Center for Intercultural Learning and Community Engagement announced
By Dr. Angeline Barretta-Herman
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
The University of St. Thomas is seeking applications for director of the new Center for Intercultural Learning and Community Engagement.
In 2006, St. Thomas submitted an application to The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching for designation as a "community engaged institution." The application highlighted the extent and diversity of St. Thomas' outreach and community-based activities.
St. Thomas was designated as a university with "substantial commitments in curricular engagement and outreach and partnerships." The designation served to further stimulate a number of ongoing discussions on how best to maximize community-based activities to meet the needs of the university and the community.
Reports from the Task Force on Global Education and Strategic Undergraduate Enrollment Initiatives proposed a coordinated effort to expand services to the community. The establishment of the Center for Intercultural Learning and Community Engagement (CILCE, pronounced "sill see") is the result.
The center will focus on supporting, developing and implementing communitywide strategies to enhance and extend intercultural learning and community engagement activities on and off campus.
The creation of the center and the directorship position are evidence of UST's commitment to preparing its students, faculty and staff for the increasingly global and diverse communities in which we live. External funding was identified while further development of the position was underway by an ad hoc committee of faculty and staff from the Offices of Mission, Student Affairs and Academic Affairs.
Although this position reports to the associate vice president for academic affairs, an advisory group of representatives from the three divisions of the university will advise on strategic planning and goal setting. The director's major responsibility will be overall planning, organizing and directing of the operation of CILCE to facilitate and coordinate community outreach and intercultural learning activities.
The success of these efforts will depend on the development of effective outreach and communication strategies that will increase access to the university, deepen the university's visibility among underrepresented groups, and forge and maintain relationships with community groups and agencies.
The position announcement is posted on the university's Employment Opportunities Web site.
