Dear Colleagues,
As you may recall, at the September faculty meeting, Provost Lesleigh Cushing highlighted that one of key areas that the PDoF office will be focused on this academic year is a review of Colgate's off-campus study.
While off-campus study programs are a distinctive feature of Colgate life, the way we’ve been conducting them may need to be rethought and retooled given the character of the current student body. Compared with 10 or 15 years ago, today’s students seem more risk-averse, less accustomed to self-regulation, and less prepared to carry out the executive functions required of students abroad. In addition, given the recent pandemic and financial pressures, a review of Colgate's off-campus study programs is an opportunity to reexamine basic principles.
For example, some initial questions that might be raised are: why do we foster off-campus study? How do we prepare students for their time away from campus, and how do we prepare them for returning to campus and sharing the experience they’ve gained?
To that end, we are writing to invite you all to participate in one or more fora around this topic. Please find details below.
Friday, Oct. 13, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
207 Lathrop: Topic - Goals and mission of off-campus study
Friday, Nov. 10, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
9 E. Kendrick (PDoF house): Topic - Opportunity and access
Tuesday, Nov. 28, from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m.
560 Case-Geyer, Batza Room: Topic - Preparation, selection, assessment, and support
These conversations will be moderated by Associate Dean of the Faculty for Global and Local Initiatives April Baptiste, New York Six Mellon Academic Leadership Fellow Danny Barreto and Chair of the Off-Campus Study Committee Ed Fogarty. If any of you would like to join via Zoom please let one of us know.
We look forward to engaging with you all on this important topic.
Kind regards,
April Baptiste, Associate Dean of the Faculty for Global and Local Initiatives
Danny Barreto, New York Six Mellon Academic Leadership Fellow
Ed Fogarty, Chair, Off Campus Study Committee