Recommendation #1

Host a Postsecondary Education Symposium on International Education and Louisiana Business in spring 2004.   

Advisory Committee Rationale

In order for Louisiana to reap the full benefits of the global marketplace in which it operates, Louisiana postsecondary education officials and leaders of the public and private sector must create more favorable attitudes towards international education.  The proposed symposium will bring together interested participants from colleges and universities, government, business, and industry to plan and implement strategies for enhancing the contribution of Louisiana postsecondary education to the global dimension of Louisiana’s economy.

Staff Recommendation

Staff concurs with the potential value of the proposed symposium and recommends that the Board of Regents sponsor and host such a symposium in spring, 2004.  The staff recommends further that the Board’s International Education Advisory Committee assume primary responsibility for assisting staff in planning the event. 

Recommendation #2

Sponsor an International Education Enhancement Grant Program beginning with the 2003-04 academic year. 

Advisory Committee Rationale

Louisiana’s colleges and universities need to further develop or enhance language instruction, international programs abroad, internationalization of the curriculum, and recruitment of students from across the world.  The purpose of the Board of Regents’ International Education Enhancement Grant Program is to promote new ideas, programs and collaboration in international education.  

Staff Recommendation

Although the staff supports in concept an International Education Enhancement Grant Program, with an average cutback of 20%  to initiatives supported through the Regents’ LEQSF program (> 20% in the enhancement areas), the proposed grant program must await identification of a funding source.

 

Recommendation #3

Include an International Education component in its General Education Requirements, beginning with first time entering freshmen in academic year 2004-05. 

Advisory Committee Rationale

 

Louisiana’s colleges and universities, in order to prepare the next generation must make international awareness and understanding an essential part of the learning, scholarship, and engagement functions.  Students who acquire international knowledge in the classroom will be better able to understand how international events affect the Louisiana economy, make informed decisions, and take informed actions that will benefit their own lives and assist the state.  With so few students from Louisiana participating in study abroad programs, they must receive their preparation to live and work in the global environment on Louisiana’s college and university campuses. 

Staff Recommendation    

Staff recommends that this proposal be submitted to the Board’s Council of Chief Academic Officers (CCAO) for review during the 2003-04 academic year.  The Advisory Council can assist CCAO in its deliberations.  

Recommendation #4

Encourage the boards and campuses of public and private institutions to include in all honors programs, beginning with entering freshmen in 2005, a significant international education component to be determined by each institution such as: foreign language proficiency, area specialization, study abroad, two or more classes whose primary content is international in nature, etc. 

Advisory Committee Rationale

 

Survey results on the state of international education in postsecondary institutions in Louisiana indicate the low level of study abroad participation and limited opportunities for acquisition of international knowledge at Louisiana’s postsecondary institutions.  Of particular concern is the situation of Louisiana’s honor students, its brightest graduates. Many of these students are currently completing their postsecondary studies without acquiring knowledge or competencies to compete in the global marketplace or to assist the state in its place within the global economy. While all graduates should have the opportunity to gain international knowledge, it is particularly important that Honors Programs include an international education component and require international knowledge for graduation.   

Staff Recommendation

Staff recommends that this proposal be submitted to the Board’s Council of Chief Academic Officers (CCAO) for review during the 2003-04 academic year.  The Advisory Council can assist CCAO in its deliberations.

 Recommendation #5

Require each campus to complete an inventory of its international faculty, support services and curricular resources, and report the results no later than 2005.

Advisory Committee Rationale

Louisiana’s institutions of postsecondary education collect little or no data on the international characteristics of their faculties and curricula and are, therefore, simply unaware of the extent to which they are prepared to deliver the kinds of education, research, and service required in the global environment.  An inventory of the international resources of the faculty and curriculum will provide the essential benchmarks for further planning for postsecondary education in Louisiana.

Staff Recommendation    

The staff recommends that the Board’s International Education Advisory Committee be charged with assisting the staff in the development of appropriate instruments to complete the inventory no later than 2005.