Center for Global Engagement Named at Lock Haven University
LOCK HAVEN — During the spring semester, the former Lock Haven University Institute for International Studies changed its name to the Center for Global Engagement, to reflect the university’s broad partnerships in multiple regions across the world.
In a message to faculty and staff about the change, Dr. Stephen Neun, acting provost wrote, “In making this change, LHU is modernizing the center in keeping with trends in global education management and, further, links the center’s mission to the university’s general education requirement: Global Awareness and Citizenship.”
The center is located in Ulmer Hall and offers study abroad opportunities for LHU students in more than 30 universities in 25 countries around the world. LHU has partnered with universities in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
Managing exchange programs and serving international students is only part of what the center does, according to Rosana Campbell, director for the Center for Global Engagement. The staff also assist in risk management, keep the university in compliance with federal regulations, and provide assistance to faculty leaders, among several other responsibilities.
“Renaming the Institute for International Studies the Center for Global Engagement more accurately reflects the scope of the work the center does,” Campbell said. “In addition, it provides greater alignment with the university’s strategic plan and revised gen. ed. requirements.”
The partnerships between LHU and the universities in other countries follow the model of the bed-for-bed exchange, which means the students pay LHU for tuition and fees and then pay room and board to the partner university, according to Shawn O’Dell, secretary for the Center for Global Engagement and the global honors program.
Students also receiving financial aid will continue to qualify for state and federal assistance, since they are still considered LHU students and will be earning LHU credits for courses taken abroad.
Alice Maroney, business administration major at LHU, said her study abroad experience in Scotland during the spring semester was one of the best things she has done in her life thus far.
“It’s really hard to put into words and summarize my experience because it really is something you just need to live and be a part of to understand,” Maroney said. “My host university set up a variety of events in the first few weeks where I met and became friends with a number of other international students from around the world. I was lucky and there was a really great group of international students and we all became close friends really quickly, and are planning trips to visit each other in our home countries in upcoming months.
Study abroad is open to students in all majors and they can choose to study for one semester or an entire academic year in the country of their choice. It also is required that they carry an overall minimum grade point average of 2.5 and be in good academic and resident life status.
“The change in name signals the pervasiveness of global issues and global learning across the curriculum and co-curriculum at Lock Haven University,” said Dr. Donna Wilson, LHU interim president. “Center for Global Engagement builds on The Haven’s rich history as a hub for international comings and goings, and expands the experience to include a diverse array of global learning and engagement opportunities, including the revised general education curriculum, global issues studied in almost every major, and technology-mediated global engagement for large classes.”
An open house was held on May 2 in the center’s office, where the new logo was unveiled.
