2020-2021 MTSU International Affairs Annual Impact Report by Middle Tennessee State University

2020–21

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

Welcome

Vice Provost’s Welcome

Welcome to the Middle Tennessee State University Office of International Affairs Annual Report. This document highlights selected accomplishments and statistics from the 2020–21 academic year, an extraordinary time in international education. International travel was severely restricted. We were all obligated to maintain social distance, wear masks, and limit personal interaction. Yet the global pandemic emphasized just how globally connected we are. This annual report is not traditional in that it doesn’t present a series of sterile facts and figures. Instead, it is a visual celebration of the work of a dedicated group of International Affairs professionals, a devoted campus, and a vibrant local community. It paints a rich picture of MTSU’s global impact. The Office of International Affairs has undergone a strategic planning process that will chart the course of the division for the next five years. In keeping with Quest 2025, we have committed ourselves to a deeper, broader, and more equitable academic and student life experience. As such, the high impact practices facilitated by the Office of International Affairs are a critical component of student success. I joined the University as vice provost for International Affairs in July 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic. Since then, and in the face of numerous challenges, I have witnessed the incredible work of the International Affairs team. I have seen firsthand the incredible campus support for internationalization. I have admired the resilience and commitment of our students and faculty. I applaud all those who took this extraordinary year in stride and kept MTSU moving forward. In closing, we are proud of what we have accomplished in this past academic year. On behalf of my colleagues in International Affairs, I hope that you will enjoy our annual report and the picture that it paints. We sincerely thank each and every member of our global community for the work described in these pages. We are True Blue!

Robert Summers Vice Provost for International Affairs

MISSION AND STRATEGIC PLAN The following strategic plan is the result of a monthslong planning process that included members from all corners of campus. Committee members discussed, debated, brainstormed, and in the end reached consensus regarding the future direction of International Affairs. The following document is the result of this hard yet rewarding work. It reflects the diligence of our colleagues and the true international spirit of MTSU.

Mission Statement The mission of the Office of International Affairs (IA) is to provide leadership for the comprehensive internationalization of Middle Tennessee State University by fostering the growth and development of our international programs and services.

Strategic Goals (2021–2026) 1. We will equip our students to be successful on an international level by: 1.1 Providing all stakeholders access to international experiences 1.2 Expanding services to support a wide variety of programs, including international internships, noncredit international service, and service learning abroad 1.3 Supporting the recruitment of and programming for our diverse student body 1.4 Introducing faculty workshops to develop new and innovative approaches to internationalizing the curriculum and building global skills 2. We will be a community leader in internationalization by: 2.1 Celebrating the importance of internationalism on campus and within the community 2.2 Facilitating programming that supports international competency, inclusion, acceptance, tolerance, and empathy 2.3 Recognizing the international experience and expertise of the MTSU community 3. We will provide excellent service to all stakeholders by: 3.1 Offering learning opportunities for staff to interact with peers 3.2 Providing resources that will enhance knowledge of, adoption of, and compliance with standards of best practice 4. We will be innovative and nimble in our internationalization efforts by: 4.1 Leveraging our strengths, developing new competencies, and striving for sustainability in our internationalization efforts 4.2 Working to reduce reliance on traditional forms of financial support Annual Impact Report | 3

THRIVING IN THE TIME OF COVID The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has challenged international work as never before. In April 2020, we facilitated the evacuation of 38 students from 10 countries. As we continued into the 2020–21 academic year, study abroad was postponed, rescheduled, and canceled. Incoming and outgoing students eagerly anticipating an international academic experience waited for borders to open and for the world to embrace face-to-face international collaborations once again. Students were not able to get visas or board airplanes. Consulates and embassies remained closed or opened only in emergency circumstances. Our offices quickly pivoted to function in a world of reduced or eliminated contact. We began an online intercultural exchange program. We offered virtual overseas internship programs. We participated in 82 virtual recruitment fairs and through these efforts touched almost 25,000 prospective students (see page 13). We flourished in the new normal. At the time of this writing, CDC guidance for social distancing and masking has been relaxed for vaccinated populations. The campus has removed all masking requirements and capacity restrictions. Things are quickly returning to the way they were before the pandemic. Students should be traveling to visit our partners in the very near future. We are seeing a pent-up demand for study abroad and renewed interest from international students wanting to enroll in our programs. We are tremendously hopeful for record numbers in the upcoming sessions.

