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ACE Conference Explores Common Ground between Multicultural and Internationalization Education on College Campuses

More than 150 representatives from 40 colleges and universities gathered in Washington, DC for the American Council on Education's (ACE) "At Home in the World" Institute under the theme Educating for Global Connections and Local Commitments.

The three-day meeting, which took place June 28-30, engaged campus teams of chief diversity officers, chief internationalization officers, chief academic officers, faculty and staff in an examination of the commonalitiesbetween diversity/multicultural education and internationalization as well as an exploration of the areas of potential collaboration and conflict.

John Sexton of New York University.

Co‑sponsored by ACE's Center for International Initiatives and the Center for Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Equity, the conference featured an opening keynote address by NYU President John Sexton and several panel discussions by participants who presented strategies for partnerships between diversity/multicultural education and internationalization. Participants were also supplied with discussion recommendations for several "Institutional Team Working Time" sessions during which colleagues were encouraged to explore the ways in which the strategies presented during the conference might be modified and implemented on their own campuses. The gathering concluded with a "Presidential Perspectives" panel moderated by Yolanda Moses of UC, Riverside and featuring Ding-Jo Currie, Interim Chancellor of Coast Community College District and Daniel Papp, President of Kennesaw State University.

Yolanda Moses of the University of California Riverside.

"Although internationalization and multi-cultural education initiatives have different histories, they share the important goals of preparing students to live in a globalized and culturally diverse world. The meeting helped identify opportunities for synergy and collaboration between the two areas and catalyze campus conversations," reflected Madeleine Green, Vice President for International Initiatives at ACE.

Now in its second year, the Institute experienced significant growth in campus representation, up from 26 institutions in 2008.  In addition, the Henry Luce Foundation provided a $35,000 grant to help participating institutions offset the cost of attendance.

More information is available about this initiative and about the 2008 Bridging the Gap Symposium.

More information about the sessons offered at the 2009 Insititute and downaloadable copies of meeing materials and presentations is available.

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This page last updated on 08/18/2009