Loyola University Maryland has been named one of five recipients of the 2010 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization, an honor presented by NAFSA: The Association of International Educators.
Honorees were selected based on their overall excellence in internationalization efforts as demonstrated in their practices, structures, philosophies, and policies. Loyola’s nomination materials, submitted by the office of international programs, referenced the University’s numbers of international students, study abroad participants, and faculty who participate in international travel; international service-immersion opportunities; foreign language requirements; globally oriented student groups and activities; faculty incentives for including global components in coursework; and numbers of alumni living abroad. Loyola also submitted an essay describing the emphasis it places on international approaches to teaching, learning, and service.
“International experience and global perspectives in coursework are fundamental components of our pursuit of our mission—to inspire students to learn, lead, and serve in a diverse and changing world,” said Loyola’s President, Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J. “This commitment to internationalization unites all members of the Loyola community and is a thread that connects every aspect of our educational experiences.”
André Colombat, Ph.D., dean of international programs, leads a department that has expanded over the past 23 years from a single person to a robust team of 10 that helps send more than 60 percent of the University’s undergraduate population abroad during their Loyola careers. “We are committed to preparing Loyola students to become engaged global citizens,” he said. “Loyola strives to offer its students overseas experiences that provide them with many opportunities to interact with other cultures, to better understand the world around them, and to discover how they can make positive contributions to its future.”
The award, first presented in 2004, honors the career of the late U.S. Senator Paul Simon of Illinois, known for serving his nation and state as a strong voice for international education, using his positions on Senate committees to advocate for expanded exchange. His leadership in this area was especially evident in his robust support, along with Senator David Boren, for the creation of the National Security Education Program, which addresses critical national security deficiencies in language and cultural expertise.
The awards will be presented during the NAFSA National Conference in June in Kansas City, Missouri. Loyola and this year’s other honorees will also be profiled in the fall 2010 NAFSA report Internationalizing the Campus 2010: Profiles of Success at Colleges and Universities.
This year’s other Simon Award recipients are Carnegie Mellon University, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Northeastern University, and the University of San Francisco.
Additional information about the award is available at www.nafsa.org/simonaward.
For more information or questions regarding this story, contact Media Relations Manager Nick Alexopulos at nalexopulos@loyola.edu or 410-617-5025.