KSU selected for nationwide curriculum project on global education
Association of American Colleges and Universities selects KSU for “General Education for a…
Georgia (Nov 2, 2010) —
KENNESAW, Ga. (Nov. 2, 2010) –– Kennesaw State University was among 32 colleges and universities selected by the Association
of American Colleges and Universities to participate in a project that prepares students
to become socially responsible in an increasingly interdependent world. KSU, the only
university in Georgia participating in the project, was chosen from a pool of more
than 140 institutions.
KSU and the other 31 institutions will revise their general education curricula to
offer students the skills and knowledge essential for socially responsible and engaged
citizenship. The institutions selected for this nationwide curriculum and faculty
development project, titled “General Education for a Global Century,” include Carnegie
Mellon University, Haverford College, Michigan State University and Virginia Tech,
among other public and private institutions.
“Kennesaw State is dedicated to preparing students to be engaged, global citizens,”
said KSU interim Provost W. Ken Harmon. “Being part of this prestigious and select
group of institutions is testimony to our forward-thinking faculty. Also, I am very
excited that this process will help us act with even greater intention.”
For years KSU has strategically developed programs aimed at educating globally aware
and engaged individuals. The number of students participating in study-abroad programs
has increased more than 200 percent over the past five years. Two critical components
of KSU’s global education initiative — the “Year of” annual country study and the
global certification program, launched in 2009 — have been recognized among top college
initiatives promoting global citizen diplomacy.
“General Education for a Global Century” — funded by a $400,000 grant from the Henry
Luce Foundation — builds upon efforts at participating institutions to recast general
education courses and programs and create curricula that address complex, global issues
across academic disciplines. It is a project of an AAC&U initiative called Shared
Futures that places questions of diversity, identity, citizenship and responsible
action at the heart of global learning. Shared Futures’ goal is to promote knowledge
about global issues and educate students who will advance equity and justice.
Teams at participating institutions will spend the fall and winter refining general
education strategies and strengthening connections between existing general education
goals and global learning outcomes. They will also inventory opportunities for global
learning that already exist on their campuses and integrate them with their larger
general education efforts. Working through a social networking website, participating
institutions will help identify common areas of interest. Those critical issues will
be addressed at a summer institute in 2011.
For more information on “General Education for a Global Century,” go to
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Kennesaw State University is the third largest university in Georgia, offering more
than 70 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including doctorates in education, business
and nursing and a new Ph.D. in international conflict management. A member of the
35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a comprehensive, residential
institution with a growing student population of more than 23,000 from 142 countries.
About the Association of American Colleges and Universities
AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and
public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending
the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization
or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises 1,200 member institutions
— including accredited public and private colleges and universities of every type
and size.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