4 | Annual Impact Report

BLUE RAIDERS ABROAD The 2020–21 academic year was challenging for education abroad. As international travel was restricted, no students participated in our programs abroad. However, data from past years shows interesting, varying, and robust study abroad experiences. A look at the following study abroad myths helps to frame how students can participate once travel is again possible.

Myth: Studying abroad is too expensive. Reality: The university has committed great financial support for education abroad. In the past five years, the MTSU Office of Education Abroad has provided over $820,000 in study abroad scholarships to 885 MTSU students. Students received additional study abroad funding from the Jones College of Business, the Honors College, the College of Liberal Arts, and other MTSU colleges and departments.

MTSU Education Abroad Scholarships Awarded $240,000

Over

$820,000

$180,000

in study abroad scholarships awarded to

$158,510

$198,750

$65,350

$169,000

$60,000

$229,550

$120,000

2015–16

2016–17

2017–18

2018–19

2019–20

885

MTSU students

since 2015

Annual Impact Report | 5

Myth: Study abroad is only for Liberal Arts majors and minors. Reality: MTSU provides education abroad opportunities for all majors. The MTSU Office of Education Abroad sent an average of almost 300 students abroad per year from eight different MTSU colleges from 2015 to 2020.

MTSU Education Abroad Participation by College 2015–2020 700

641

525 350

247

175 0

Basic and Applied Sciences

190

174

Behavioral and Health Sciences

Business

174 45

Education

Graduate Studies

14 Liberal Arts

Media Non-degree University and College Entertainment

Study Abroad Five-Year Trend MTSU Education Abroad Participation by Year 400 300

334

321

400

361

200 100

2015–16

2016–17

2017–18

2018–19

2019–20

6 | Annual Impact Report

Myth: Study abroad programs are only in English-speaking countries. Reality: Students can study abroad in 65 countries where a wide variety of languages are spoken. The top 10 study abroad destinations for MTSU students in a recent five-year period represent a great variety of locations and local languages. Many programs have courses taught in English worldwide.

Top 10 Study Abroad Destinations 2015–2020 300

150

Argentina

Austria

Costa Rica

France

Germany

Ireland

Israel

Japan

Spain

295

127

131

Number of Students

225

United Kingdom

Annual Impact Report | 7

MTSU SIGNATURE FACULTY-LED PROGRAMS MTSU Signature Faculty-Led Programs are shortterm programs led by MTSU faculty members who teach MTSU courses specifically designed for the overseas location. Each program provides students with an academically enriching experience in the host country, while also providing culturally relevant excursions that support the academic content. Signature Programs are the most popular type of program that MTSU offers. Each year, Signature Programs account for about 75% of the students who study abroad. In the past five years, students on MTSU Signature Programs have been to 33 countries and represent seven MTSU colleges.

8 | Annual Impact Report

MTSU Signature Faculty-Led Programs 2015–2020 300

225

150

291

237

256

260

2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20

Annual Impact Report | 9

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ON CAMPUS Enrollment Numbers The COVID-19 pandemic has driven down our international enrollment. The total international enrollment in fall 2020 decreased by 25.8%. Facing market challenges and the pandemic impact, IA strategized recruitment by building a robust global agent network, aligning recruitment efforts with the changing market, and actively seeking virtual recruitment opportunities. Through these new efforts, we managed to minimize the pandemic impact and attracted over 900 applicants and over 400 admissions for fall 2021.

