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2003 Heiskell Awards |
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The Andrew Heiskell Awards
For Innovation in International Education
Best Practices in International Education
Category: Internationalizing the Campus
Advancing Curriculum Development and Providing Services to International Students
W I N N E R
Chatham College
Global Focus Program
Nomination submitted by:
Dr. Shaik Ismail
Assistant Vice President for International Programs
Program Mission:
"As the world becomes ever more technologically and economically interconnected, Chatham College believes that providing students with a strong global perspective is critical," according to Chatham College President Esther L. Barazzone. "Our approach to internationalization is campus-wide and across the curriculum, involving all students and faculty regardless of major or discipline."
Preparing "world ready women" has become Chatham's central educational philosophy. This is carried out by infusing global themes into classrooms, campus programs and community activities and into co-curricular activities and student-led projects, as well as by providing an opportunity for every student to study abroad in her sophomore year. The centerpiece of Chatham's international initiative is the "Global Focus Program," which engages the Chatham College community in a comprehensive study of one country, region or theme each year. Students, faculty and staff work together in planning campus events, selecting speakers and lecture topics and engaging in collaborative academic assignments and service learning projects.
Chatham hosts a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence from the selected country or region each year to help enrich curriculum offerings, plan programs and work with students. Chatham's international students are also fully integrated into the Global Focus Program each year, allowing them  to showcase their own culture and become stakeholders in planning campus and community programs. The International Students' Association conducts various cultural activities, and organizes symposia and public fora that feature the focus region.
By the time she graduates, a Chatham student will have been exposed to four world regions in her curriculum work and co-curricular activities and will have had a chance to participate in a study abroad program featuring the global focus site. Students and faculty from all disciplines and majors participate, and the campus draws upon resources of Pittsburgh's international community, collaborating with community and neighboring institutions on joint public programs. This unique approach provides a model that is replicable by other small liberal arts institutions, particularly those without the budget flexibility to engage in comprehensive area-studies programs.
Program Implementation:
For IIENetwork members only: read further details about how this program achieves its objectives.
Chatham College
2002-2003 Global Focus: The Communities of Islam
In the face of new and ongoing challenges since September 11, 2001, Chatham College chose to focus on "The Communities of Islam" as its global focus theme for 2002-2003, to educate the campus and the Pittsburgh area about issues of tolerance, understanding and awareness. This focus not only allows the community to study other Muslim cultures, but also spotlights the Muslim community in the United States.
The program has been enhanced by the presence of a Fulbright Scholar from Egypt who is teaching courses on Islamic civilization and its modern implication, giving informal lessons in Arabic and helping the College shape its focus on Islam. The faculty has also responded by creating a companion course, "Islam and the World," and participating in a weekly lecture series on a variety of topics to educate the campus community on the many permutations of Islam.
The College acts as a convener of discussion and dialog about the many facets of Islam (culture, music, art, literature, philosophy, and politics), bringing various constituencies to its campus. All events, lectures and programs are free and open to the public.
Says Chatham College President Esther L. Barazzone, "We are proud that we are able to utilize an on-going model of internationalization to engage the campus and Pittsburgh community in a global theme that has affected us profoundly. It is a fine example of how a College can be agile in making the curriculum and programmatic connection to an on-going public and international concern."
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Contact Information:
Dr. Shaik Ismail
Assistant Vice President for International Programs
Tel: 412-365-1159
Fax: (412) 365-1620
Email: Ismail@Chatham.Edu
Click here for more information about the Global Focus Program
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