Under a curriculum framework draft developed by FIU faculty and approved by the Faculty Senate, students will take at least one global learning foundational course in the core and at least one upper-division course focused on global dynamics in their major as part of the university’s Global Learning Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).
By Hilary Landorf, director of the Office of Global Learning Initiatives and
Stephanie Doscher, associate director of the Office of Global Learning Initiatives
On Tuesday, February 17, the Faculty Senate voted to support the curriculum framework draft for FIU’s Global Learning Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). The framework outlines a global learning course sequence for all FIU undergraduates: students will take at least one global learning foundational course in the core and at least one upper division course focused on global dynamics in their major.
The reins of QEP leadership properly rest in the hands of the faculty. Faculty members have led the way in the development of the curriculum framework and will continue to do so at every stage of the evolution of the QEP. QEP landmarks thus far include the following:
- Fall 2007: A faculty proposal for internationalizing FIU’s curriculum is chosen as the theme for the QEP;
- Spring 2008: 18 faculty members, seven of whom serve on the Faculty Senate, join with eight administrators and students to form the QEP Development Team, charged with researching and composing the initial blueprint for the QEP;
- Summer 2008: The first Internationalization Faculty Learning Community forms to explore interdisciplinary approaches for implementing the QEP and to create replicable models of teachingglobal knowledge, skills and attitudes;
- Fall 2008: An associate professor from the College of Education, Hilary Landorf, is chosen as director of the Office of Global Learning Initiatives, charged with the responsibility of coordinating faculty-led QEP initiatives;
- Spring 2009: Faculty pilot four new global learning-infused courses in the core; faculty attend the American Council on Education (ACE) conference on Internationalizing Higher Education Curriculum.
For more information on the Global Learning QEP, or to find out how you can become more involved, contact Andrew Gomez, program assistant, Office of Global Learning Initiatives, GL 470, by phone (305-348-4145) or e-mail (agomez@fiu.edu).
Keep up the good work! You make me and our colleagues proud!
Congratulations!
Ray
It's all well and good that you want to do that, but has anybody looked at the ramifications of this on programs that are already at 128-132 credits such as the engineering programs? I can see the programs using EGN1033 Humans Society and Technology as the lower division course we can ask our students to take, but there is no room in the programs for an upper division course. We can't give away any electives because of accreditation issues. Other programs may have electives to give in this endeavor, but I can tell you that the engineering programs don't have the extra space and would be hard put to meet this requirement. To also increase the no. of credits for a program is a non-starter since this would make our programs non competitive with others in the state and in the region. Something other than a second course must be suggested, at least for the engineering programs.
We are over 30 thousands students. Are our voices going to be heard???
With budget cuts and lay off being an eminent threat to faculty and staff, why is FIU investing in such a comprehensive program?
I believe QEP is tied to our university SACS accreditation. It is a requirement. The initiative is also helping FIU define itself and live up to its "international" name. This is critical in differentiating our university in the marketplace.
SACS requirements are NOT as extensive. Difficult times calls for wise and precise decisions. Is now the right moment for the
implementation of such a convoluted program? Shouldn’t the money be invested wiser ?
I am not involved directly and I am not sure of the budget, however differentiating our university from the rest is among the most important things we can do and it becomes even more important in difficult times.
RIght Jose. FIU should differentiate itself by keeping the best professors and good Programs. If we are not even sure about the summer classes how can we differentiate ourselves? How can we work or teach well when we do not know if our job will be there when we wake up tomorrow? I m for the International Program, just questioning its scope and the investment FIU is making in launching it. Will it bring jobs? Or as a consequence of such a project other programs will be cut? I as much as you would not like loosing your job.