 |
Benedictine University
General Institution Overview
Benedictine
University was founded in Chicago in 1887 as St. Procopius
College by the Benedictine monks of St. Procopius Abbey. Securing
a state charter in 1890, the College moved to Lisle, IL in 1901.
St. Procopius College became coeducational in 1968 and was renamed
Illinois Benedictine College (IBC) in 1971. In response to
community needs, graduate, doctoral and adult learner academic programs
were added to the curriculum. IBC became Benedictine University in
1996.
Benedictine University, as an independent, Catholic, comprehensive,
501(c) (3) institution of higher education, is dedicated to serving a
student population increasingly diverse in ethnic, racial, and religious
backgrounds. Benedictine University is accredited by the
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central
Association for Colleges and Schools.
As an academic community committed to liberal arts and professional
education, the mission of the University is it’s dedication to the
education of undergraduate and graduate students from diverse ethnic,
racial and religious backgrounds. As an academic community committed to
liberal arts and professional education distinguished and guided by our
Roman Catholic tradition and Benedictine
heritage, we prepare our students for a lifetime as active, informed
and responsible citizens and leaders in the world community. In
2002, the University defined its mission through the following Vision
Statement: “Benedictine University, a Catholic University in
the Benedictine Tradition that provides a Value-Centered Liberal Arts
Education enriched by our Excellence in Science.”
Benedictine University has dramatically redesigned its system of
academic governance, through its reorganization into a five-college
structure. Each of these five colleges – Liberal Arts,
Science, Business, Education and Health Services and the Moser College
of Adult Studies enjoy institutional and programmatic autonomy under the
overall guidance of the Provost, President, and Board of Trustees.
Benedictine University offers at present forty-two undergraduate
programs, eleven pre-professional programs, eight graduate programs, a
Ph.D. degree in Organizational Development, and most recently, has added
an Ed.D. degree in Higher Education and Organizational Change to the
number of programs available.
Most of Benedictine University’s student population is from the
metropolitan Chicago area. From January 2003, however, the
University has enjoyed a strategic partnership with Springfield College
in Illinois that has expanded its presence into the central part of the
State. Junior and senior classes and an adult accelerated program
were introduced in the fall of 2003, with the result that, from about
200, Springfield now educates over 700 students on its campus.
As has been consistently noted in the U.S. News and World Report
rankings, Benedictine University is one of the most diverse institutions
of higher learning in the Midwest, ranking sixth in its category in the
2006 figures. One welcome sign of Benedictine
University’s good reputation in this area is that it was in the
summer of 2005 one of five universities in the United States chosen to
host high school and in 2007, college age student-leaders from the
Middle East for a six-week Study of the U.S. Institute. The program was
funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership
Initiative (MEPI). The theme of the program, “The Challenges of
Democracy in a Diverse Society,” exposed the students to a wide
range of perspectives on political, economic and societal issues.
Twenty-one students, selected from a large number of applicants, came
from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, Tunisia, the West Bank and Yemen. They lived on campus and
participated in a number of activities including academic seminars,
community service projects and cultural tours. Benedictine
University hopes to be hosting a MEPI program again during the summer of
2008.
Innovative programs, such as the MEPI described above, have imparted
to Benedictine University an ever better reputation. In the fall
of 2005, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a
grant of nearly two million dollars to assist what the University calls
its “First Responder” program, a cooperative effort with
police and fire departments to make higher educational degrees more
accessible to those who devote themselves to the protection of
society.
Nor has Benedictine University’s traditional excellence in the
physical sciences lagged behind. The Department of Energy in the
summer of 2005 announced a $350,000 grant for the purchase by the
University of new scientific equipment. Benedictine University
remains extremely successful in preparing its graduates for medical
school – the numbers will naturally vary from year to year, but
every year, the majority of those who apply for medical school are
accepted. In particular, our undergraduate programs in the
sciences have been consistently ranked in the top quartile in higher
education. A recent NEH study ranked Benedictine University 1st in
the state of Illinois and 29th in the nation for the percentage of
graduates who go on to obtain doctoral degrees in all fields of study,
as well as 5th nationally in physics and astronomy and 11th nationally
in chemistry.
