THE SPANISH HOUSE
It is not enough to just learn Spanish. To become fluent in Spanish one must not only learn the language but also understand the Spanish culture. Valpo’s Spanish House is a language immersion initiative to provide a space where residents pledge to speak in Spanish at all times. Residents often share meals together, organize Spanishfocused events, and help student organizations such as LatinX in Valparaiso for Excellence (L.I.V.E.) with their activities and programming in an effort to enhance the academics of learning Spanish by speaking Spanish and fostering an understanding of Hispanic/Latinx cultures on campus. All students who have taken or attained SPAN 204-level (Intermediate Spanish II) proficiency are welcome to apply to become residents.
STUDY ABROAD
Not only is international experience highly valued across countless industries, but Valpo is committed to empowering students to lead, learn, serve, and thrive in a global society, beginning with their college experience. Students have the opportunity to go beyond the classroom to countries like Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, or Spain, and explore the people and the places that make Latino culture all that it is.
SPANISH FOR HEALTHCARE
One of the many groups on campus proving the power of cultural and professional integration is the Spanish for Healthcare student-led interest group designed for undergraduate students studying healthcare and open to all Spanish fluency levels. The group provides members the opportunity to:
• Study medical terminology in Spanish
• Practice conversation models for patient interactions
• Make connections with peers who are interested in improving their Spanish
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Valpo believes that joining forces with our community and other organizations furthers Spanish education while helping our Latino students succeed and thrive. We are proud to partner with:
WHERE PURPOSE MEETS PROGRESS
With the Hispanic population in the United States exceeding 65.2 million (a number that continues to grow) and higher education experiencing a growing number of firstgeneration students from different backgrounds, our Latino community is at the forefront of this emerging demographic shift. In response and with anticipation, Valpo seeks to emerge as an equally bright force lighting the way for these promising individuals to their bright futures.
Leading this effort is Valpo Advancing Latino Education (iVALE!), a task force of faculty, staff, students, and alumni, focused on advancing Latino education and overseeing the University’s strategic planning initiative to become a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).
A Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) as defined by the U.S. Department of Education is an institution of higher education with Hispanic students representing 25% of their undergraduate full-time enrollment demographic.
WHY?
On campus and in our community, we live grounded in our faith and in our commitment to welcoming and loving all people as Christ called us to love our neighbor. From this place of deeprooted values, a thriving campus community has blossomed where all students are welcomed, valued, and prepared to succeed, both now and in the future!
HOW?
iVALE! is dedicated to Latino education and culture on campus through:
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
• Certificate in Business Spanish
• Minor in Latin American/Latinx Studies
• Spanish Major or Minor: Courses in language, literature, culture, Spanish for specific purposes, Spanish for heritage speakers
EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS
• Department of World Languages and Cultures Programs
• Día de la Poesía en Español Poetry Readings
• HispaValpo – bilingual blog
• Language and Intercultural Learning Center (LINC)
• LatinX in Valparaiso for Excellence (L.I.V.E.)
• LEER Book Exchange
• Letras Spanish – language literary magazine
• National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations
• Sigma Delta Pi National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society
• Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority
Delta Zeta chapter
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
• Spanish Club
• Spanish House
• Spanish for Healthcare
CAMPUS COLLABORATION
At Valpo, we are blessed to have faculty and staff who personally and passionately invest in our students. One such example is our team of nine engineering faculty who have taken the initiative to gather monthly and improve their Spanish proficiency. Through conversation and collaboration, College of Engineering Dean Doug Tougaw ’05 MBA, Ph.D., P.E., and colleagues endeavor to bridge the language gap so that they can more effectively educate and enhance the experience of Spanishspeaking students and students desiring to learn the Spanish language.
“Es importante hablar con nuestros estudiantes en su primer idioma porque les ayuda a aprender y nosotros podemos apreciar mejor la cultura Latina!”
DOUG TOUGAW ’05
MBA, Ph.D., P.E. Dean, College of Engineering
LANGUAGE AND INTERCULTURAL LEARNING CENTER
Additional resources like the Language and Intercultural Learning Center (LINC) within the World Languages and Cultures department provide a space for Valpo students, faculty, and staff to come together, connect, and converse by empowering students to initiate and lead groups dedicated to the cultures and languages that interest them, as well as provide tutoring services and cultural enrichment opportunities for all.
