|
Research &
Outreach
Part of our charge
was to gather data and talk with campus
and community members regarding this
initiative. We did gather demographic
information about other Vermont higher
education institutions, as well as
diversity data among Vermont high
school graduates. These data are found
in Appendix A and B. The Task Force
found that interactions with campus
and community members provided essential
insights and assistance in moving
toward our goal.
 Interview
with International Students at Champlain:
- Need to make
a very early connection with American
students
- Sometimes never
called on in classroom because they
are “different” or English
language skill may not be a good
as others
- Can feel invisible
in the classroom; no one reaches
out to include them in small groups
- Living in dorm
really important; students in apartments
are even more isolated
- Being part of
International Club is important
for connections made there more
easily
- Also need outside
opportunities to connect with others
-- trips, social events, etc.
- Need a balance
between being independent and being
taken care of as special
- Small group
work in classroom is difficulty;
international student often chosen
last
- American students
do not know how to approach international
students
Presentation on
the Global Appreciation Competency
by Gary Scudder: Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate
an understanding of the essential
concepts, trends and foundations
of world civilizations (history
core courses)
- Demonstrate
cultural awareness/sensitivity in
one’s own life (multicultural
appreciation, small more personal
understanding of the world)
- Demonstrate
responsibilities and opportunities
of operating within a global environment
(being a global citizen, understanding
bigger world issues)
- Apply knowledge
and skills associated with Global
Appreciation in one’s major
as appropriate
- Concern is that
GA competency is not fully implemented
throughout each program and major
Presentation by
current Champlain students working
in schools with diverse populations:
- Most powerful
experience in college career
- Our students
learn so much by sharing in the
cultural experiences of the younger
students
- Experience as
a teacher is greatly enhanced
- Need more students
to volunteer for this experience
 Interview
with Faculty Member Hal Colston:
- Need faculty
and staff of color and diversity
in the classroom
- Discussed the
development of the Multicultural
Affairs Committee from original
Diversity Champlain group
- Need an office
running a program -- need someone
who is high profile to drive this
work
- At UVM there
are resources: Katherine Freidman,
Christopher Columbus, ALANA student
center, Cultural Pluralism classes
Interview with Faculty
Member Tom Myers:
- International
business program includes students
from Africa, Vietnam, Bosnia; students
intend to come here and return to
home countries to start businesses
- Wants to tap
into local refugee population
- It is very enriching
for students in class to hear personal
experiences of their peers
- Currently students
can do internships in Barcelona,
Mumbai, Dubai
- There is a required
internship in international business
Interview with Faculty
Member Colin Ducolon:
- NYC trip in
Fall 2005 to identify student teacher
sites and identify possible underrepresented
populations that might develop an
interest in Champlain
- Looked at 6
schools (NY and NJ) -- 4 high schools
and 2 elementary
- A group of high
school students are coming to Champlain
through the VT Writers Conference
on May 25
|
