Background of Global College
In December of 1866, Global
University was founded by a group of Presbyterian Missionaries. From the start, Global University had a
strong international tie and hoped to create a continuous bond between domestic
and international issues. As the
institution grew, so did the student body and areas of study. Having both undergraduate and graduate areas
of study soon became a cause of question among Trustees and faculty
members. Was there a great enough focus
on undergraduate education and were faculty resources being used
accordingly? After many discussions, it
was decided to rename Global University to Global College and become a research
institution for undergraduate students.
By moving to this model, there would be more focus on undergraduate
research and faculty members would have a more hands on approach with all
students.
Mission and Vision
At Global College, students are
encouraged to work independently while collaborating together. By doing this, Global College hopes to create
interdependent students who can think critically, ask questions, conduct
research and communicate effectively.
In order to achieve this, six core values are set in place to help
govern this shared pursuit; educate in a
liberal arts tradition, allow for research and collaboration, become a
community of learners, have independence of thought, become socially and
intellectually responsible and provide diversity and inclusivity.
In doing these things, the college
envisions a community of students who are able to look past earning a four year
degree and become leaders in the local and global community upon
graduation.
The Extent to which Global College exhibits attributes of: Personal
Mastery, Shared Vision, Team Learning, Mental Models, and Systems Training.
Personal Mastery & Team Learning:
At Global College, faculty, staff
and students are encouraged to think outside of the box. Whether it’s governing the student body or
creating new campus policy, critical thinking and inquiry are always
encouraged. As Senge describes personal mastery as approaching life and
work “as an artist would approach a work of art” it requires those engaged to
have an open mind. Additionally, Senge encourages team learning as a way to collaborate
among members of an organization to create a basis for a shared vision.
An example of this was when the
economy dropped. While many college
Presidents made the decision to cut academic majors or lay off employees/cut
salaries, Global took a different approach.
Each thing (people, objects, classes, athletics, etc.) were seen as
invaluable pieces of art. Instead of
“throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” Global turned to its community
(students, faculty and staff) and asked for shared opinions. Although the picture was the same for
everyone, many individuals were able to approach the situation with their own
interpretation of how decisions may affect our greatest asset, the
students. By collaborating and working
as team, Global was able to stay afloat while other institutions suffered great
financial loss.
Shared Vision & Mental Models:
At Global College, there are
incredible measures taken to ensure that those employed by the college feel
empowered. By motivating employees,
there becomes a greater desire for these individuals to feel engaged in the
campus community. As mentioned above,
Global College has a rich international tradition. To ensure that this continues to be present
on campus, the President created a program connecting both students and
faculty/staff to a broader global community; The Center for Diversity and
Global Engagement. One of the greatest
benefits of the center is that it pairs international students with
faculty/staff members. This relationship
is known as a “host family.”
As a former participant in this
program, I found that going to work each day was not just about answering
emails and returning phone calls. By
participating in this program, I was able to feel a deeper connection to the
world around me and appreciate what the college was doing to educate their
students.
Systems Training:
The best example of theory and practice at Global College is
to share a story that personally changed my life. Prior to working
at the college, had someone asked me if I would be interested in getting a
Master’s Degree, my answer would have been a firm, no! Needless to say,
being part of a community of engaged learners changed my mind. Feeling
trapped between a rock and a hard place, I confided in the President about my
life goals. Remarkably, he was eager to listen and offer his advice.
After sharing with
him that I loved my job too much to quit, but felt the need to move to
Nashville to go back to school, I was shocked to hear him encourage me to find
a way to make it work. He spoke to me as my “boss” and then moved to
another seat in the room and talked to me as a “colleague and friend.” He
encouraged me to be creative and supported me by offering to serve as a mentor
through the process. By providing intellectual stimulation and individual
consideration, I was able to create a brand new position at the college and
move to Nashville, TN to work as a regional recruiter while I worked on my
degree.
During my
association with Global College I have begun recycling, served as a host mom to
two international students, become friends with a Muslim and will soon be the
first person in my family to have a Master’s Degree. Although it was
Michael Jackson who sang about making the world a better place, I truly believe
it was Global University and its tremendous leaders who inspired me to actually
do so.
