TO: Beth Dobkin, Provost

FROM: Hisham Ahmed, ChairAcademic Senate

DATE: May 12, 2016

RE: Senate Action S-15/16-68CAProposal for a New Study Abroad ProgramUniversidad Internacional, Cuernavaca, Mexico

At the May 11, 2016 meeting of the Academic Senate, the attached Proposal for a New Study Abroad Program, Universidad Internacional, Cuernavaca, Mexico was approved on the Consent Agenda.

The proposal was submitted to the Academic Senate from the Undergraduate Educational Policies Committee, where it was approved by a vote of 8-0 with one abstention at the May 9, 2016 meeting.

This action was assigned Senate Action #S-15/16-68CA.

Attachment

cc: President James A. Donahue Dean Sheila Hassell Hughes

PROPOSAL FOR A NEW STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

April 27, 2016

Universidad Internacional, Cuernavaca, Mexico,

SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIAPROPOSAL FOR A STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM AND EXCHANGE

With Universidad Internacional, Cuernavaca, Mexico

Submitted byProfessor Alvaro Ramirez and the Center for International Programs

A. Rationale for Adding Program

1. Why Universidad Internacional, Cuernavaca, Mexico?

Throughout their history, Mexico and the United States have had a very unique relationship. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in the American Southwest where Mexicans have had an active role in shaping the region's cultural, social, political and, more importantly, economic development. With the implementation of NAFTA in 1994, this unique relationship was further reinforced. The trade agreement created a movement of goods, people and culture without historical precedent in modern times. It has created complex transnational communities in which Saint Mary’s College is definitely situated, and by establishing a semester program at Universidad Internacional (Uninter) in Cuernavaca, Mexico, SMC acknowledges the importance of preparing all our students to take their place in this new world facing them. Whether students choose a career in business, teaching, education, social work, or the field of medicine, the program offered at Uninter will provide them with an academic, cultural and linguistic experience that will be extremely valuable to them as they navigate their way as professionals in a transnational world. For example, it will provide educators with the means to comprehend better the culture and language of the majority of the Latino students that will fill their classrooms; it will create well-rounded business persons who will be ready to manage their way through the new multinational market world; and it recognizes the need to graduate social workers and medical personnel who are sensitive to the complex needs of the new multiethnic communities that are being created in the United States. But above all, regardless of their future careers, studying abroad in Cuernavaca, Mexico will transform our students, not only into transnational people, but also into actively involved global citizens, aware and in touch with the diversity of the world around them.

B. Program design

1. Where will the program take place?

The program will take place at Universidad Internacional in Cuernavaca, Mexico, located about 50 miles south of Mexico City in the State of Morelos.

2. Which semester is it designed for? Could it apply to both semesters?

This program is designed for the spring semester, but will include also the January term as part of its curriculum.

3. What are the learning outcomes for the program?

After completing the semester program in Cuernavaca, Students will be able to

a) Identify the different historical events that have changed the course of Mexican society and culture.

b) Discern the major cultural traits of Mexican identity as it has historically developed.

c) Understand the conditions under which indigenous communities continue to exist in modern Mexico.

d) Understand the factors that have pushed Mexicans into migrating to the U.S.

e) Assess the manner in which globalization is redefining Mexico as a national project.

f) Appreciate the differences and similarities between urban life in Cuernavaca and their respective hometowns.

g) Show improvement in their oral skills in Spanish.

h) Have the basic language skills and cultural knowledge to be able to return to Mexico and travel on their own.

4. How many students can attend?

The required number of students is 12, but the program can handle as many as 25 students.

5. Does the program include an SMC faculty member’s participation? If so, how? Yes, this is a faculty-led program. A Resident Director will be responsible for recruiting advising students, organizing information and orientation meetings prior to going abroad. The Resident Director teaches a course onsite, performs a variety of administrative duties, and accompanies the students on all excursions.

6. What is the design of the program overall in terms of study time, travel itinerary, housing, transportation, and cultural immersion opportunities? What are the typical fall/spring program dates?

The typical spring program dates are mid-January to mid-May.

