding and communication skills.

2. Related AQIP Categories

Primary 1-Helping Students Learn
Related 2-Accomplishing Other Distinctive Objectives
Related 3-Understanding Students' and Other Stakeholders' Needs
Related 9-Building Collaborative Relationships

3. Rationale for Action

The following reasons best embody the rationale for including this project: 1) FHSU has a long standing relationship with various China cities and academic institutions; 2) Over the last 5 years a large number of Chinese students have become involved in FHSU degree programs; 3) A number of faculty have been hired to teach the Chinese; and 4) There is an ever increasing demand for globally educated students.

4. Areas Affected

The following offices will be most impacted by this action project: 1) The Virtual College, the Center for Teaching Excellence and Learning Technology, and the Office of Strategic Partnerships; 2) The Computing and Telecommunication Center; 3) The Graduate School, College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Business and Leadership; and 4) Several academic departments.

5. Processes Affected

The following processes (referenced by AQIP category) will be impacted through this action project:
1P6, 1P7, 1P8, 1P9, 1P10, 1P11, 1P12, 1P13, 2P1, 2P2, 2P3, 3P1, 9P1, 9P4

6. Process Measures

Monitoring will be ongoing. Monthly Internationalization Team and Council meetings provide a launch point to discuss problems. Close monitoring by a project champion will provide necessary oversight. Annual monitoring is assured due to the convergence between this project and our KBOR Performance Agreement reporting process.

7. Outcome Measures

The following gross measures of effectiveness should be realized upon project completion: 1) Increased direct and embedded assessment results at the program level; 2) Improved results in courses; 3) Direct feedback from faculty and employers; and 4) Increased scores on national benchmarked assessments.

8. Keeping Focus

A four-year timeframe seems appropriate given the need to plan, implement, and influence student learning beginning in the freshman year. Implementing lag measures like NSSE will be valuable for documenting results, but changing results in these measures takes years. Finally, this project aligns with our four year Performance Agreement through the Kansas Board of Regents.