Navigating the World: Understanding the Office of Global Education
The Office of Global Education plays a vital role in preparing students for an increasingly interconnected world. This article explores the purpose, functions, and impact of such offices, drawing upon examples and initiatives from various institutions and states.
The Vision of Global Education
The vision extends to empowering every public school student to embrace academic challenges, equipping them to pursue their chosen path post-graduation, and inspiring them to become lifelong learners actively participating in a globally collaborative society. Global Education serves as the vehicle to ensure that public school graduates are globally engaged and productive citizens.
The Genesis of Global Education Initiatives
In North Carolina, the State Board of Education (SBE) established the Global Education Task Force in 2011 to evaluate the state's progress in producing "globally competitive" graduates. The Task Force gathered insights from international, national, state, and local experts on global education and competitiveness, soliciting recommendations from leaders across diverse sectors, including business, higher education, the military, public schools, and various organizations. This comprehensive approach led to six major findings and five commitments aimed at ensuring that every public school student graduates fully prepared for the world they will inhabit, work in, and contribute to.
In January 2013, the SBE received the final report of the Task Force on Global Education, titled "Preparing Students for the World." The report outlined action items stemming from the five commitments, which were implemented over the subsequent five years. Numerous Global Education initiatives were launched and solidified, designed for sustained growth and maintenance.
In 2018, the State Board of Education Meeting featured a presentation highlighting the accomplishments achieved through the implementation of the Global Education commitments. Updates were implemented for the Global Education Recognitions to clarify and streamline how students, educators, schools, and districts could earn these recognitions.
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Today, the NCDPI Global Education Steering Committee spearheads the state's endeavors to ensure that every public school student graduates ready to thrive in an interconnected world.
The Role of the Office of Global Education
The Office of Global Education is a resource that works with campus and community collaborators.
Addressing Immigration Concerns
Visa mandates and changing immigration regulations can generate stress and concern for international populations of all kinds. In light of these concerns, GEO provides support and resources.
Following the Supreme Court decision on June 26, 2018, regarding the Executive Order (EO) on immigration (Travel Ban 3.0), GEO strongly advised individuals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, as well as those from countries previously on the list (Chad, Iraq, and Sudan), to refrain from traveling outside the US if they lacked valid US visas for re-entry. Furthermore, all affected individuals were urged to seek immigration advice before departing the US and to contact the GEO office prior to travel. It's important to note that some reports indicated a significant reduction in visa issuance for students from these countries, even with the student and scholar exceptions in place for certain nations.
On September 24, 2017, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation, "Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting attempted entry into the United states by Terrorists or other Public-Safety Threats" restricting entry into the United States for nationals of eight countries. Nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen and Somalia will generally not be eligible for a visa unless they are exempted, excepted or granted a waiver.
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Supporting International Students and Scholars
The Office of Global Education often provides support for international students. For example, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is one area of concern. On September 5th, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump administration would end the DACA program, which has deferred deportations for those who came to the United States as young immigrants. Congress has been asked to come up with a legislative solution by the time the policy expires. While the ultimate fate of DACA and its protections are unknown, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center has provided a timely community advisory: What Do I Need to Know If the DACA Program Ends?
English as a Second Language (ESL) Programs
Many institutions, like SUNY Oneonta, recognize the importance of language support for international students. Their ESL curriculum is designed for students whose English skills are already sufficient for admission, allowing them to further refine their abilities. These courses enhance the learning experience and can provide a pathway for conditional admission, as supplemental ESL work may be necessary for successful integration into classes with native speakers.
Admission dossiers of new degree-seeking or exchange students are reviewed by the ESL team, and placement testing upon arrival may be required to determine whether ESL classes will be necessary. SUNY Oneonta offers Continuing ESL courses at the intermediate-high level, focusing on strengthening English speaking and writing skills at the college level. Additionally, credit-bearing classes in ESL Conversation utilize a peer-led conversation group model under the supervision of a professor.
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