Resources for Researchers

Case Studies--School A

School A is a small Master’s I state system school as classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education with approximately 6000 undergraduate students. The institution offers more than 90 academic programs, including 78 bachelor's degree programs and 11 graduate programs leading to master's degrees. The undergraduate population consists of 92.3% in-state students and 7.7% out of state students. The international student population is about 1.5% of the total degree seeking undergraduate student population. The ethnic breakdown of degree seeking full-time undergraduates in 2001-02 is as follows:

The university has no mandatory foreign language requirement for the students, but requirements are specific to the majors offered. The language department has 2 white/non-Hispanic male faculty and 5 white non-Hispanic female faculty members. In 2001-02, there were 1 African American/non-Hispanic and 4 white/non-Hispanic female foreign language and literatures bachelor degree recipients.

There is a direct link from the institution’s homepage to its international programs and events webpage. International education is specifically referred to in the institution’s mission statement as follows: “The university community is dedicated to helping students see in themselves what they may become by creating opportunities to develop the knowledge, skill, and attitudes necessary for both enlightened citizenship and successful participation in a technologically advanced, global society”.

Special recruitment efforts, which were limited to some colleges within the institution, are used to attract undergraduate minorities to international education opportunities. International and minority faculty members are encouraged at this institution to promote the benefits of international education in the classroom. In particular, minority students in the “Teacher Education” course are encouraged to pursue an international student teaching experience (6 weeks student teaching in an international country of choice for credit). At this institution, international programming consists of utilizing undergraduate students with study abroad experience through presenting and sharing their experiences with the general student body as a recruitment tool. When marketing international activities to prospective and currently enrolled students, the institution uses brochures, flyers, mailings, emails, presentations, advising, handouts, student group/organization participation and general University programming. International Studies degree, languages, and internship/service learning programs all employ special advising services for their minority student population.

A general education requirement for the students to take courses that primarily focus on perspectives, issues, and/or events from specific countries or areas outside the United States is included in the overall international programming, including Study Abroad at this institution. There is a central international education operating unit called the Office of International Programs, which reports to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Its functions consist of oversight of responsibilities for the recruitment of international students and the promotion of study abroad programs. There is a Study Abroad office located on campus which reports to the Director of International Programs and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Study Abroad Office is exempt by the governing board policy so they do not receive scholarship funding. There are 2 Study Abroad Advisors—1 African American Female and 1 White/non-Hispanic female. The study abroad participation for credit over the course of 5 academic years is as follows:

Lastly, out of the programs offered, the BS/BA International Business program attracts the interest of African American undergraduate students.