Cultural excursions are an essential component of any study abroad program. Most universities include several excursions to enhance the students' learning experience, for they are, in fact, an extension of the classroom. With a country as rich in history and culture as is Mexico, it is only logical that Saint Mary's Spring Program is designed to include as many excursions as possible. Moreover, the tuition that students pay at SMC makes this important component economically feasible. These excursions include:

One-day trips:

Teotihuacán

TaxcoXochicalcoTepoztlánBallet Folklórico Xochimilco

Weekend trips:

Mexico CityPueblaAcapulco

One-week trip:

QuerétaroSan Miguel AllendeGuanajuatoOaxaca As for housing arrangements, all students will be housed in pairs in middle-income Mexican homes that have been vetted and approved by Uninter. These families have received students from SMC for the past 16 years; two of the families have lodged our students for 20 years during Jan Term and semester programs. The students share a room and bathroom. They also eat three meals a day with the family, which allows them to establish very strong bonds; in fact, many of the students keep in contact with their host families and even return for visits. Most homes are within walking distance of the school and those families that are farther from school provide transportation to and from school for the students.

7. What are the benefits of this program for both the students and SMC?

Regardless of the careers the participants choose, this study abroad program allows students to immerse themselves in cultural and linguistic communities that they would never be able to experience as students on our campus. These experiences will be immensely valuable in their professional lives after graduating from SMC. For example, given the fact that children of Mexican descent make up approximately seventy percent of all Latino in school districts in California, it will provide those who follow the path of educators with the means to comprehend better the culture and language of the majority of the students that will fill their classrooms; it will also create well-rounded business persons who will be ready to manage their way through the new multinational market world.

Study abroad programs are great for recruiting students and SMC will certainly benefit in this respect, especially as demographics show that there will be an increase of students of Mexican descent applying for college in the near future. Many of our competitors offer similar programs in Mexico and it behooves SMC to follow suit in order to stay competitive. Establishing a program in Cuernavaca also shows SMC’s resolution to make our campus more inclusive and, since the participating students will do volunteer work with underprivileged indigenous children in Cuernavaca, it likewise lives up to the college’s Lasallian core principles. Additionally, the program demonstrates that SMC is fully committed to graduating professionals in all walks of life who are sensitive to the complex needs of the new multiethnic communities that are being created throughout the United States.

8. What are the potential concerns, including such things as safety, security, or other risk factors?

Like most countries, travel in Mexico involves some risks that are similar to other destinations. That is, occasionally we lose cameras, cell phones, and ipods. At the orientation meetings at SMC and Cuernavaca, students will be advised as to how to avoid this from occurring. Concerning safety, at night all students are required to go about town in pairs, never alone. Though there are no curfews, the Resident Director reserves the right to order students to be home at a certain time, if he feels it is necessary to take this measure. As for health, every year some students, not all, contract colds and mild cases of diarrhea. American brand medicines for these ailments are easily found in pharmacies in Mexico. Since throughout the year the weather is spring-like, there can be lots of pollen; therefore, anyone who suffers from allergies should take prescription medicines with them. Also mosquitoes can be a problem sometimes, but students can buy repellant in Mexico. If we should have an extreme emergency, the university in Cuernavaca has contingency plans that will be given to all the participants at the orientation offered by an administrative official on-site.

9. How does this program meet student interest/need?

There is a strong interest on the part of students to establish a program in Cuernavaca, Mexico. In fact, it was at the request of group of students who met with the Provost, Vice-Provost and Dean of SOLA that it was decided the program in Mexico should be reinstated.

Moreover, we asked students to sign a petition where by signing they agreed to fully commit to enrolling in such a program if we offered in Spring 2017. Twenty students signed immediately. We have included a copy of this petition as part of this proposal.

10. What co-curricular activities are available to students? Highlight some of the student life resources available to students (clubs, health center, resources centers, etc)

Administration: Uninter was chosen because it offers an environment similar to Saint Mary's College. The students have easy access to faculty and administration. The Resident Director has an office that is open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. At this office the students can consult with their Director and his Assistant regarding any matter. In the rare case that the Resident Director and Assistant are not present and students need to talk to someone, they are sent to the administration building where they are attended as quickly as possible.

Health Services: If the students have a health problem there is a health center on the premises, which opens from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Consultations are free of charge. Whenever a student is sick, the host family immediately notifies the Resident Director, who then takes the appropriate steps to make sure the student in question receives the proper medical attention.

Computer Services: The campus has wifi. Also, students have access to two computer rooms on campus with approximately fifty units where they can write their class papers, read and send their email or search the net for information. These services are free of charge. The rooms are open for 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Student Clubs: Uninter does not have student clubs; however, they do have a Programa Amigo in which foreign students are paired up in a buddy system with Mexican students in hopes of helping them make the transition to the academic and social environment of the university and the city.

