Austin College has been awarded an $83,460 U.S. Department of Education grant to support the program titled, “Infusing Languages and Global Competency Across the Disciplines” (ILGAD).
The two-year grant will help provide students with opportunities to engage in Spanish language and Hispanic culture in various academic and professional settings. The ILGAD program includes opportunities such as additional domestic and international internships, new Jan term programs, new interdisciplinary courses in Spanish and Latin American & Iberian Studies, faculty workshops, and outreach programming for North Texas high schools.
“One of the main goals of the ILGAD program is to add value to the college curriculum by providing a unique interdisciplinary setting where students can broaden the depth of experience in their field of study while becoming more engaged global citizens through cross-cultural exploration,” said Elena Olivé, associate professor of Spanish and ILGAD project co-director.
“Students will engage in their academic fields within the context of diverse cultures, people, and societies which, in turn, allows them to reflect upon their own cultural values and practices from a broader global perspective,” Olivé added. The additional Spanish language programming in business, international relations, and public health offers the advantage of a second language for career readiness in Texas and beyond.
The project will be led by Olivé and co-director Terry Hoops, associate professor of anthropology and director of the Austin College Latin American and Iberian Studies program; Julie Hempel, associate professor of Spanish, chair of the department of classical and modern languages, and director of the Austin College Center for Southwestern and Mexican Studies, and Patrick Duffey, Margarett Root Brown Chair of Foreign Languages and Literatures.
The ILGAD program also aligns with the college mission, emphasizing the importance of global citizenship, diversity competency, and experiential learning.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.