University Senate

Proposal 21-16

The University Senate of Michigan Technological University

Proposal 21-16
(Voting Units: Academic) 

“Minor in Global Community Development Partnerships” 

PDF version of Proposal 21-16

  1. January 6, 2016 

  2. Proposer Contact Information:

    Kari Henquinet (kbhenqui@mtu.edu), Peace Corps Prep Program Director, Pavlis Honors College

    Lorelle Meadows (lameadows@mtu.edu), Dean, Pavlis Honors College 

  3. Introduction

    The Pavlis Honors College proposes a new interdisciplinary minor called “Global Community Development Partnerships.” The minor is designed for students wishing to develop the skills necessary to partner effectively as professionals working with communities on projects that address a need, problem, or change. Students who complete the minor will gain competencies in intercultural sensitivity, diversity, understanding communities, and a prominent sector of development work; they will also complete a hands-on immersion experience that aligns with their chosen development sector. This program will be offered as an interdisciplinary minor by the Office of the Provost and administered through the Pavlis Honors College. The Director of the Peace Corps Prep Program or a designated member of the Pavlis Honors College will serve as the advisor for this minor. 

  4. Rationale

    The introduction of this minor fills important academic needs of the campus community and has been developed in an interdisciplinary and collaborative way to meet the needs of students with general interest in partnerships for community development. 

    First, this minor is introduced as an integral part of the newly developed Peace Corps Prep Program in the Pavlis Honors College, resulting from a recently executed MOU between Michigan Tech and the U.S. Peace Corps. Students who complete the Peace Corps Prep Program will be awarded a Peace Corps Prep certificate (by the U.S. Peace Corps). This certificate acknowledges that a student has a strong background for Peace Corps service. The requirements of the Peace Corps Prep program include the completion of specific types of courses as well as a 50 hour or more documented immersion experience related to a Peace Corps sector (e.g., education, health, environment). To facilitate course completion for the program, the Pavlis Honors College proposes the development of the “Global Community Development Partnership” Minor. The requirements of the minor will automatically be fulfilled if a student is completing the Peace Corps Prep program. 

    Second, with the elimination of the Certificate in International Sustainable Development Engineering (ISDE), students who might have completed this certificate can now complete the Global Community Development Partnerships Minor, incorporating their iDesign credits and experience (e.g., CE 4915 and 4916). To facilitate this transition, the new minor was designed in consultation with the ISDE certificate adviser. 

    Finally, any interested student will be eligible to complete the minor. 

  5. Details:

  1. Title of Minor: Global Community Development Partnerships 

  2. Catalog Description:
    This Pavlis Honors College minor focuses on building competencies in intercultural sensitivity, diversity, understanding communities, and a prominent sector of development work in order to partner effectively with communities on projects. Students must complete a hands-on immersion experience that aligns with their chosen development sector. The minor places a strong focus on working in cross-cultural and diverse communities, which directly aligns with these university learning goals: global literacy, social responsibility and ethical reasoning.

   III.  List of Courses: include course numbers, titles, and credits 

Intercultural Sensitivity, Diversity, and Communities (9 credits)

Required Core Course:
SS 3961: Preparing for Cross-Cultural Immersion Experiences (3 cr.) 

And choose 2 additional electives from these below:
SS 2100 Intro to Cultural Anthropology (3 cr.)
SS 2400 Intro to Human Geography (3 cr.)
SS 2700 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.)
SS 3260 Latin American Cultural History (3 cr.)
SS 3410 World Resources and Development (3 cr.)
SS 3750 Social Inequality (3 cr.)
SS 3710 Social Problems (3 cr.)
SS 3910 Histories and Cultures (3 cr.)
SS 3960 International Experience (3 cr.)
SS 4100 American Indian Political Issues (3 cr.)
SS 4200 Environmental Anthropology (3 cr.)
SS 4210 Global Change since 1400 (3 cr.)
SS 4700 Communities & Research (3 cr.)
HU 2400 Intro to Diversity Studies (3 cr.)
HU 2820 Communication & Culture (3 cr.)
HU 2920 Language and Society (3 cr.)
HU 3261 Communicating across Cultures (3 cr.)
HU 3263 Topics Francophone Cultures (3 cr.)
HU 3264 Topics Spanish-Speaking Cultures (3 cr.)
HU 3265 Topics East Asian Cultures (3 cr.)
HU 3294 Hispanic Literatures and Cultures (3 cr.)
HU 3400 Topics Diversity Studies (3 cr.)
HU 3401 Gender and Culture (3 cr.)
HU 3910 Global Language Issues (3 cr.)
HU 3940 Language and Identity (3 cr.)
HU 4625 Risk Communication (3 cr.)

OR any HU course taught in a modern language (e.g., French, Spanish, German) 

International and Community Development Sector Training (9 credits)

Choose 9 credits with the minor adviser that align with a prominent sector of international and community development work (e.g., health, education, or environment). At least six of the nine credits must be upper level. Examples include a set of courses focused on water and sanitation such as ENVE 3501/3503, CE 3620, and CE 4916, or a set of ED courses focused on teacher education. 

____________________________(3 cr.) 

____________________________(3 cr.) 

____________________________(3 cr.)

Completed immersion experience aligned with chosen development sector (50 hour minimum).   Examples include service learning, internships, iDesign (CE 4915), Engineers without Borders trip, or study abroad program.

Program Name: _______________________

Location: ____________________________

Semester/Year: _______________________

 TOTAL REQUIREMENTS:           18 credits + approved immersion experience

                                                      (9 credits must be at the 3000-level or higher)

 IV.  Prerequisites not listed in the Minor
Intercultural Sensitivity, Diversity, and Communities: With the exception of modern language courses, the only prerequisites for courses on the Intercultural Sensitivity and Diversity list that are not included in the minor are UN 1025 and UN 1015. A student may use a modern language class at any level for the minor, but the prerequisites for that course must be met to enroll. 

International and Community Development Sector Training: Students will work with their minor adviser to find appropriate courses aligned with their chosen sector. The level and prerequisites will depend on the students’ backgrounds. 

6.  New Course Descriptions:
No new courses are being proposed for this minor.

7.   Estimated Costs:
No new costs are expected for this minor. 

8.  Planned Implementation Date:
Fall Semester 2016

Introduced to Senate: March 2, 2016
Approved by Senate: March 23, 2016
Approved by Administration: April 6, 2016