For Immediate Release

February 28 , 2008

Wesleyan receives national recognition for international efforts

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska’s land-locked location and rural geography may not conjure images of global engagement.

But Nebraska Wesleyan University’s transformation from a parochial institution to an international school has earned it one of the nation’s top awards for campus internationalization.

Nebraska Wesleyan University has been awarded the 2008 Sen. Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization by NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Nebraska Wesleyan is one of five universities in the nation and the only Nebraska school to receive the award.

The award recognizes outstanding and innovative efforts in campus internationalization. Sen. Simon was a strong supporter of international education, advocating for exchanges through his position on various senate committees.

NAFSA cited Nebraska Wesleyan’s curriculum transformation entitled, “Preparing for Global Citizenship,” its increase in students studying abroad from 14 in the 1990s to 52 this year, a generous international sabbatical leave policy for faculty, an increase in international prestigious scholarship winners, and the many opportunities for students to volunteer for international service projects or to study at 110 universities in 34 countries for the same price as attending their home university.

Inger Bull, Director of International Education, said despite Wesleyan’s aggressive development of global opportunities, she hopes to see further growth in programs and experiences. This spring, for example, marks the first direct exchange program between Nebraska Wesleyan and the University of Tartu, located in Estonia. The exchange was made possible through the help of an alum who was honored by Estonia’s president. Nebraska Wesleyan is also finalizing plans to bring Korean students to campus this summer to study international business.

Other schools receiving the 2008 Award for Campus Internationalization include Goucher College, Pittsburg State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Valparaiso University. All five schools will be honored in May during a special ceremony in Washington D.C.

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