“We have spent too little time discussing what it means for a nation to draw on many identity communities, or for an individual to live a life that constantly crosses boundaries and weaves together webs of significance from multiple circles – larger and smaller – that may both intersect and contradict.” ~AAC&U’s The Drama of Diversity and Democracy: Higher Education and American Commitments, second edition (2011)

Conversations on the Bridge: The Bridging Cultures Project at Middlesex Community College Dona Cady, Dean of Global Education Carina E. Self, Assist. Dean of Social Sciences & Service Learning Matthew Olson, Dean of Humanities & Social Sciences

About Middlesex Community College Two campuses – Bedford and Lowell, MA Non-residential 9664 students (headcount) 5618 full-time equivalent (FTE) 61% part-time 39% full-time

Overview Middlesex Experience with Global Learning – Long history of emphasis on global education – Twenty-three year relationship with the Asian Studies Development Program at the East West Center – Twenty‐year old service‐learning program

Strategic Direction Strategic Plan lists six “Strategic Directions” including… “We will transform learning by integrating - academic, workplace and global experiences to meet personal, professional and community needs.” ds/stratdir.pdf ds/stratdir.pdf

Global Education DONA?

Service Learning Program In academic year, 950 students participated in the service-learning program and performed a total of 19,000 service hours. Fall faculty in 36 different courses (64 sections) Spring faculty in 34 different courses (58 sections)

Assessing Global Learning Internal: Institutional Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs) – Social Responsibility and Multicultural & Global Awareness External: NEASC, Massachusetts Board of Higher Education’s VISION Project

Integrating Efforts Previously, a series of separate efforts (in silos) The Middlesex Bridging Cultures Project (BCP) is a unified effort to develop: cross‐disciplinary knowledge cultural literacy active awareness of individual and collective responsibility synergy and economy across efforts

The Massachusetts Vision Project In 2010, the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education unveiled a strategic plan called the Vision Project with 6 key outcomes In 2012, an additional key outcome was added

AAC&U Global Learning VALUE Rubric What is the Global Learning VALUE Rubric Used to evaluate activities or experiences for students (SLOs) Examples form Middlesex Community College Examples from your schools?

AAC&U Global Learning Inventory Assessing a college, campus, or other major area (school or division) Two dimensions:  Breadth: the degree to which efforts are connected (Isolated/Integrated)  Depth: the degree to which efforts are embedded throughout the institution (Superficial/Embedded)

Some Questions about Pervasiveness How well-connected are programs/activities/courses? What structures help with integration? How do efforts build on existing work? How are activities “scaffolded” for development over time? How do we know we are making a difference (student learning AND campus culture)?

Modeling and Practice Examples from Middlesex Community College Examples from your school (think aloud)

Benefits of One Identifiable Program Galvanize faculty, create identity for this work Faculty see work as connected to something larger Work is linked to goals of MCC strategic plan – Gen Ed reform, Closing Achievement Gap Better uses of resources – Speaker series – Bridging Cultures (IDS) Weekend

Conversations on the Bridge: The Bridging Cultures Project at Middlesex Community College Dona Cady, Dean of Global Education Carina E. Self, Assist. Dean of Social Sciences & Service Learning Matthew Olson, Dean of Humanities & Social Sciences