I. Vision and Goals for
Internationalization
The International Programs Department at Benedictine
University/Springfield College is a leading institute for global
education; it serves as a catalyst that develops collaboration between
individuals, campus departments and colleges, surrounding community, as
well as national and international universities and organizations.
Mission Statement
The International Programs Office exemplifies the
internationalization mission of Benedictine University/Springfield
College, which is to produce “informed and responsible citizens
and leaders in the world community.” The IPO is a vital ingredient
of Benedictine University’s highly diverse student, faculty and
staff population and assimilates an intercultural and global dimension
into the academic community. This program caters to the incoming
students from all over the globe and to the outgoing study abroad
students so that the delivery of their education provides rich
intercultural interaction, exemplary cross-cultural academic programs,
while increasing global competence and true cultural empathy.
Distinctive Learning Outcomes
Graduates, faculty, staff and global partners involved with
International Programs will demonstrate international perspectives and
will:
• Value cultural and language diversity
• Communicate and transform rhetorical knowledge into
experience
• Collaborate and consult with others with a global
mindset
• Value the experience of an international community
• Appreciate the complex nature of multicultural
relationships with an increased cultural sensitivity
• Display cross-cultural problem solving skills by
considering issues from many perspectives
• Become responsible world citizens
Distinctive Features of the International Programs
Office
• Dedicated to meet students expectations
• Collaborate with all university departments in assisting
international students
• Work closely with faculty and staff to develop programs
(both on site and off site) having an international focus.
• Individual attention provided to each student
• Provide “home away from home” activities and
services
• Utilizes community members in “adopting”
international students for social events, dinners and other
occasions
Goals to Accomplish the Learning Outcomes
The goals of the International Programs Department are a part of the
University –Wide Strategic Planning and in collaboration with the
deans of all five colleges. Benedictine University uses the
Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) which helps us frame the
specific college or department goals with the following categories.
1. Helping Students Learn
2. Accomplishing other Distinctive Objectives
3. Understanding Students’ and Other Stakeholders’
Needs
4. Valuing People
5. Leading and Communicating
6. Supporting Institutional Operations
7. Managing Effectiveness
8. Planning Continuous Improvement
9. Building Collaborative Relationships
IPO GOAL #1: Design efficient and effective
administrative systems that include the university community that will
decentralize some of the IPO operations and expand optimal
interdepartmental support and international ownership.
IPO Goal #2: Increase the visibility of
International Programs on campus, in the community and throughout the
world.
IPO Goal #3: Continue to improve International Student
Service operations and process so that there is cooperation and
collaboration in all aspects of service such as: international
recruitment, admission counseling, enrollment, immigration orientation,
academic advising, and social integration, from point of initial contact
to alumni affairs.
IPO Goal #4: Increase domestic student’s
awareness of multicultural, ethnic, and racial diversity.
IPO Goal #5: Enhance our academic curricula to
reflect global realities by creating foreign exchange
opportunities.
IPO Goal #6: Explore financial budget and funding
opportunities in the form of competitive grants that involve: faculty,
staff, community agencies and /or businesses.
IPO GOAL #7: Improve institutional effectiveness
by having the International Programs Office partner with the Colleges
and related University service units.
IPO Goal #8: Maximize the use of technology in
International Student Services.
IPO GOAL #9: Continue to refine strategic
priorities within the International Programs Office.
IPO GOAL #10: Work with Benedictine University
faculty and professional staff in developing and maintaining the
international aspects of their research, teaching, service, and
support.
IPO GOAL #11: Increase the number of Benedictine
University students studying abroad through promotion and support of all
study abroad
programs:
-
Faculty Designed Programs
-
Partnership Exchange Programs (PEPS)
-
Scholarly Exchanges
-
Third Party Agency Affiliations
IPO Goal #12: Cooperate with university
departments and colleges to enhance student retention, graduation rates
and student satisfaction at the University.
IPO Goal #13: Assist the Writing Center on the
Writing across the Curriculum Initiative and English Language Learner
Support
II. Progress in Achieving Goals
GOALS #1, 2: In order to truly
internationalize a campus, the international office has to be a driving
force of that initiative. We have introduced strategies to infuse
“international” into every aspect of the Benedictine
University campus so that all constituent members can claim
ownership. Through collaborative efforts with Public Relations,
the Enrollment Center, the IPO Advisory Board, Student Activities,
faculty and staff and students of all colleges, and local community high
schools, we promoted, discussed, and developed programs and cooperative
agreements for international issues relative to each sector. Meetings
were held throughout the past few years with college deans, department
chairs, staff and students to determine and plan collaborative
initiatives to increase internationalization throughout the campus.
We developed operations that ensure a smooth flow for the students
starting from pre-application inquiries to student arrival on campus.
The result has been an increase in international applications, and
enrollment.
The IPO created formal and informal publications, t-shirts and
notebooks, posters and handouts were created to provide the entire
Benedictine University community with information about us.
Throughout the years the IPO has created events that include: the
International Show, heightened awareness of International Week, panel
discussions with faculty, staff and students on subjects with a
multicultural or international essence, and monthly international
dinners. Even the weekly “international question of the
week” became a favorite measured by the abundance of responses
from all sectors of the community. The International Student Club
has worked with other student organizations so that the events are an
integration of all students, domestic and international, and have a
larger attendance. The International Show was a huge success because it
integrated the domestic and international students, Benedictine
University talent, and outside entertainers into a culminating event
that was enjoyed by all. The show was designed as an international
showcase, but also to involve the community in helping the Katrina
hurricane victims by donating the funds collected. The entire
amount was over $1250.00.
GOAL #3: The IPO was able to improve the quality of
international student services by continuing to gain knowledge through
professional development workshops, seminars and classes, regarding the
visa designations and regulations within the Student and Exchange
Visitor Information System, (SEVIS). Delivery and assistance of
more efficient and effective programming was obtained through hiring a
full-time immigration specialist.
GOAL #4: IPO has promoted interest in diversity
issues throughout the entire academic year. Because of this the
International Programs Office has been a catalyst for increasing the
Benedictine University community awareness of diversity and
multiculturalism. Throughout the year the IPO has created events
that include: the International Show, heightened awareness of
International Week, panel discussions with faculty, staff and students
on subjects with a multicultural or international essence, and monthly
international dinners.
GOAL #6: Benedictine University was awarded a grant
starting summer of 2005 as one of five universities in the United States
chosen to host high school and in 2007, college age student-leaders from
the Middle East for a six-week Study of the U.S. Institute. The program
was funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East
Partnership Initiative (MEPI). The theme of the program, “The
Challenges of Democracy in a Diverse Society,” exposed the
students to a wide range of perspectives. We were also awarded the
IFSA Foundation Grant for years 2006-2007 and 2008-2009 of $25,000.00
each year
GOAL #7: The International Programs Office
re-instituted the International Advisory Board with two co-chairs and
members comprised of Benedictine University faculty and staff. New
by-laws, goals and objectives were written, reviewed and approved by the
board. Three other publications have been created and reviewed by
the board: the Faculty Director Guidelines for Study Abroad, Guidelines
for students abroad and a checklist/timeline for faculty proposing study
abroad programs.
GOAL #8: We have improved the online quality
of our online services in International Programs by 85% and are
continuing to update and re-design our website. All necessary
documents, application information, Immigration and Citizenship Service
requirements are now online and easily accessed. We are continuing to
update all information regarding SEVIS, visa and student services.
GOALS #10, 11: We also have workshops bringing in
scholars specializing in working with multicultural populations for
staff and faculty development. Even the weekly “international
question of the week” became a favorite measured by the abundance
of responses from all sectors of the community. The International
Student Club has worked with other student organizations so that the
events are an integration of all students, domestic and international,
and have a larger attendance.
Through our exchanges, we have been able to promote
inter-institutional student and scholar exchange, and we will begin to
increase our efforts at faculty exchanges, as we are completing the
requirements for our application to authorize J1 students, and
scholars. Our collaborations in both France and Spain have
resulted in development of dual-degree programs for both undergraduate
and graduate programs. We now have exchanges with universities in
the following countries: China, Denmark, France, Ireland, Japan, Mexico,
South Korea, and Spain.
