International Education Program Policy

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TBR Policy Reference: 2.08.10.00

Approved by: President's Cabinet

Original Date Effective: 2013-01-01

Last Modified: 2024-01-08

Authority

Jackson State Community College is a comprehensive community college in West Tennessee offering associate degrees in arts, sciences, teaching, and applied sciences. The college also offers technical certificates and non-credit continuing education programs. Classes are offered on the main campus in Jackson and at centers in Lexington, Savannah, Humboldt, and other areas. The college is also a member of the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies (TnCIS).

In 20I0, Jackson State submitted a request and with subsequent approval by the Tennessee Board of Regents, the college instituted an international fee. The approved international fee is ten dollars for each term of enrollment. The fee is unrestricted current funds revenues and is refundable on the same basis as maintenance fees, or as established by the institution. Unspent funds are held in reserve for re-allocation by the committee and are not returned to the general fund of the college at the end of the fiscal year.

Purpose

The term "international" is defined as reaching beyond the national and cultural experiences of our students and enabling them to study the affairs of other nations and cultures. The International Education Committee (IEC) will determine how the international education fee will be utilized and dispensed, and will act as an advisory council to the Global Learning Coordinator (GLC).

As a student fee, the International Education Fee should be used for direct student benefit. Built on the foundation that emphasizes learning outcomes, applied experiences, and celebration of global diversity, the international fee is utilized to provide diverse cultural and international experiences for students. These experiences provide:

  • experiences supporting professional growth, personal enrichment, and lifelong learning;
  • cultural enrichment programs and activities that promote the arts and illuminate the heritage of the contemporary world;
  • public service efforts in support of global economic, workforce, and community development;
  • programs, services, and activities designed to enhance student learning, achievement, personal development, sense of civic responsibility, leadership skills, and general welfare from an international perspective; and
  • opportunities for international travel/travel study which provides cultural enrichment through a travel study program.

Allocation of Funds

Individual institutions are responsible for establishing an infrastructure to determine the allocation of the international education fees collected from students to promote internationalization at the home institution.  A survey will be sent to the entire student body when establishing and/or modifying this allocation of funds infrastructure and policy to ensure adequate student representation.

Jackson State will utilize the International Education Fee to provide an extensive variety of global learning experiences to students throughout its service area as is feasible.

Funds will be allocated as follows:

  • Administrative costs (e.g., memberships, supplies, event coordination travel expenses, and Global Learning Coordinator [GLC] compensation); included in these costs is a $500 discretionary fund, renewable each fiscal year, for the GLC to use for promotions and programming, including but not limited to printing, event refreshments and supplies, and program supplies.
  • $10,000 will be held in reserve each year for emergencies;
  • 20% of available funds beyond administrative costs and reserve will be allocated to:
      • Campus/local/regional events and on campus learning experiences with the goal of providing opportunities for global education to the greatest number of JSCC students possible;
  • 70% of available funds beyond administrative costs and reserve will be allocated to:

Travel Study student scholarships and associated maintenance fees.

  • 10% of available funds beyond administrative costs and reserve can be allocated to providing funding support for faculty who are planning to engage in internationalization efforts in their courses or professional development in the area of Global Learning and International Education. TBR stipulates that “Individual institutions have authority to allocate funds to activities in support of globalization efforts for the campus, including international professional development of the faculty” (Policy 2:08:10:00 - Section XII.C.8.)
  • Professional development requiring travel will need to go through formal travel procedures for requests and approvals.

International Ambassador Scholarship

The Jackson State International Ambassador Scholarship is intended to support student travel study. The scholarship covers up to 90% of the program cost after any other scholarships are applied. Applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age at the time of travel, must be currently enrolled at least part-time at JSCC with good academic standing, must complete 12 college-level credit hours prior to travel, must agree to obtain a valid passport, if necessary, prior to travel, and must participate in an interview conducted by IEC.

 A complete application for this scholarship will include:

  • Scholarship Application Form
  • Application cover letter
  • 500-word essay addressing the topic: Why I want to participate in travel study.
  • Two letters of support, one from a JSCC faculty member
  • Interview with the GLC and/or IEC.

