Forum Final Report
The final report of the forum is available here.
Readings and Resources
As part of this Forum, the organizers and participants are collecting readings and resources relevant to institutional internationalization strategy at smaller colleges and universities. These can be found here. If you have a resource to add, please contact Bryan McAllister-Grande, Forum coordinator, at oga@brandeis.edu
AIEA Forum Hosted by Brandeis University, January 2011
One Size Does Not Fit All: Sustained Global Commitments for the Small- and Medium-Sized Institution
An AIEA Forum held on January 28 & 29, 2011
at Brandeis University
Waltham, MA
Twenty-two international educators gathered at the Brandeis University campus in late January for a series of discussions on the internationalization of higher education at small- and medium-sized institutions -- held under the auspices of the national Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA). Representing fourteen small research universities, liberal arts colleges, masters-granting and public institutions from across the U.S., the theme was "sustained global commitments": how to maintain and strategically position connections and relationships abroad, including study abroad programs, satellite campuses, exchanges, and partnerships. The day-and-a-half Forum was set up as a set of five sessions, covering topics ranging from the special role of the liberal arts to the roles and responsibilities of senior level administrators and faculty in "sustaining" such commitments.
During the conversations, this theme took on multiple meanings, and it was quickly evident that it meant something beyond a physical presence abroad. "Sustaining global commitments," for many small colleges and universities, means an interconnected web of relationships both on the home campus and abroad. These relationships might be between an international programs office and student life, or between two or even multiple universities. Given the more modest scale that the participating institutions work on, there are opportunities for unique collaborations around student learning. Participants said that relationships built on mutuality and give-and-take are key to these efforts.
On the first day, facilitators convened three sessions -- on defining sustained global commitments, on the special role of the liberal arts in sustaining commitments, and on the different strategic approaches to university-to-university partnerships. A dinner session on "faculty engagement" that evening featured four faculty members from area institutions, each of whom has started and been involved with international education programs over a number of years.
The Saturday sessions continued with discussion on overseas campus operations, "internationalization at home," the shifting and dynamic roles of senior international administrators and faculty, and a final wrap-up session on creating and advancing strategy.
The AIEA Forum also included two lunches. At the Friday lunch, new Brandeis University President Fred Lawrence addressed the participants with his vision for the "global liberal arts university" at Brandeis.
Please click here for the forum's final report.
Participants
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
- Janet Kalunian, Associate Director for Academic Operations, Office of International Programs
- Bernd Widdig, Director of the Office of International Programs
Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
- Bryan McAllister-Grande, Associate Director, Office of Global Affairs
- Daniel Terris, Vice President of Global Affairs and Director of the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life
- J. Scott Van Der Meid, Assistant Dean of Academic Services and Director of Study Abroad
Colleges of the Fenway Consortium, Boston, MA
- Robin Melavalin, Director, Global Education Opportunities Center
Endicott College, Beverly, MA
- April Burriss, Dean of the School of International Education
Goucher College, Baltimore, MD
- Daniel Norton, Associate Dean, Office of International Studies
Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA
- Kati Csoman, Assistant Dean of International Programs
- Jenifer Cushman, Dean, Center for International Education
Keene State College, Keene, NH
- Margaret Henning, Assistant Professor, Health Science
- Skye Stephenson, Director of Global Education
- Margaret Walsh, Professor of Sociology
- Joe Giacalone, Director of International Admission and Recruitment
- Sean Kaylor, Vice President for Enrollment Management
- Diana Davies, Vice Provost for International Initiatives
- Nancy Kanach, Senior Associate Dean of the College and Director, Office of International Programs
- Rebecca Hovey, Dean for International Study
- Joe Tullbane, Associate Dean for International Education and Outreach and Director of the Center for International Education
- George Generas, Assistant Professor
- Joel Harrington, Associate Provost for Global Strategy
- Carlos Vega, Professor and Chair of Spanish, International Studies Committee
Original Program & Schedule
Click here to view the program.
Readings & Resources
Click here to view the collected readings and resources.
Host
The Office of Global Affairs at Brandeis University
Daniel Terris, Vice President for Global Affairs
Bryan McAllister-Grande, Associate Director, Office of Global Affairs
+1 781-736-5642
oga@brandeis.edu
Planning Committee
April Burriss
Dean, School of International Education
Endicott College
Joel F. Harrington
Associate Provost for Global Strategy
Vanderbilt University
Rebecca Hovey
Dean for International Study
Smith College
Joseph Tullbane
Associate Dean for International Education and Outreach
St. Norbert's College
About AIEA
The Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), a membership organization formed in November 1982, is composed of institutional leaders engaged in advancing the international dimensions of higher education. The purposes of the Association are to:
- provide an effective voice on significant issues within international education at all levels,
- improve and promote international education programming and administration within institutions of higher education,
- establish and maintain a professional network among international education institutional leaders,
- cooperate in appropriate ways with other national and international groups having similar interests.