Academic Affairs Accomplishments 2009-2010
Internationalization
The Division of Academic Affairs continued its commitment to internationalize the curriculum, increase the number of international students enrolled in degree programs, and expand the number of students participating in Western's English as a Second Language (WESL) program. Academic Affairs also supported expansion of international student recruitment; opportunities for study abroad; and student, faculty, and staff exchange programs with colleges and universities internationally. These initiatives directly support WIU's strategic plan Higher Values in Higher Education priorities to "attract students from around the world to Western" and "to increase student-faculty interactions and active learning through international studies."
- Academic Affairs continued to make progress on the development of the new International Studies major.
- Accountancy began adaptation of the B.B. in Accountancy curriculum to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) regulations. The U.S. SEC will require all companies to report under IFRS by 2014.
- Agriculture initiated a new study abroad program for Brazil.
- Art visited the Cardiff College of Art and Design in Cardiff, Wales to initiate contact with school officials there to establish a printmaking exchange program between Cardiff College of Art and Design and WIU.
- Business and Technology's graduate enrollment in Fall 2009 consisted of 47 percent international students; under the supervision of Management Professor Barb Ribbens, continued numerous international projects (Global Voices series to acquaint students with various countries and their business environments, a Fulbright proposal to host Iraqi faculty during Summer/Fall 2010, graduate degrees awarded to seven master's students from universities in Mexico supported by a TIES/USAID grant, summer travel to Mexico supported by FIPSE for seven students spending five weeks in five Mexican cities visiting businesses and cultural sites, nine U.S. students completed degrees in Europe and 12 European students completed degrees in the U.S. via the Atlantis Program).
- The Center for International Studies participated on recruitment trips to Ecuador, Chile, Taiwan and Korea; supported memorandums of undersigning with Haramaya University (Ethiopia), National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (Taiwan), and Krida Wacana Christian University (Indonesia); developed new policies for funding short-term programs; implemented the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test of English as an option for prospective students.
- Communication Sciences and Disorders worked to develop an exchange with the University of Wales Institute -- Cardiff's Center for Speech and Language Studies.
- Curriculum and Instruction faculty member Dr. Pamela Godt organized and directed an International Student Exchange Program as a service activity for Kappa Delta Pi, resulting in former Danish visitors applying to WIU.
- Dietetics, Fashion Merchandising and Hospitality's Fashion Merchandising program completed its first study abroad program.
- Education and Human Services participated in the Sapir University initiative, funded in cooperation with the Quad Cities Jewish Federation and St. Ambrose University.
- Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies implemented the new program requirement for Bilingual Education majors which requires them to spend a minimum of one semester in another country.
- Educational Leadership faculty, in cooperation with Midwest churches, rescued more than 100 girls from slave trafficking in southeast Asia.
- Engineering Technology finalized plans to host and sponsor two Taiwanese researchers for on-campus residence during the 2010-2011 academic year to conduct research at no expense to WIU; completed a memorandum of understanding for a student/faculty exchange with National Pingtung University of Science and Technology in Pingtung, Taiwan.
- Fine Arts and Communication provided support to students interested in international programs: Art's New York City and Berlin Study Abroad programs, students seeking international museum internship placements, and student presentation proposals to an international conference (Inclusive Museum Conference).
- Foreign Languages and Literatures hosted a two-day visit and lectures by Vietnamese American Professor of Law, Dr. Wendy Nhu-Nguyen Duong; began large-scale language placement testing for SOAR programs in Summer 2009; held the annual Western Illinois Spanish Experience (WISE) study abroad program (11 students traveled to Mexico to study and experience that country).
- Geography participated in discussions with faculty in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at the University of Hong Kong, China.
- Health Sciences enrolled more than 13 graduate students from 11 countries, and 44 percent of newly matriculated students were international and included former Peace Corps Fellows with service in Bangladesh, the Republic of Georgia, and Honduras; faculty member Dr. Fetene Gebrewold developed a memorandum of understanding between WIU and Haramaya University of Ethiopia; explored a partnership between WIU and the Turkmen State Medical Institute.
- History participated in the Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey Exchange.
- Law Enforcement and Justice Administration sought partnership/exchange agreements with universities in Russia, China, and Israel.
- Marketing and Finance faculty members helped to organize two separate study abroad experiences in Europe.
- Military Science promoted Cultural Understanding and Language Programs (CULP), with one military science student participating in the China CULP visit.
- Music created a faculty committee to study and develop a plan for enhancing the internationalization of the Music program.
- Psychology presented and participated in conferences at Zhejiang University in Hangzou China and Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia.
- Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration and Dietetics, Fashion Merchandising and Hospitality promoted a study abroad opportunity with the College of Bahamas for tourism and hospitality for 2011; in cooperation with the Environmental Conservation Outdoor Education Expedition, San Diego State University, ECOtour B.C., Bahia de Los Angeles Golfo Preserva, and the Comision Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas, worked on a cooperative agreement for service, protection, and ecologically sound use of natural and cultural resources.
- Special Education faculty member Dr. Linda Meloy proposed a Fulbright Specialist Program arrangement with Kwara State University in Nigeria to aid its graduate and undergraduate training program for teachers.
- Theatre and Dances' Dance program conducted workshops on East Indian dance techniques and choreographed an East Indian dance piece to be included in the University Dance Theatre's Spring Gala Dance Concert; the Dance program conducted workshops on flamenco dance techniques.
- University Libraries continued to add materials to the Asian collections with grant monies; added art work from India and China in the Malpass Library; hosted book talk for Gloria Hurh's book, "We Married Koreans: Personal Stories of American Women with Korean Husbands."
WIU's Eta Epsilon chapter of the Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society, which held its first induction ceremony in Fall 2009, received an award for its activities to share knowledge and advance international educational understanding. The award honors the chapter for its "Western Community, Global Opportunities" program that will air on UTV3. Above: Charter members of WIU's Eta Epsilon chapter.
More than 3,200 individuals complete bachelor's and master's degree requirements at WIU every year. Degree candidates may attend commencement ceremonies held in the spring and fall. Above: Associate Professor of History Jennifer McNabb led the Fall 2009 Commencement procession with the University gonfalon, a new addition to the ceremonies. Each college and the School of Graduate Studies led their candidates and faculty behind a gonfalon.