Upon accepting an International Ambassador (IA) Scholarship, the applicant would agree, in writing, to the following terms and conditions:

  • The IA will keep a daily journal/portfolio of experiences that details their activities and analyzes the differences between their native culture and the one in which they are immersed. This journal/portfolio will be reviewed by the GLC at the conclusion of the travel study experience and must be turned into the GLC no later than one month after the end of the program.
  • After the funded travel, the IA will present their experiences to a minimum of two classes/college groups, either in person, video conference, or via a recorded video.
  • After the funded travel, the IA will provide JSCC three pictures from their travel and a quote to be used by JSCC for recruitment purposes.
  • IA program participants will maintain a positive and respectful attitude at all times and will conduct themselves in a way that is appropriate for an Ambassador of the college.
  • Students are eligible for one IA Scholarship while at JSCC. Requests for an additional scholarship may be granted but funding will be contingent on available funds and number of first-time applicants. Subsequent requests for scholarships may be subject to a reduced percentage of aid.
  • If the student withdraws from their study abroad program after the date on which a fee is assessed by TnCIS or a third-party provider to the institution, students will be held fiscally responsible for the payment of those fees.

International Ambassador Scholarship recipients who do not agree to these conditions in writing will not be considered for an award. Failure on the part of the student to meet the terms and conditions of this scholarship will be referred to the Vice President for Student Services for potential action as is appropriate within the JSCC Student Handbook. Fees that are assessed to or accrued by the institution as a consequence of a student failing to meet these terms and conditions will be transferred to the student.  Also, the student will not be eligible for future International Ambassador Scholarships. Any appeal of actions pursuant to this policy should be addressed to the Vice President for Student Services.

Global Learning Coordinator

The Vice President of Academic Affairs, , will recommend an Academic Dean and a Global Learning Coordinator to the President to oversee the Global Learning program, which includes the IEC and the International Education fee budget. 

The Global Learning Coordinator position will be responsible for:

  • Serving as the campus point of contact for information concerning the Global Learning program and TnCIS programs.
  • Coordinating interaction with the TnCIS organization.
  • Collaborating with the Director of Communications to promote all travel study opportunities offered by JSCC and TnCIS, as well as events and activities on campus and among faculty.
  • Keeping the VPAA, VPSS, and IEC apprised of all travel study matters.
  • Participating as the college representative on TnCIS Advisory Board.
  • Creating and maintaining a database of international contacts
  • Compiling/presenting proposals for spending and presenting these to the International Education Committee.
  • Consulting with Dean in preparation of budget documents, keeping track of expenditures, and presenting expenditure reports to the committee.
  • Tracking the number of participants/attendees at events and those who participate in travel study and, if possible, evaluate those activities.
  • Completing appropriate paperwork associated with various Global Learning/IE activities.
  • Coordinating with the IEC to draft and maintain minutes of all International Education Committee meetings.
  • Organizing international education events ensuring access to all JSCC students
  • Helping coordinate travel study opportunities and student scholarships associated with travel                               

Specific duties of the Global Learning Coordinator may include:

  • Working directly with the Dean on annual budgets and spending.
  • Working with the IEC on reading proposals and making recommendations for approval/denial of applications for international activities on campus, including inviting speakers and performers to JSCC.
  • Reviewing proposals for the internationalization of courses and making approval/denial recommendations to the IEC.
  • Managing a small discretionary budget for public relations and printing cost associated with Global Learning programming.
  • Assisting JSCC faculty who are teaching travel study programs with recruiting and recruitment strategies.
  • Engaging in public relations and helping with recruiting activities for faculty teaching in TnCIS and other approved travel study programs.
  • Developing recommended changes to student application paperwork, public relations, award letters, and IA funding levels.
  • Developing recommended changes to faculty and staff applications for on-campus international events, performers, artists, speakers, etc.
  • Developing recommended JSCC IE website changes to the JSCC web administrator.