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Vice Provost and Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives William Kuskin

The ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ is a powerhouse on the world stage.ÌýWe have successfully met our international recruitment goal of 10% of the student body, we are a leader in study abroad programs, we have alumni thriving across the world, and we have profound university and industry connections around the globe.Ìý

These successes are not merely one-off endeavors but can be coordinated to provide a better understanding of where we stand internationally and where we might go.ÌýCoordinating these successes can provide the campus with a better understanding of where we stand internationally and where we should go.

To this end, the chancellor’s and provost’s offices have moved ahead with three initiatives.

First, Provost RussellÌýMoore has appointed Larry Bell as assistant vice chancellor for global strategic initiatives within the provost’s office.

Bell's background in international academic services and programming will help promote collaborative global initiatives across the campus.ÌýThis is a logical step for Bell, in that his expertise goes beyond International Education and touches many different aspects of our university.Ìý

Study Abroad, directed by Mary Dando, and International Student and Scholar Services, directed by Diana Salazar, will report directly to Mary Kraus, vice provost for undergraduate education.ÌýPlease welcome Bell to his new role and feel free to reach out toÌýhim and myself with ideasÌýat Larry.Bell@Colorado.edu and William.Kuskin@Colorado.edu, respectively.

Second, Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano has initiated the International Strategy Group.

The International Strategy Group, which originatedÌýas a working group including Sarah Adderholt, JulannÌýAndresen, Ryan Chreist, Deb Coffin and Catherine Shea,ÌýBell and myself, has since expanded into a formal committee focused on big picture, strategy issues.

Its first major task was to assemble a board, led by the chancellor and supported by the core International Strategy Group,ÌýofÌýinternational alumni to advise the chancellor.ÌýThe 16 ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ champions who make up the board, termed the Global Ambassadors,ÌýareÌýdedicated to thinking through the chancellor’s top priorities—impacting humanity, shaping tomorrow’s leadersÌýand being the top university for innovation—in an international context.Ìý

As part of the Global Ambassadors initiative, the chancellor also charged the International Strategy Group to build a map of ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ'sÌýinternational efforts and to use this map to think about a strategy that integrates recruitment, study abroad, academic programs, industry connectionsÌýand our CU community of alumni and supporters.ÌýAssistant Vice Chancellor for Integrated Planning & Decision Support Steve VassalloÌýand the Director of Reporting & AnalyticsÌýRaza DawoodÌýhave built .ÌýThis website is still in beta testing, so we invite you to write Dawood atÌýRaza.Dawood@Colorado.edu, as well as Bell,Ìýwith ideas and observations to refine it.

Finally, and most recently, the provost has established theÌýTask Force for International Student Support.

Moore hasÌýcharged the new task force to develop a set of action steps to improve current practices regarding international students, from their recruitment and admissions to successful completion of degrees.ÌýThe group is co-chaired by Kraus and Kuskin and includes representatives from Office of Admissions, the Office of International Education, the schools and colleges, Student AffairsÌýand the Office of Budget & Fiscal Planning.

The task force will make recommendations for a streamlined organizational structure and improved communication flow regarding student recruitment and admissions, as well as the socialÌýand academic-support programs provided to international students.ÌýThey will also identify areas of concern for faculty teaching international students and a protocol for addressing these issues.ÌýCommittee recommendations will consider the campus commitment to inclusive excellence and design clear guidelines for inclusive pedagogy. The provost has requested final recommendations by the end of April 2017.

During the early phase of the project, surveys will be distributed to faculty and staff so that the task force can better understand their experiences with international student programs. You can also share any comments and questions by emailingÌýWilliam.Kuskin@colorado.edu or Mary.Kraus@colorado.edu.

William Kuskin,
Professor of English,
Vice Provost and Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives