Dear SCU Faculty and Staff,

I hope that your fall term is off to a good start.  2022-23 marks ten years of Global Engagement at SCU and I am excited for our plans this year to highlight SCU’s globally diverse community.  I wanted to provide updates on a four key areas and initiatives here.  There is a lot going on so watch for forthcoming updates and opportunities for involvement.

Global Partnerships

After a couple of challenging years for global partnerships I am delighted that we are once again activating and growing international partnerships.  What is a “global partnership”?  A “Partnership” is the umbrella framework that we use to refer to a collection of different activities we maintain in collaboration with universities abroad.  Examples of activities include:  undergraduate or graduate student reciprocal exchange; faculty exchange; individual classes taught jointly with a faculty member abroad; thematic seminars or conferences; individual lectures that we deliver virtually or in person at universities overseas, or that we bring into our community.  

Activities can involve travel, but as global higher education focuses on sustainability and the impact our work has on climate change, we are establishing activities that cultivate knowledge, skills and attitudes that promote global diversity and learning without travel.  

• Do you have an idea for connecting globally diverse perspectives with your class?  Want to learn about your field or discipline from an international perspective?  Just want to explore what types of activities might be possible?  Feel free to contact me directly at spopko@scu.edu.
• You can more about SCU’s global partnerships, including the process for new activities and agreements here 

International Travel

While universities across the globe are focused on developing partnership activities that do not include travel, travel is still an important part of university programs and initiatives and my office supports the international travel approval process for university-sponsored travel for students, faculty and staff.  The University International Travel Policy is up to date.

• Have a question about how to interpret data about travel safety or are you interested in planning a program abroad and want to learn more about resources supporting Global Health, Safety and Risk?   Learn more here.  
• Traveling abroad for research or work and need to register your travel so you are covered by SCU insurance?  Complete the 1-minute Travel Registry.
• Want to consult about an idea or have a question about “best practices”? Contact me directly at spopko@scu.edu.

International Scholars and Researchers

Our international scholars and researchers have returned to campus.  Last night we welcomed our new scholars and their hosts at a reception and it was so wonderful to meet our new community members in person.  After the last two years that left us bereft of international scholars I am happy to share that we have 16 international scholars joining us so far for 2022-23.  They come from 7 countries: Australia; China; Hungary; india; Korea; Nepal and Nigeria.   Our international scholars are being hosted by 11 departments across campus in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Business, Engineering, Law and JST.   

Thank you for our SCU faculty hosting international scholars this year including:  Simone Billings; Sunghun Ching; Greg Corning; Lindsay Halladay; Barry Posner; Yi Fang; Tokunbo Ogunfunmi; George Greiner; Jean-Francois Racine; Julie Rubio; Phil Jimenez; Don Polden and Chris Weber.

SCU’s Annual International Education Week

This year, IEW is November 14-18, 2022. You may have seen the email invitations from Nat Spradlin in the Global Engagement division who is leading SCU’s International Education Week this year, and I want to encourage you to get involved. Involvement can be simple - upload your favorite global song to our IEW playlist or share your favorite international recipe - or departments can sponsor an intercultural activity during the IEW Festival on Wednesday, November 16.  

• Save the date: Annual State of Global Engagement lunch and update on Tuesday, November 15, 12:00 noon, Williman Room.
• Learn more about IEW at Santa Clara University here. 
• Interested in hosting a cultural activity or table for your global or intercultural department or program during the IEW Festival? Register here by Wednesday, October 12. 
• Explore virtual ways you can get involved and opportunities for students in your areas through IEW Media Kit.   
• Have questions or want to explore an idea? Contact our IEW 2022 team at iew@scu.edu.

We have a lot planned this year and I look forward to connecting with you.  Please feel free to contact me at spopko@scu.edu.

Warmly,

Susan Popko
Associate Provost for International Programs