Another measurable outcome has been an increase in the level of
faculty, student and outside community participation in international
programming events. There was also an increase in proposed study
abroad projects by faculty and we continue to work closely with faculty
and staff to create well-planned and managed faculty-led programs.
An average of two faculty led trips (short term or embedded programs)
per year have been completed during the 2005-2006 , and 2006-2007 school
years with a total of 22 students going abroad in 05-06 and 27 in 06-07.
One of the trips was actually a one-week program embedded into a
semester long class. The course, which was offered in spring 2006,
was be taught and directed by Dr. Jack Thornburg. The course was
ANTH-391-N Topics in Anthropology Study Tour of U.S./Mexican
Development. The class met eight times and included a five-day trip to
San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, to examine first hand the issues covered
in class. The capstone event was a presentation by participants to the
campus community which had an overwhelming attendance of over 130
members of the Benedictine community. The other trips were:
-
A five-week excursion to Murcia, Spain where 8 students studied the
Spanish language and culture at one of our partnership universities,
Universidad San Antonio de Murcia. During the trip four of the
pre-med students volunteered time and energy to a local hospital where
they shadowed and assisted physicians and nursing staff. A bonus of the
trip was that our domestic students were able to meet and socialize with
the incoming exchange students. This interaction established a
relationship base to insure an easier cultural adjustment for the
Spanish students when they arrived in the U.S.
-
A three-week trip to Sardinia and Rome, Italy where 8 students
studied the Italian language and humanities courses that are required in
our Core Curriculum.
The IPO has increased student awareness of study abroad through
monthly workshops, for students, and through collaborative efforts with
the enrollment center, student affairs, and freshman orientation.
The total number of international students has increased in the last
year by 30%. The IPO has continued to increase efforts to recruit
international students through advertising publications, mailers, and
associations with Study Illinois, a consortium with surrounding
universities and the U.S. Department of Trade. The countries of
origin for the students during the year 2007-08 include Bolivia, Canada,
China, France, India, Ghana, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria,
Northern Ireland, Pakistan, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sudan,
Spain, Taiwan, Tanzania, and Tunisia.
GOAL #12: The IPO has evaluated, and re-designed the
recruitment and retention processes for International Programs This
included doing a comparable market analysis to assess the funding
opportunities for international students at other surrounding colleges
and universities. The IPO and the Enrollment center will be increasing
the funding opportunities for these students through international
scholarships beginning January 2007. This will increase the number
of international students studying at Benedictine and increase
revenues.
GOAL #13: this goal is essential because of the
number of multilingual students we serve. Even though 95% of the
multilingual international, and domestic, students have scored high on
the Tests of language Proficiency, they continue to have difficulties in
academic writing. With feedback from faculty and students,
analysis of writing samples, the pilot program was initiated in fall
2005.This Structured Learning Assistance Program is necessary to
support the academic success and retention of our students. We are
currently designing a program and adding courses that teach English for
Academic Purposes, and an English Language Program at our Springfield
College campus. We will be hiring two full-time faculty members that
will teach in our Core Program as well as our English Language
Program.
III. Successful Strategies
The most successful strategies have been in:
-
developing excellent relationships across departments, colleges,
and student organizations (See Progress in Goals #1 and 2 above)
-
bringing in outside funding to support initiatives, (See Goal #6
above)
IV Future Plans
Continue to be a clearinghouse for International student services and
international projects including:
-
Facilitating communication among individuals, groups, and
organizations with common international interests,
-
Increasing funding opportunities,
-
Re-instituting the International Programs Advisory board,
-
Develop opportunities for designing and supporting international
academic programs and activities,
-
Develop more service learning programs with an international
component,
-
Host or hold meetings with community, regional, national, and
international
partners,
-
Collaborate with consulates, embassies, and other institutions
within the international arena.
*Please contact the institution directly if you have questions
regarding specific institutional programs.
Please direct questions about this page to:
jill_wisniewski@ace.nche.edu
| Staff
Contacts
Download our information
brochure
This page last updated on: 12/16/2008
| international, global, internationalization |
|
|
