International Task Force

Taskforce Charge: The charge of the Park University Internationalization Taskforce (ITF) is to:

• facilitate a dialogue about internationalization,
• collect data,
• publish a report, and
• produce an action plan that will both complement and supplement the strategic plan.

The ITF is facilitating a conversation about internationalization as a way of continuing the work done on the strategic plan. It is hoped that by creating an inclusive process, that internationalization becomes a concept that will be embraced by all Park's stakeholders.

Internationalization Task Force Update - January, 2007

The Internationalization Task Force, ITF, made a number of recommendations to the administration during the Fall 2006 semester. The first recommendation by the ITF is a new policy for "Internationalizing" new faculty hires at Park University:

• Each advertised faculty job description will include Park University's mission statement.
• In each faculty job interview, the interviewee will be asked the question: "How will your international experiences and expertise contribute to Park's international mission?"
• Faculty openings will be advertised and marketed in such a way as to attract those with international experiences and those from groups who are traditionally under-represented on college campuses.
• One session of the new faculty orientation committee meetings will be devoted to presentations about Park University's international focus, activities, and opportunities for faculty.

Another recommendation is the Freshman Intercultural Experience pilot project proposal. This pilot project, to be part of one section of SS100 (20 students maximum), features an Intercultural Experience. The Freshman Intercultural Experience would give SS100 students two intercultural/ international options:

• Intercultural experience abroad: Similar to Arcadia University's London Preview, this week-long trip would be financed primarily by the university, and would be held during fall or spring break. The experience would be imbedded into the SS100 curriculum, and learning activities during the trip would reflect those curricular priorities.
  
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• Intercultural experience at home: Students would engage in intercultural experiences in Kansas City (with immigrant communities, for example) or elsewhere in the US (Native American reservations, for example), again as part of the SS100 course. The university would pay for travel expenses. The ITF also recommended that half of Park University classes include at least one international or multicultural learning outcome by 2008, and all classes include at least one of these elements by 2010.

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