For聽some time, 91影视 Baptist University departments聽and professors have offered study abroad and domestic exchange opportunities for students in places ranging from Los Angeles to Aberdeen, Scotland.
Dr.聽Ronald Rexilius, HBU assistant provost, has聽been instrumental in placing an emphasis on international opportunities at HBU. 鈥淚 grew up overseas; I was born in Vietnam and lived in Asia for the first 15 years of my life. I know that, especially in America, the best window for聽experiencing another culture is usually during your four years in college,鈥� he said.
In 2009, Rexilius helped form the Center for Global Initiatives in Education (CGIE) at HBU. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good to see other parts of the world and learn how people do things,鈥� Rexilius said.聽鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to learn a language as well.鈥�
While the聽center facilitated travel for聽many聽students, it did not encompass all opportunities聽across HBU. Additionally, the University has often relied upon other universities or programs for setting curricula and agendas. 鈥淲e want to make our program more HBU-centered,鈥� Rexilius said.
Rexilius and University leadership聽are participating in the聽recently formed聽HBU Study Abroad Committee;聽Dr.聽Michael Rosato, associate provost for Academic Affairs,聽is serving as chair. The committee is working toward聽centralizing study abroad opportunities, making information more accessible and ensuring that HBU鈥檚聽personality聽is聽a聽characteristic聽of each聽program.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to be more intentional about what types of opportunities we offer our students,鈥� Rosato said. 鈥淗BU has a distinct mission. All that we do needs to be congruent with the mission of the institution.鈥�
The committee鈥檚 goal isn鈥檛 to聽eliminate existing聽programs, but to strengthen and聽to聽streamline them.聽Furthermore, students may continue to enroll in current programs.
As part of centralizing external study opportunities, the聽committee is looking at ways in which the University might be able to offer greater support in cost and financial aid considerations, Rosato聽said.聽Students and parents should begin to see聽more聽information regarding programs as early as the fall of 2018, he said.
鈥淲e believe supplementary studies and study abroad opportunities are invaluable to students,鈥� Rosato said.聽鈥淚t鈥檚 a unique experience for students to have experiential learning. We鈥檇 like to offer it to all students.鈥