VCU Global Education: Expanding Horizons and Opportunities

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is committed to internationalization, and the Global Education Office (GEO) plays a central role in achieving this goal. Located at 912 West Grace Street, Box 843043, Richmond, Virginia 23284-3043, and reachable at (804) 828-8471, with a fax at (804) 828-2552 and online at global.vcu.edu, GEO, under the leadership of Associate Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Jill Blondin, Ph.D., takes a holistic and integrated approach to global programming. The office focuses on high-impact global programming, growing international student enrollment, and enhancing international partnerships and collaborations to increase opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.

The Mission of the Global Education Office

The Global Education Office supports VCU’s internationalization goals. It achieves this by taking a holistic and integrated approach to several key areas:

High-impact global programming
Growing international student enrollment
Enhancing international partnerships and collaborations

These efforts aim to increase opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage with the world.

Units and Programs within GEO

GEO is structured around four units and programs that work together to advance the internationalization of the university:

Global Learning
English Language Program
Global Partnerships and Outreach
Immigration Services

Each of these units contributes unique services and expertise to support VCU's global initiatives.

Read also: Global Opportunities at Duke

Global Learning: Fostering Global Engagement

Global Learning focuses on two major areas:

Place-based education abroad/away
Campus and community global learning

This unit offers comprehensive services for place-based programs, including education abroad and domestic study away options. These programs are aligned with VCU’s REAL (Relevant, Experiential and Applied Learning) graduation requirement. Global Learning develops and promotes affordable study abroad/away programs all across the globe.

Support for International Students and Scholars

Global Learning provides specialized support and guidance for the university’s international students and scholars. This includes:

Orientation programming
Non-academic support (housing, insurance, etc.)
Cultural, academic, and career advising

The advising guides international students toward relevant campus resources, ensuring they have the support they need to succeed.

Student Engagement and Cultural Exchange

Global Learning sponsors student engagement programming and cultural exchanges, including:

Read also: Global Cool Scholarships

Conversation Partners
Friendship Families
Global Café
Cultural Ambassadors

These programs create opportunities for students to connect with each other and learn about different cultures.

Campus and Community-Based Programming

Global Learning’s campus- and community-based programming includes initiatives such as:

Peace Corps Prep
Cultural Conversations
The Phi Delta Honor Society

These programs further enhance global awareness and engagement within the VCU community.

English Language Program: Academic Preparation

The English Language Program is a fully accredited intensive program offering beginner to advanced levels of academic preparation. This program concentrates on academic preparation and study skills that equip students for success in their educational and career pursuits. The program is large and growing, reflecting the increasing demand for English language training.

Global Partnerships and Outreach: Expanding VCU's Global Footprint

Global Partnerships and Outreach supports expanding the university's global footprint through partnerships and recruitment. The unit facilitates international institutional agreements, supports global engagement by providing funding and other professional development opportunities, and leads international student recruitment efforts. This unit plays a crucial role in building and maintaining VCU's international connections.

Immigration Services: Navigating Regulations

GEO’s immigration services advises international students on immigration regulations, USCIS requirements, rules, and procedures. This service is essential for ensuring that international students remain in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Virtual Global Learning: Expanding Access and Opportunities

Global virtual learning programs have enormous potential to impact student learning as well as academic and professional development. Many of these experiences can be recognized through VCU’s Relevant, Experiential and Applied Learning (REAL) initiative and fulfill VCU’s new academic regulation (rolled out in fall 2021) that requires all students to have a REAL experience before graduating. For guidance on creating virtual global learning experiences that fulfill students’ REAL requirements, individuals can contact Education Abroad and REAL.

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