900 720 540 360

2016

2017 Undergraduate

10 | Annual Impact Report

2018 Graduate

2019 Total

479

150

329

616

189

427

739

199

540

842

213

629

840

239

601

180 2020

Enrollment by Colleges The College of Basic and Applied Sciences enrolls the greatest number of international students, followed by the College of Business and the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences. The top majors include Aerospace, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Actuarial Science, Information Systems, Computer Science, and Mechatronics Engineering. Working with colleges and departments, International Affairs has established productive international partnerships with successful joint degree and pathway programs in Actuarial Science, Finance, and Business Administration. We continue seeking partnership opportunities with international institutions and support the pursuit of collaborative programs by academic units.

450 360 270 180 90 0

Basic and Applied Sciences

Business

Behavioral and Health Sciences

2016

2017

University College

2018

Liberal Arts

2019

Media and Entertainment

Education

2020

Annual Impact Report | 11

Countries of Origin MTSU international students come from 62 countries. Saudi Arabia, China, Bahamas, India, and Nigeria are the top countries of origin for our students. 425 340 255 170 85 0

rab

ina

Ind

ria

2016

uth

Ja pa n Ko rea

2017

2018

2019

lad

esh

Bra

zil

Tai w

Vie

tna

2020

International Student Programming MTSU is a welcoming place for international students and visitors. International Affairs offers various programming to encourage involvement in campus activities, enhance cultural experiences, and help with academic success. Activities include Student Success workshops, cultural and natural excursions, and international seminars and presentations.

12 | Annual Impact Report

INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT The pandemic caused an enormous decrease in F-1 international student enrollment numbers across the United States. International students faced restrictive public health mandates, lockdowns, closed U.S. consulates and embassies, unavailability of international flights, and the added expense of quarantines upon arrival in the United States. MTSU was not alone in this challenging situation. International Affairs responded to the pandemic challenge by using new and innovative methods to recruit F-1 international students: joining online recruitment platforms, engaging new global agents from countries based on our newly developed international recruitment strategy, stepping up social media campaigns, and participating in virtual recruitment fairs throughout the world. International Affairs participated in 82 virtual fairs in more than 25 countries, created a robust agent network, joined seven online recruitment platforms, and subsequently touched almost 25,000 prospective new MTSU students throughout the world.

International Affairs participated in

virtual fairs

in more than

countries

in the 2020–21 academic year Annual Impact Report | 13

GLOBAL COLLABORATIONS

The establishment and maintenance of international agreements is an important part of MTSU’s internationalization efforts. These agreements range from foundational and friendship-building memoranda of understanding to complex articulation of collaborative projects that include “2+2” joint degree programs and Bachelor to Master pathway programs. Most agreements are with overseas colleges and universities. Many facilitate bilateral student exchanges.

84 27 11 4

agreements countries represented new or renewed agreements in the 2020–21 academic year agreements in development

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FEATURED PROGRAMS The Center for Chinese Music and Culture In the last year, the MTSU Center for Chinese Music and Culture (CCMC) continued its educational programs and community outreach by increasing its appearance on social media. The CCMC programmed two full performances of music and dance on YouTube and Facebook to celebrate the Moon Festival and the Year of the Ox. During MTSU National Women’s History Month in March, the CCMC co-hosted (with the Center for Asian Studies and the Center for Popular Music) “120,000 Stories: Nobuko Miyamoto and Her Long Song of Relocation, Race, Love and Revolution,” a lecture by renowned American artist Nobuko Miyamoto and Deborah Wong, a music professor at the University of California–Riverside. The CCMC launched a new educational video series introducing Chinese music and musical instruments, with each episode featuring one Chinese musical instrument. The center continued to serve as a hub for academic and cultural exchanges nationally and internationally. Director Mei Han presented lectures to a number of higher education institutions, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University at Buffalo; Alfred University in Alfred, New York; and Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. She delivered a keynote speech at the Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music and gave an address on a subject of cultural exchange at Bunditpatanasilpa Institute, Mahasarankan, Thailand. Her music performance was featured on BBC Global 24 and aired globally. MTSU Chinese Music Ensemble performed two concerts, one livestreamed to classrooms at Western Carolina University.

