North Central recognized nationally for international growth

North Central College has received what some faculty in the International Program has called their form of the Oscars: the 2015 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization.

According to NAFSA (National Association of International Educators) the Paul Simon Award “…recognizes colleges and universities that are making significant, well-planned, well-executed, and well-documented progress toward comprehensive internationalization – especially those using innovative and creative approaches.”

Basically this award honors five colleges/universities nationwide that recognizes what a campus is doing and has been doing in an effort to internationalize the campus community.

North Central was one of the five institutions to receive this award. The four other institutions to receive it as well are University of Delaware, Mount Holyoke College, University of San Diego, and the University of Virginia.

It is key to mention that not only is this national award, but North Central also received it on their first try. The NAFSA offer spotlight awards, basically honorable mentions. Many schools usually receive the spotlight award one year and then receive the Paul Simon Award next year. For example in 2007, Valparaiso University earned the spotlight award, but won the Paul Simon Award in 2008.

North Central was different as they earned it on the first time around.

“We went for the gold right away,” said Kimberly Larsson, director of study abroad.

However, there is more to the award then just another honor to the College.

“I think the bigger focus is why we got it [the award],” said Jesus Velasco, international student advisor.

This award recognizes as a whole the efforts of the campus to promoting and becoming more international in studies and experiences.

“The application process highlighted that this is a shared effort, that its part of your ethos, that it’s a commitment for the college, for the campus and that it’ something that just doesn’t happen but its deliberate effort going on,” said Larsson. “The ethos, I feel that here. I really feel that when I attend a study abroad fair, and professors with their FYE students, faculty wear their ‘please go away’ shirts…I feel that support.”

The award also honors the increase of students studying abroad (full term and D-term) and international students, integrating an international cultural ACR requirement, globalization presentations during each term, and overall expanding everyone’s horizons beyond our small community and state.

“It’s not just one little pocket on campus but something that is more and more part of the culture,” stated Professor Jack Shindler, director of international programs and professor of English.

One of the features that make North Central stand out from many other international programs at other colleges is not working through third parties but working with schools abroad directly. Other colleges go through a third party that they direct the students to for registering for other schools abroad. This leaves the student completely on their own.

North Central is different as the international program office aids students with their time abroad by working with the schools abroad directly with the students, always having that connection with the student while still abroad, and having all financial aid still apply to campus.

The Paul Simon Award is not just a great honor nationally, as only five colleges can receive it per year, but it is also acknowledged worldwide and by fellow peers abroad.

North Central, along with the four other award winners, will be presented to members of NAFSA at a convention in May in Boston that is attended by 10,000 people across the globe. But the biggest announcement will come in November when Shindler and President Troy Hammond will travel to Washington D.C. for the international education week.

“They (NAFSA) use that week to honor the five colleges and universities,” said Shindler when commenting about the international week in D.C. “There is a ceremony and then the presidents get on a panel and they have to talk about their school.”

Attending these two conventions allows North Central’s name to go from “North Central, where is that at?” to “North Central oh I know that school.” The Paul Simon Award will allow North Central to receive recognition on an international level.

“I think it’s going to show the world of no matter how big a school is, it’s about how much a school cares about their internationalization and how can we spread that across campus,” said Velasco.

Even with the recognition of the award, the International Program Office continues to strive forward for the future with various goals to accomplish.

When asked about future goals, each faculty member gave their own personal goal for the international programs.

“The goal is to get over 100 international students at North Central,” said Velasco. There are currently 94 international students form 39 countries at NCC.

Shindler mentioned a list of things that he wishes to accomplish. “The next fight or nudge is we need to change the college mission statement. The mission statement needs to have a word that refers to international. Even if the adjective global is sneaked in there somewhere, I am going to fight tooth and nail for that.” Some of his other goals include expanding the ELI (English Language Institute) program and changing the name of the office to be more curricular and less co-curricular.

Larsson plans to continue to look at the study abroad arena in general and increase the number of qualified students going abroad. “Keep on growing and keep on doing what we do. This (the award) is not a hall pass to stop. It’s your doing a good job so keep on going.”