NAFSA’s thirteenth annual report, Internationalizing the Campus: Profiles of Success at Colleges and Universities, reflects the tremendous growth in support for campus internationalization from campuses across the country since the creation of the Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization. The selection committee receives an increasing number of impressive applications each year from universities of all types from across the country.

Each year the selection committee seeks institutions where international education has been broadly infused into all facets of the campus. The 2015 selection committee was particularly focused on identifying institutions and programs with the following 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 campuswide 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 campuswide internationalization has had demonstrable results within the faculty.
• There is a global 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.

NAFSA received many outstanding nominations from a diverse group of distinguished institutions across the United States. Each of the five institutions chosen by the selection committee—Mount Holyoke College, North Central College, University of Delaware, University of San Diego, and the University of Virginia—is profiled in this report. NAFSA will present the award to the presidents of these institutions at a special ceremony on November 17, 2015, in Washington, D.C., as part of this year’s International Education Week events. The presidents will also participate in a panel discussion prior to the award ceremony to share their insights and first-hand perspectives on their campuses’ successes in internationalization.

Three other institutions received the Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award and are featured for their outstanding accomplishments in specific areas of internationalization. Rice University is recognized for its Brasil@Rice initiative, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is recognized for the VCU Globe initiative, and Wake Forest University is recognized for its Workshop on Intercultural Skills Enhancement (WISE).  

The Simon Award celebrates the legacy of the late Senator Paul Simon of Illinois, who was a life-long advocate for international education and exchange, recognizing institutions and programs that promote international understanding and a more just and peaceful world at the student level. NAFSA continues to support the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Act, a legislative proposal, championed by Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, to increase access to study abroad for 1 million U.S. college students by 2020.

We hope that international educators will share this report with their institution’s top leadership and across all levels of their campus to underscore the value of well-planned, well-executed international education efforts and to broaden the reach of best practices in internationalization, especially those using innovative or creative approaches. Internationalizing the Campus is also of great value in communicating with communities beyond the campus. Legislatures and government agencies may find it a helpful tool in discussing and understanding international education and exchange.

NAFSA congratulates each institution recognized in the 2015 Internationalizing the Campus report for its outstanding work. These institutions truly recognize the importance of international understanding in the world today and building a globally competent workforce in the increasingly globalized economy.