Global Engagement Scholars Program
Think Globally! The Global Engagement Scholars Program is an academic and experiential education program that offers students the opportunity to expand their horizons!
PROGRAM OVERVIEW 1. Open to any academic major 2. Sponsored by the Office of International Programs and the Department of Global Studies 3. Develops student global competency skills for careers of the 21st century 4. Offers a mix of academic, co-curricular, and international experience components 5. Flexible to accommodate students’ participation in the program at different points of their academic career and complete the program within a two-year period 6. Provides opportunity to demonstrate synthesis of global learning through a final portfolio project
MISSION: The UNC Charlotte Global Engagement Scholars Program (GESP) offers global and intercultural academic and co-curricular opportunities to a wide and diverse group of students in any major. The GESP is intentionally designed to include students pursuing degrees in academic programs with lock-step curriculum. The Program allows participants the opportunity to demonstrate their global knowledge and learning. WHY? Employers are looking for graduates who have special skills that demonstrate that they are prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. Such skills include the ability to work in multicultural teams and in diverse contexts. The Global Engagement Scholars Program supports students’ structured connections in the UNC Charlotte and Charlotte international community via participation in globally focused curricular, co-curricular, and international engagement experiences to strengthen cultural awareness and understanding.
PROGRAM COMPONENTS UNC Charlotte’s Global Engagement Scholars Program (GESP) includes three components that culminate in a final project:
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ACADEMIC COURSES: The GESP requires a four-credit-unit total requirement consisting of at least one 3-credit globally focused course chosen from a list of available subjects and a 1-credit unit GESP Synthesis Course offered through the Department of Global Studies. The Synthesis Course must be taken the last spring semester of the program and is meant to assist participants in synthesizing their learning acquired through participation in the GESP.
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CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS: UNC Charlotte and the city of Charlotte offer numerous opportunities to learn about the world. Each year selected programs/events/activities/etc. are identified and posted on the GESP NinerEngage website for students to select options to meet their 45 points of GESP co-curricular electives.
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INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT EXPERIENCES: While the GESP encourages all students to go abroad for short-term or extended overseas experiences, options are also provided for US-based global immersion. Options are identified and posted on the GESP website for semester and year-long international engagement experiences that fulfill the GESP requirement.
FINAL PROJECT: Participants will develop a portfolio in order to synthesize their learning from the various components of the Global Engagement Scholars Program. The portfolio may be traditional style or other format upon approval by the GESP Coordinator. Following successful completion of the GESP portfolio, students are awarded a certificate of completion.
THREE PILLARS OF GESP
ACADEMIC * • 1 credit GESP synthesis course • 3 credit globally focused course
CO-CURRICULAR • 45 points of approved on and off-campus globally focused events, programs, and activities
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INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT • US-based and abroad internationally focused engagement experiences
EX AMPLES • Global Studies GESP Synthesis Course • European History • Modern Latin America • UCOL International Enrichment Seminar • International Politics
• International Speaker Series
• Study Abroad
• Great Decisions Lecture Series
• Overseas Internship
• International Film Festival
• US-based internationally focused internship (e.g., Charlotte International House, ourBRIDGE for KIDS, etc.)
• Friendship & Cultural Exchange Program • Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars
• Globally-focused residential program (e.g., Global Gateways)
* Note: Faculty from all colleges and academic disciplines may submit an application with course details including syllabus for review and inclusion in the GESP recommended course list. Any course included in the GESP must have at least 25% of the content/reading/discussion/assignments related to international/global themes or issues.
ELIGIBILITY & ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY • UNC Charlotte students from all academic disciplines and undergraduate academic level/classification • Students in good academic standing with a minimum 2.0 GPA ENROLLMENT • GESP enrollment is available through the on-line application on the GESP website. • Accepted students must attend a mandatory GESP orientation session and complete a program participation agreement. • Students must finish the program within four consecutive semesters after registration. • Co-Curricular activities completed before enrollment as a student at UNC Charlotte will not be accepted toward the GESP.
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY The Office of International Programs and Department of Global Studies welcome opportunities to engage directly with academic faculty and departments to strengthen the Global Engagement Scholars Program. As referenced within the three programmatic pillars of the GESP, faculty are encouraged to submit recommendations of courses appropriate for inclusion in the program. Furthermore, academic departments and/ or colleges interested in identifying creative linkages between existing academic requirements and the GESP are encouraged to explore opportunities for connection. Please contact the GESP Coordinator at globaleducation@uncc.edu to discuss collaboration.
COORDINATOR Dr. Joe Hoff, Director Office of Global Education and Engagement 704. 687.7755 globaleducation@uncc.edu global.uncc.edu/GESP
EXECUTIVE ADVISORY BOARD Dr. Ann Gonzalez, Chair Department of Languages and Culture Studies Karen Shaffer, Assistant Vice Chancellor & Director of Student Activities Dr. John Smail, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education & Dean of University College Dr. Dale Smith, Chair Department of Global Studies
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