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About NAFSA
Internationalizing the Campus: Selection Process
NAFSA seeks to recognize institutions where international education has been broadly infused across the fabric of the institution.
Within the context of the Simon Award and the report, we define “international education” and “internationalizing the campus” in a broad, inclusive, non-restrictive sense. Scholarship without boundaries encompasses a wide variety of dimensions:
As innovation and creativity advance on U.S. campuses, no doubt additional elements will be added to this list.
NAFSA believes that international education improves relations among peoples of different cultures and encourages cross-cultural communication. Fundamentally, international education advances learning and scholarship, builds respect among different peoples, and enhances constructive leadership in a global community. For the sake of this project, internationalization of the campus refers to institutions that have evidenced significant activity in a number of the dimensions of international education.
In that context, we seek examples of practices in internationalization that are notable, exceptional, innovative, and/or exemplary. We look for cases that exhibit practices, structures, philosophies, and policies that represent outstanding achievement in international education and that can be models for other institutions. We recognize that institutions are unique entities, that internationalization itself is complex and multidimensional, and that success and accomplishment can be identified and assessed in diverse ways.
Each report documents institutions where internationalization is more than a relatively isolated effort in select offices, where it pervades the campus in meaningful ways. That said, it is possible that some selected institutions instead show evidence of a nascent effort with considerable promise. We also find institutions that have addressed challenges unique to their institutions and locales. Through diverse examples of positive trends and meaningful activities, the award and our report highlight illustrative practices along a continuum of experience in internationalizing the campus.
Institutions selected to receive the Simon Award reflect, as much as possible, a representative sample of institutional types within the Carnegie Classifications, as well as diversity in terms of institutional size, geographic location, and public or private governance.
The selection jury reviews nominations with an eye also to innovative and exemplary programs on campuses that may not exhibit a majority of these characteristics. Such campuses are considered for inclusion in the program/area spotlight section of the report. On these campuses, the spotlighted program/area is not only moving the campus toward a more comprehensive internationalization, but may also serve as a model for other campuses.
Within the context of the Simon Award and the report, we define “international education” and “internationalizing the campus” in a broad, inclusive, non-restrictive sense. Scholarship without boundaries encompasses a wide variety of dimensions:
- Curricular initiatives, such as area studies, global studies, business education, etc.
- Innovation in educational philosophy and pedagogy
- Education, teaching, research, and work abroad by U.S. students and faculty
- Study by international students and scholars in the United States
- Faculty and scholar exchanges
- International opportunities through career planning/placement services
- Co-curricular activities
- International linkages through inter-institutional connections
- Foreign language training and English language training
- Corporate/university partnerships
- Campus/community interaction
- International development projects
As innovation and creativity advance on U.S. campuses, no doubt additional elements will be added to this list.
NAFSA believes that international education improves relations among peoples of different cultures and encourages cross-cultural communication. Fundamentally, international education advances learning and scholarship, builds respect among different peoples, and enhances constructive leadership in a global community. For the sake of this project, internationalization of the campus refers to institutions that have evidenced significant activity in a number of the dimensions of international education.
In that context, we seek examples of practices in internationalization that are notable, exceptional, innovative, and/or exemplary. We look for cases that exhibit practices, structures, philosophies, and policies that represent outstanding achievement in international education and that can be models for other institutions. We recognize that institutions are unique entities, that internationalization itself is complex and multidimensional, and that success and accomplishment can be identified and assessed in diverse ways.
Each report documents institutions where internationalization is more than a relatively isolated effort in select offices, where it pervades the campus in meaningful ways. That said, it is possible that some selected institutions instead show evidence of a nascent effort with considerable promise. We also find institutions that have addressed challenges unique to their institutions and locales. Through diverse examples of positive trends and meaningful activities, the award and our report highlight illustrative practices along a continuum of experience in internationalizing the campus.
Institutions selected to receive the Simon Award reflect, as much as possible, a representative sample of institutional types within the Carnegie Classifications, as well as diversity in terms of institutional size, geographic location, and public or private governance.
Selection Criteria
Each selection jury seeks institutions that can demonstrate some or all of these characteristics:- The campus has been widely internationalized across schools, divisions, departments, and disciplines.
- There is evidence of genuine administrative or even board-level support for internationalization.
- The campus-wide internationalization has had demonstrable results for students.
- The institution’s mission or planning documents contain an explicit or implicit statement regarding international education.
- The institution’s commitment to internationalization is reflected in the curriculum.
- The campus-wide internationalization has had demonstrable results within the faculty.
- There is an international dimension in off-campus programs and outreach.
- There is internationalization in research and/or faculty exchange.
- The institution supports education abroad as well as its international faculty, scholars, and students.
The selection jury reviews nominations with an eye also to innovative and exemplary programs on campuses that may not exhibit a majority of these characteristics. Such campuses are considered for inclusion in the program/area spotlight section of the report. On these campuses, the spotlighted program/area is not only moving the campus toward a more comprehensive internationalization, but may also serve as a model for other campuses.
Eligibility
- Accredited, degree-granting higher education institutions in the United States or its territories are eligible to be nominated.
- Membership in NAFSA is not required.
- Institutions which received a spotlight profile within the previous five years are eligible for a campus-wide profile in the next report, but not a spotlight.
- Institutions which are represented on the selection jury cannot be considered for selection.
