Frequent readers of this blog may recall my blog several months ago when I was traveling with DC students and faculty in Belize.  I was amazed by the experience, and I was particularly proud of our students.  They truly excelled in terms of performing their individual projects, but they also grew and developed in remarkable ways.

The experience that comes from traveling internationally, from being exposed to different cultures and peoples, is truly a life-changing one.  That is why I am so pleased that Defiance College has decided to take a truly transformational step in introducing our new DC Global program.  Under DC Global, every incoming full-time freshman (starting this fall of 2011) who successfully completes the full four year program of study at Defiance College will be guaranteed an international opportunity while at DC.

And what an incredible opportunity that can be!  Some students will benefit from trips through the McMaster School for Advancing Humanity; others will travel with faculty members on trips related specifically to their major; while others may travel with their sports team (as the Men’s Basketball Team is traveling to Jamaica this coming May), through the Honors Program,  or in other groupings.  In fact, we are also exploring ways to provide scholarships through DC Global to help defray the travel costs for students who may want to spend a summer studying abroad.

Imagine being able to meet with business leaders in Europe, explore the history of ancient Rome and Greece, see first-hand approaches to teaching on another continent, do chemical analysis of water in Central America, train local healthcare workers to diagnose malaria in Cambodia, work to save an endangered species in the tropics, observe social work practices in different cultures, discover how law enforcement techniques contrast in different countries, and much more.  There truly are a world of opportunities available for DC students!

DC Global is also part of our larger effort to help students create what I call a Defiance Resume.  Many of the experiences that DC students can take advantage of – whether internationally, domestically, or close to home; whether inside or outside the classroom – are geared toward assisting students to develop a resume of distinctive skills and experiences that can help them stand out in the marketplace (or when applying to graduate school).

Personally, I cannot wait to begin seeing all the wonderful international experiences that our DC students enjoy.  And, I must admit, I hope to be able to travel along on at least some of them!