In the past, the Resident Director has also organized a program called, Cultural Encounters. These are a series of meetings that last throughout the semester in which Uninter and SMC student are invited to participate in panel discussions focused on current themes affecting US-Mexico relations on both sides of the border, such as the impact of immigration, the treatment of minorities, foreign governmental policies, and cultural and linguistic changes due to constant migration between the two countries. These encounters are very popular with both the Mexican and American students. They greatly facilitate the integration of our students into the campus life lead to many lasting friendships.

C. Academic design

1. What are the admission requirements for students? Are there any prerequisites?

Students are required to have a GPA of 2.8 and not be on probation of any kind. It is expected that the participants have successfully completed Spanish 4 prior to going abroad to Cuernavaca. 2. Which student majors/concentrations does the program target? Is it open to all students? If not, why?

The program is open to all students, with the exception of science majors. However, we heavily recruit majors and minors in Sociology, Anthropology, History, World Languages and Cultures, Global and Regional Studies, Women and Gender Studies, Politics, Psychology, and Business. We especially like to include students in the Teachers for Tomorrow Program who benefit immensely from participating in the program in Mexico, which given the fact that 70% of Latino students in the California school districts are of Mexican descent, it give them an excellent preparation to teach and work with this student population that is expected to continue to grow in the future.

3. If there is a third-party institution involved academically, what is the institution known for?

Universidad Internacional is known as one of the premier institutions in Latin America that offers programs in Spanish language, literature, culture, and politics to foreign students. It caters not only to traditional college students from around the world, but also has intensive language programs for administrators in the fields of education and business, CEOs, and foreign government diplomats. One famous celebrity who a few years ago went through the intensive Executive Spanish Program was Steve Woznyak. Many employees of multinationals companies such as Samsung and Toyota also have enrolled in the program.

4. If English is not the primary language, programs should include a language component, either by requiring language prior to departure or by including language within the program. How will the program address the language component?

As stated earlier, since four out of the five courses taken in Cuernavaca will be taught in Spanish, students are required to have completed successfully Spanish 4 at SMC or its equivalent at other institutions.

5. How will courses transfer back to Saint Mary’s?

All courses transfer back to SMC as one to one. That is, each course counts as 1.0 credit. Therefore, since students may take up to five courses, these transfer as five full units.

6. What are the courses offered?

Below is a partial list of the courses offered in the program. These courses have been pre-approved to transfer for credit in the SMC departments and programs in parenthesis.

ART 421 History of Mexican Art (SPN 197, AH 144) HST 311 Spanish Civilization (SPN 160, HIST 100)HST 312 Spanish-American Civilization (SPN 161, HIST 150)HST 494 History of Mexico (SPN 162, HIST 150)LING 421 Spanish Phonetics and Phonology (SPN 100)PLS 345 The Mexican Political System (SPN 162, POL 145)RLG 401 History of Religion in Mexico (SPN 197, TRS 150)SOC 123 Chicano Culture and Society (SPN 132, SOC 123)SOC 308 Mexico Today (SPN 132, ANTH 121)SOC 309 Latin American Studies (ANTH 121)SOC 346 Analysis of Mexican Culture (SPN 132, ANTH 121)SPN 306 Introduction to Literature (SPN 011)SPN 320 Spanish for Spanish Speakers (SPN 009)SPN 323 Spanish Composition (SPN 010)SPN 371 Spanish for Business (SPN 170)SPN 405 Spanish American Literature I (SPN 140)SPN 406 Spanish American Literature II (SPN 141)SPN 407 Spanish American Short Story (SPN 130)SPN 408 Mexican Literature (SPN 145)SPN 422 Spanish Conversation II (SPN 101)SPN 423 Spanish Composition II (SPN 101)SPN 424 Spanish Stylistics (SPN 131)

In addition to these courses, students with the proper level of Spanish may enroll in a wide variety of courses offered in the regular academic program for national students, which include but are not limited to Business, Sociology, Anthropology, History, Mathematics, Literature, Politics, and Communications.

As part of the program students will do volunteer work at an elementary school in Cuernavaca for indigenous children who come from underprivileged communities. Students must volunteer two hours per week at this school where they function as tutors and help organize extracurricular activities.

7. How many weeks is the program?

The program comprises of seventeen weeks.

8. How many courses/credits will each student take?

Students can take up to five credits. One counts toward Jan Term the other are distributed according to their major and minor requirements.

9. How are transcripts to be processed (e.g., by SMC or the third-party institution)?

The Registrar Office at Uninter receives the grades from the instructors that taught the courses offered, then they consult with the Resident Director to make sure all the courses transfer with the right SMC course numbers. Once this is done, the Registrar at Uninter forwards an official transcript to the SMC

Registrar who uploads the grades into our system.

