Faculty and students in favor of a broader curriculum of international studies gathered on the steps of Old Cabell Hall Friday to voice their concerns about the scope of courses offered at the University.
The demonstrators called for the University administration to offer more courses in international studies, languages and study abroad programs.
At the start of the Internationalization Direct Action event, organizer Ryan McElveen, a fourth-year College student, announced the formation of a faculty-student commission to work with the University administration on the subject of internationalization. The purpose of the commission, to be formed in cooperation with the Faculty Senate, will be to put the goals of the University's previously published October report on internationalization into action, McElveen said.
In an interview following the demonstration, Arthur Garson, Jr., University executive vice president and provost, said the administration is very focused on internationalizing the University's curriculum. The Commission on the Future of the University, launched by University President John T. Casteen, III, according to Garson, has already identified internationalization as one of the three main priorities of the University.
Student speakers at the demonstration focused specifically on demand for programs in global development, Latino studies, Asian-Pacific American studies and African studies.
"The world is building bridges, not barriers; let us reflect that in our institution," second-year College student Stephanie DeWolfe said.
The professors who spoke at the Direct Action event focused on the importance of study abroad programs in broadening the horizons of students at the University.
According to History Prof. Eric Midelfort, study abroad programs are "crucial to the fundamental goal of liberal education."
As part of the internationalization process, Midelfort said he would like to see the University make study abroad programs an option for more students by making them more affordable and simplifying the process of academic credit transfer.
Wyatt Fore, co-chair of the Minority Rights Coalition, which co-sponsored the event, concluded by calling on students to continue taking an active role in bringing about internationalization at the University.
According to Fore, curriculum reform is necessary to "bring our University into the 21st century."
As a member of the Global Development Organization, third-year College student Patrick Casey said he felt the campaign to internationalize the University's curriculum "fits in well with the goals we have at the University, as an institution originally founded to educate public servants."
Garson said the process of curriculum internationalization will be aided by the appointment of a vice provost for international affairs. Garson said the University is currently active in its search for qualified candidates for this position, adding that the internationalization of the University's curriculum "will be off and running" once the vice provost is appointed.
"What I can do is assure that ... we are very excited about moving into the international arena," Garson said, adding that he believes his office and any concerned students are really "after the same goal"
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