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UISFL Grant

Objective #3

Increase the Cross-Cultural Competence of Faculty

IWU Faculty attended a series of workshops on how to introduce global perspectives and intercultural competence in their courses, as well as had an opportunity to apply for small grants and integrate this knowledge into pre-professional courses. These workshops focused on building sustainable short-term, faculty-led study abroad experiences and increased the cross-cultural competence of faculty.

Workshop Series: "Building & Leading Faculty-Led, Short-Term, Study Abroad Courses"

Presenters: Carmela Ferrad谩ns (Professor of Spanish, IWU); Given Harper (Chair & Professor of Biology, IWU); William Munro (Professor of Political Science, IWU); Rachael Ulrich [Assistant Director, College Relations, IES (Study Abroad Provider]; Amy Coles (Dean of Curriculuar & Faculty Development, IWU); & Sarah Van Alebeek (Director of the International Office, IWU)

When: 2023-2026

Where: Vinyard Room, Memorial Center, IWU

Description: Presenters hosted a series of workshops over the years to help Faculty to build and lead their travel courses effectively. Faculty interested in developing new or revised short-term study abroad experiences attended this workshop to: (1) get acquainted with the parameters of the UISFL grant; (2) explore different models of short-term study abroad experiences supported by the UISFL grant; (3) pair up with other faculty interested in developing study abroad opportunities for our students; (4) discuss global engagement as an experiential learning practice; (5) learn tips on how to write effective student learning goals and outcomes for your travel courses and modules; & (6) discuss opportunities and questions for related curriculum development grants.

Individual Workshops:

 

"Rationale & Strategies for Incorporating Intercultural Competence into Language Courses"

Portrait of Gabriel (Gabi) Guill茅n, PhD

Presenter: , PhD, Associate Professor of Language Studies at Middlebury Institute of International Studies

When: November 16, 2023

Where: Hansen Student Center, IWU

Workshop Description: The field of language teaching is at a pivotal moment, dealing with declining enrollments and misconceptions about how artificial intellegence could reshape the profession. In response, this talk advocated for the genuine integration of Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) into the language classroom. Drawing from current research, the presentation offered examples of courses and activities to reignite student engagement.

"Organization for Community Health Outreach () in Honduras"

 

 

Presenter: Dr. S谩enz de Tejada 

When: September 23, 2024 

Where: SFH 102, IWU 

Description:  Dr. S谩enz de Tejada gave a presentation on the collaborative healthcare outreach efforts in Honduras. S谩enz de Tejada has been traveling to Honduras for over 20 years with the Organization for Community Health Outreach (OCHO). Visitors heard about S谩enz de Tejada鈥檚 successes and challenges in the field, and how OCHO is working to build collaborative, culturally inclusive and sustainable healthcare partnerships in rural communities of Honduras. 

 

Lesser-Taught Language and Culture Series: The Linguistic Landscape of Aotearoa | New Zealand and M膩ori Language

Portrait of Dr. Leona Harris

Presenter: Dr. Leona Harris

When: February 19, 2025

Where: ART 215, IWU

Description: Students and Faculty joined Dr. Leona Harris for an interactive session exploring the linguistic landscape of Aotearoa (New Zealand), focusing on te reo M膩ori (M膩ori language) and its cultural and historical significance. As a 6th-generation P膩keh膩 (European New Zealander), Leona acknowledges M膩ori as tangata whenua (people of the land) and te reo M膩ori as the indigenous language.

This session highlighted M膩ori-led efforts to revitalise and normalise te reo M膩ori, encouraging its everyday use and appreciation. It explored Aotearoa鈥檚 history, including Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi), its ongoing significance, and its impact on M膩ori language and culture.
Participants engaged with the M膩ori worldview through the creation story, practice te reo M膩ori pronunciation, and developed their own pepeha (personal introduction). They also were invited to reflect on their own linguistic landscapes, consider how connecting with their histories and environment can inform the present, and explore ways language and culture can guide us toward a more inclusive, diverse, and shared future.

Mental Fitness for Higher Ed: A Practical Introduction to Positive Intelligence

Portrait of Kimberly Kenyon

Presenter: Kim Kenyon

When: August 14, 2025

Where: IWU Quad & SFH 110

Description: Faculty and staff met for an interactive workshop led by Kim Kenyon. Kim is an academic coach, consultant, and instructional designer with over 20 years of experience in higher education. She partners with individuals and institutions to support inclusive, research-informed teaching, professional growth, and learning design. As a Positive Intelligence 鈩� coach, Kim integrates mindset and resilience strategies to help educators and leaders overcome challenges and thrive. With a deep commitment to equity and transformation, she brought creativity, clarity, and a collaborative spirit to her engagement, helping others succeed in complex educational environments. Her workshop showcased the Positive Intelligence (PQ) framework by Shirzad Chamine, designed to help college educators build 鈥渕ental fitness鈥� for the demands of academic life. In this session, participants: (1) Understood how negative thought patterns impact well-being and performance; (2) Learned to shift into the 鈥淪age鈥� mindset to enhance teaching, decision-making, and relationships; & (3) Practiced simple, research-based techniques to boost mental fitness immediately.