ACADEMIC SENATE RESOLUTION

#RF08-271

Support of International Education Week 2008

WHEREAS on April 19, 2000, President William J. Clinton issued an Executive Memorandum, that encouraged the presence of international students in the U.S., promoted study abroad by our students, supported the international exchange of teachers and scholars, and promoted the study of foreign languages and cultures; and

WHEREAS in response to the memorandum of President Clinton, the U.S. Departments of Education and State declared the second week of November to be International Education Week; and

WHEREAS the Commission on University Strategic Planning (CUSP), in 1998, affirmed the following principles for internationalizing San Francisco State University:

Principle 1: The University must recognize its international dimension in its strategic planning.
Principle 2: The University must integrate knowledge and concerns in a global framework in order to serve as a center of information and a network on global issues.
Principle 3: The University must create an environment that promotes understanding of ethnic/cultural diversity, social and class differences, and equality and inequality in the local community, the nation, and the world.
Principle 4: The University must integrate the perspective and values of the various cultures of the United States with those of other countries, in order to dismantle external and internal barriers to power that separate communities and peoples.
Principle 5: The University must affirm the values of diversity, tolerance, egalitarianism, and mutual respect in all of its curricular and community-related activities; and

WHEREAS the Commission on University Strategic Planning (CUSP II) in 2005 confirmed in its Goal IV states “San Francisco State University provides its students, faculty, and staff with international experiences, perspectives, and competencies”. It states that the University will pursue the following objectives:

1. SFSU infuses international content into its curriculum.

2. SFSU promotes study abroad for students and international exchanges for faculty as priorities for internationalization.

3. SFSU engages international students and scholars as important resources for internationalization.

4. SFSU ensures campus-wide support of internationalization at all levels of the institution.

WHEREAS San Francisco State University currently stands first in the CSU both in the number of its students who study abroad and in the number of international students who study at our campus; now therefore be it

RESOLVED that the Academic Senate of San Francisco State University designate the 3rd week in November as our campus’ International Education Week; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Academic Senate, SFSU, encourage faculty members to internationalize their curriculum and also bring to the attention of their students the opportunities for study abroad through one of the many CSU and SFSU programs; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Academic Senate, SFSU, commend the Division of International Education, the Office of International Programs and the All-University Committee on International Programs for all they have done to promote international education at SFSU.

***Approved by the Academic Senate at its meeting on November 4, 2008***