The Center for Asian Studies As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the U.S., the MTSU Center for Asian Studies’ partners at Hangzhou Normal University and the Chinese Embassy stood with us to help our community. Hangzhou Normal University donated over 500 masks that arrived at the center and were delivered to the president’s office for distribution. The Chinese Embassy worked with the Chinese Student and Scholar Association and the Center for Asian Studies to donate and distribute over 2,500 masks and 200 boxes of disinfecting wipes. In addition to these formal donations, previous visiting scholars also made several personal donations to their student communities and past colleagues.

Middle Tennessee Online Intercultural Exchange (MTOIE) Online intercultural exchange (OIE) is a generic term for an approach that “involves instructionally mediated processes such as collaborative tasks, collective inquiry, and opportunities for social interaction between internationally distributed partner classes” (Thorne, 2016, p. ix). Terms such as telecollaboration, virtual exchange, and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) can be used interchangeably with OIE. The goal of MTOIE is to facilitate a connection among MTSU students, faculty, and international peers. This is done by developing collaborative class activities that bring students together across time zones and language backgrounds. In this way, MTOIE supports all three pillars of the MTSU academic master plan (enhance academic quality, foster student-centered learning, and leverage resources through partnerships). Through the MTOIE mini grant program, seven faculty members received funds to establish online intercultural exchanges with institutions in locations such as Australia, Japan, Mexico, and Peru. Thorne, S. L. (2016). Foreword: The virtual internationalization turn in language study. In R. O’Dowd & T. Lewis (Eds.), Online intercultural exchange: Policy, pedagogy, practice (pp. ix-xi). New York: Routledge

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Medha Sarkar Professor and chair of Department of Computer Science College of Basic and Applied Sciences Sarkar was born and raised in Gujarat, India. After a few years in New Jersey as a child while her father was in graduate school, she returned to India to complete her secondary education and an undergraduate degree in Computer Science at Sardar Patel University. For her M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science, she studied at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, in Canada. She speaks Gujarati, Bengali, Hindi, and English. Before coming to MTSU, Sarkar worked at Vanderbilt University as a software developer in the Bioinformatics Department. It was during this work that she realized she missed the classroom and students. She applied to MTSU and has taught here for 19 years. “My background helps me gain a better understanding of my students,” Sarkar said. “It brings an appreciation for other cultures, other languages, diversity, and allows me to reach out to all my students.” Sarkar knows the value of international education. She says that “it is important for U.S. domestic students to see cultural, religious diversity in the classrooms.”

My background helps me gain a better understanding of my students. 16 | Annual Impact Report

“Many of our computer science students will be working in global companies alongside other international employees. It is crucial for them to learn how to work alongside people from other countries.”

STUDENT SUCCESS Prestigious International Scholarships and Fellowships Several MTSU students were recipients of outside scholarships, including the Gilman Scholarship, Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship, Freeman-ASIA Scholarship, and the JASSO Scholarship. International Affairs collaborates with the Honors College to help students through the application process. This work speaks to the strength of our students and the international-mindedness of the campus. The number of students selected in the 2020–21 academic year and awards they received are illustrated in the figure below.

Freeman-ASIA Scholarship – 4 students Gilman Scholarship – 6 students

Fulbright English Teaching Assistant – 2 students Fund for Education Abroad – 2 students

Critical Language Scholarship – 1 student

DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) RISE – 1 student Teaching Assistant Program in France – 1 student

JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program) – 1 student

External Scholarships Awarded

Annual Impact Report | 17

SOCIAL MEDIA Featured Posts

Instagram @mtsuinternational @mtsustudyabroad

Followers: International Affairs: 1,019 Education Abroad: 988

People Reached: International Affairs May 2021: 1,159 Education Abroad May 2021: 855 (annual/90-day data is not available for Instagram)

International Affairs: Ghalia Almuyidi’s Graduation Picture Reactions: 92 • Comments: 5 • Shares: 7 • Reach: 719 • Profile Visits: 26

Education Abroad: John Wilson’s study abroad photos from ‘79 and ‘81 Reactions: 120 Comments: 18 Shares: 8 Photo views:125 People reached: 1,349

18 | Annual Impact Report

Twitter @mtsuintered @MTSUstudyabroad