Promoting Global Citizenship in Lake County

TEACHING AND LEARNING EXCELLENCE Promoting Global Citizenship in Lake County

CLC earns national excellence award for campus internationalization

No matter what country you call home, you are welcome at CLC. A sign of its commitment to prepare students to be productive members of a global society, CLC is one of five U.S. universities and colleges to receive a 2022 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization from the National Association of International Educators (NASFA). Named in honor of the late Senator Paul Simon of Illinois, this award recognizes U.S. 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.

“Global citizenship is important to the College of Lake County,” said CLC Director of Global Engagement Dr. Jacob Cushing. “One of our team’s central goals is ensuring that all CLC students graduate with an understanding of the world and an appreciation for their place in it. We also try to make our international students feel at home here by offering a welcoming place to study and strengthen friendships.”

The Global Engagement team collaborates on collegewide projects that spotlight the diversity, sustainability and global aspects of the CLC community. For example, the college’s digital and physical landscapes are infused with an international spirit, and in 2020, CLC formally dedicated the Global Community Hall at the Grayslake Campus.

“The centrally located hallway displays the flags of our students’ countries of origin and showcases a world map where they can find and pin their home countries,” Cushing said. “It also promotes global diversity programs, events and initiatives. We have placed prominent imprints on walls near campus entrances saying ‘Welcome’ in over 30 languages, speaking directly to our students.”

“CLC is a very friendly place, very positive environment. There are people from all over the world. The staff is very friendly, helpful and supportive for everything that we want to do. We’re all friends, like a little family here.” – Nik, a student from Russia

“CLC’s Department of Global Engagement is an innovative team committed to thinking strategically and critically to cultivate high-impact internationalization practices that engage people,” said CLC President Dr. Lori Suddick. “They extend enriching experiences out into the diverse communities of Lake County as well as with our partners across the world.”

As a result of the Global Engagement team’s work, CLC has strategically invested in international partnerships, purposeful and innovative international programmatic offerings, faculty positions to renew curriculum internationalization efforts and study abroad opportunities.

“College of Lake County’s philosophy on local and international partnerships is that we work with our communities through people, not institutions,” said Suddick. “We prioritize partnerships that originate from direct connections with our faculty and staff.”

A special focus has been on curriculum integration and faculty development. Two dedicated faculty coordinators own this important collaborative work focused on international education initiatives and the internationalization of curriculum. These coordinators are integral to engaging faculty support college-wide and reviewing curricula in need of a global perspectives update.

Did you know...

• College of Lake County was included on the list of 2021-2022 Fulbright Program “Top Producing

Institutions” of Fulbright U.S. Scholars.

• CLC enrolls more than 70-100 international students on the F-1 student visa annually from over 35 countries.

• CLC offers incredible and affordable short-term and semester-long study abroad programs to more than 10 countries.

• CLC has global partners in the United Arab

Emirates, China, Philippines, Japan, Austria,

Costa Rica, England, Ireland, France and Spain.

• CLC offers the Global Citizenship Milestone designed for students who are interested in deepening their understanding of a diversity of cultures, societies and systems within an international, globalized context.

• The Department of Global Engagement is a success center for all non-immigrant visa holders on campus, which promotes a true and integrated international community.