Abstracts

CONCURRENT SESSIONS III 1:45 – 2:45 p.m.

Institutional Partnerships: A Model for Creating International Studies Programs *interpretation provided

Location Library Community Room

Presenters 

Erica Volkers, Dean of Communication, Central New Mexico Community College, Humanities and Social Sciences
Amanda Wolfe, Associate Director, Latin American and Iberian Institute, University of New Mexico

Summary The Latin American & Iberian Institute (LAII) at the University of New Mexico (UNM) has partnered with Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) to develop an associate’s degree in Latin American Studies. This innovative partnership brings together two designated minority-serving institutions of higher education–45% of UNM’s and 54% of CNM’s students are minorities. Latin America area studies typically have not been prioritized in such institutions, creating a lamentable gap in knowledge within certain student populations.

The presentation will highlight the collaborative activities that have led to a deepening of the intellectual relationship between the two institutions and the successful development of a Latin American Studies program at a two-year college. The presenters will pay specific attention to the following:

  1. LAS curriculum at CNM
    • The Latin American Studies Associate of Arts degree requires a total of 60 – 67 credit hours, of which approximately half are dedicated to Latin American related course work.
    • Students may pursue foreign language study in Spanish and/or Portuguese.
    • The UNM/CNM partnership has led to the development of 3 new courses: Introduction to Latin American Studies, Latin American Film, and Anthropology and Archaeology of Latin America.
    • Existing courses in Anthropology, Foreign Languages, Political Science, and Sociology have been augmented with Latin America content through pairing of CNM faculty with UNM doctoral students with specializations in Latin America. Other courses in Business and Culinary Arts have been identified for augmentation.
  1. Student Pipeline from CNM to UNM
    • CNM and UNM have designed a course transfer mechanism to ensure a seamless transfer LAS-related courses to UNM. This has been facilitated in part by developing similar course numbers at each campus.
    • CNM students receive tandem advisement from UNM LAS advisor.
    • CNM students are advised on financial opportunities available to them, including language study fellowships, once admitted to UNM.
  2. International Opportunities
    • CNM is developing a one-week study abroad experience in Guatemala for CNM students for May 2018.
    • UNM is assisting in the development of the program and will provide administrative support with the goal of creating an enduring study abroad infrastructure at CNM to facilitate future study abroad opportunities elsewhere.
    • Both institutions are leveraging financial resources to drastically reduce the cost for students since those enrolled in MSI community colleges are confronted with unusually difficult financial situations.

 

Futuro: Promoting Latino Student Engagement

Location Library Room 418A

Presenters 

Ann Gillespie, Tennessee Latin American Chamber of Commerce
Jennifer Novo, Director of the ACE Center, Cumberland University
Student, Cumberland University

Summary FUTURO Inc., a student-led campus organization with nine chapters in Middle Tennessee, is a resource for universities seeking to include, engage and support students with Latino cultural backgrounds.  In Middle Tennessee, Latino student enrollment at many universities has risen sharply over the last decade driven in large part by students who are first or second generation immigrants plus first generation college students.  These students report that they seek a campus “familia,”  need support and guidance offered in a culturally relevant way, and need help establishing campus, community and professional networks.  FUTURO membership is open to international students as a way to provide support via information, resources and relationships.

Learning ObjectivesOverview of FUTURO
2. Group demographic profile
3. Opportunities to connect international students with FUTURO

 

Itacas – Alliance for Interculturality and Sustainability

Location Penn Warren Center
Presenters

Carolina Franco-Arroyave, Head of International Office, Tecnologico de Antioquia IU
Natalia Marin, Head of International Relations, IUE
Maria Fernanda Vega, Director of Cooperation and International Relations, Instituto Tecnológico Metropoliano

Summary Itacas is a local partnership that has joined 7 HEI and Medellin’s local HE Agency – SAPIENCIA, with the purpose of coordinating collaboration efforts to promote interculturality as the axis of their internationalization processes and linking their academic communities to the global development agenda.
This presentation aims to share good practices of local projects as a source of internationalization and alliances as multipliers of the effects of internationalization on the city’s student community.

Learning Objectives 

  1. To identify local alliances role as multipliers of capacities for internationalization
  2. To transform competition into collaboration in HE
  3. To learn about good practices for programs abroad
  4. To recognize global challenges as drivers of internationalization
  5. To increase the scope of networking through partnerships

Creating International Exchanges through Music

Location Buttrick Hall Room 123
Presenters

Tom Verrier, Senior Band Conductor, Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University
Ryan Middagh, Director of Jazz Studies, Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University

Summary Thomas Verrier and Ryan Middagh discuss experience and opportunities for cultural and education exchanges through musical collaborations.

Learning Objectives

  1. To become acquainted with possible collaboration by reviewing past projects involving the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University.
  2. Gain perspective on successes and opportunities improvement
  3. Inspire future exchanges and growth