2008 Woodie Awards
College looks to globalize
Administrator to travel to high schools abroad for recruitment
Jessica Davis, Content Manager
Issue date: 10/17/06
Last Updated: 12/26/07
International student enrollment dropped by five students for fall 2006. Since 1996, international enrollment has dropped by 70 percent at Whitworth following a trend of downward international enrollment, according to the school's 10-day reports that take a snapshot of the total student population.
In spite of this trend, the college hopes to have 5 percent of the student body consist of international students by 2010, according to the school's strategic plan.
Vice president of academic affairs Michael Le Roy's goal is that within ten years 350 Whitworth students will be studying off the main campus each term, or 700 students studying off campus every year.
Another part of the internationalization goal is to develop satellite campuses across the globe.
"My hope would be to start something overseas no later than 2010," Le Roy said. "My long-term dream would be that Whitworth would eventually have campus centers on five continents."
Professor of sociology Raja Tanas believes the college has some work to do before the goals of internationalization can be reached.
Tanas said the college needs to work on getting Whitworth's alumni and other donors to increase giving.
In addition to financial support, Tanas said Whitworth needs to educate faculty and staff on cultural issues.
According to the strategic plan, "As we move to international/globalize Whitworth College and increase our domestic diversity, intercultural competence becomes a critical factor. Intercultural competencies are those skills that assist our students, faculty and staff to operate effectively across cultures."
The faculty must be committed to openness, to the ideal of opening up to the other voices of humanity that have not been heard before, Tanas said.
"When we talk about diversity, it's not just about skin color. It's about diversity of opinion, worldviews, cuisine, smells, languages and culture," Tanas said.
Tanas said Whitworth would be more attractive to international students if it provided some supportive cultural structures.
In spite of this trend, the college hopes to have 5 percent of the student body consist of international students by 2010, according to the school's strategic plan.
Vice president of academic affairs Michael Le Roy's goal is that within ten years 350 Whitworth students will be studying off the main campus each term, or 700 students studying off campus every year.
Another part of the internationalization goal is to develop satellite campuses across the globe.
"My hope would be to start something overseas no later than 2010," Le Roy said. "My long-term dream would be that Whitworth would eventually have campus centers on five continents."
Professor of sociology Raja Tanas believes the college has some work to do before the goals of internationalization can be reached.
Tanas said the college needs to work on getting Whitworth's alumni and other donors to increase giving.
In addition to financial support, Tanas said Whitworth needs to educate faculty and staff on cultural issues.
According to the strategic plan, "As we move to international/globalize Whitworth College and increase our domestic diversity, intercultural competence becomes a critical factor. Intercultural competencies are those skills that assist our students, faculty and staff to operate effectively across cultures."
The faculty must be committed to openness, to the ideal of opening up to the other voices of humanity that have not been heard before, Tanas said.
"When we talk about diversity, it's not just about skin color. It's about diversity of opinion, worldviews, cuisine, smells, languages and culture," Tanas said.
Tanas said Whitworth would be more attractive to international students if it provided some supportive cultural structures.
For this reason, The Whitworthian asks readers to be responsible and respectful in any comments posted. The responsibility for statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not the whitworthian.com. Readers are also encouraged to report questionable comments by e-mailing editor@whitworthian.com.
Be the first to comment on this story