10. Please provide any other background information about the program and institution.

Uninter is located in the city of Cuernavaca in the state of Morelos about an hour southeast of Mexico City. In addition to its renowned beauty and year-round, spring-like weather, it is a city that has a storied past. From pre-Colombian times to the present, Cuernavaca has been the site of a bustling multi-ethnic population. This admixture of people and cultures has been a strong attraction for foreigners. In the last century, many authors and artist from Europe and the United States have made the city their home. Furthermore, because it provides easy access to other major cities (Mexico City, Puebla, Toluca, Acapulco) and to important archeological sites (Teotihuacán, Xochicalco, Tula, Cholula, Malinalco), Cuernavaca has emerged as an important education center, for both, national and foreign students. Therefore, whether at an art show, cafe, or just taking a walk through the center of town, one is very likely to see Mexican students mingling with their European and North American counterparts.

School of Liberal Arts

May 9, 2010

Kathy Porter, Chair UEPC

Dear Dr. Porter,

I am writing to express my approval of the curricular program proposed by Alvaro Ramirez for an SMC-‐faculty-‐coordinated study abroad program in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

A similar program ran in Cuernavaca for many years, under Dr. Ramirez’s leadership, but it was closed a couple of years ago due to insufficient enrollments. The institutional agreement between SMC and Uninter subsequently lapsed. We are hoping a more sustainable program will be possible with some additional planning, consultation, and with less frequent offering. Once this curricular plan is approved by the UEPC, the International Programs office will set about reestablishing an exchange relationship with Uninter and recruit students for the program. Our hope is to offer it every other year, in Jan and Spring terms, commencing Jan. 2017.

Because it involves direct participation by an SMC faculty member, this program is resource intensive. However, I believe it very important to provide a study abroad opportunity in Mexico for our students and appreciate the additional support that Dr. Ramirez has been able to provide them through his hands-‐on approach in years past. I have agreed to support his participation in the first two offerings of the program, assuming minimum enrollment targets can be met and other administrative and departmental process requirements achieved, with a required review after 4 years (2 cycles). It is a SOLA priority that Dr. Ramirez recruit other faculty members who can also lead the program as on-‐site coordinator after the first two offerings. I am happy to help him in this endeavor as, I believe, is the Chair of World Languages and Cultures, Dr. Frances Sweeney.

Although there are no substantive changes to the course list that Dr. Ramirez is proposing for transfer credit to SMC, I asked him to provide up-‐to-‐date course descriptions to the relevant SMC department chairs in order to earn endorsements relevant to our current curriculum. I also asked that he clarify which courses among those to be offered for transfer would qualify for any Core credit, since that is a new aspect of our curriculum since the first iteration of the Cuernavaca program was proposed. Core credit is an important consideration in students’ ability to study abroad while making timely progress toward degree completion. Dr. Sweeney has submitted a letter of endorsement and, in her

capacity as Chair of the Core Curriculum Committee, provided this information about Core credit on Dr. Ramirez’s behalf.

Although one course on the original proposal list has not yet, as of the writing of this letter, received updated transfer credit endorsements (PSY 434 for PSYCH 165), the remaining courses have all been endorsed for transfer by the relevant department chairs.

The Core Curriculum options for students are significant, including numerous options for Artistic Understanding: Artistic Analysis as well as for Global Perspectives credit. There is also one option for Theological Understanding: Explorations credit.

Given the importance of a study abroad opportunity for our students in Mexico, the well- ‐established infrastructure available through Uninter, the groundwork Dr. Ramirez has laid in building our relationships in Cuernavaca, and the range of relevant curricular options available to our students, I am happy to lend my support to this proposal. I urge the UEPC to approve the Cuernavaca Study Abroad curriculum so that we can move forward with our goal of re-‐establishing this study abroad site and recruiting students for next January and Spring.

Sincerely,

Sheila Hassell Hughes Dean

cc: Susie Miller Reid, Center for International Programs

Myrna Santiago May 4 (5 days ago)

to Sheila, Kathy, me

Dear Sheila and Kathy,

Professor Alvaro Ramirez informed me that we are in the process of reinstating our Spring semester program in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and thus we need to review the courses that will be approved automatically for History credit for our students.

The courses in question are:

History 311 Spanish Civilization (Saint Mary's College History 100) History 312 Spanish-American Civilization (SMC History 150) History 494 History of Mexico (SMC History 150)

It is very exciting that we are bringing back the program. It was very successful, so I am sure it will be again.

Thank you, Myrna

Zach Flanagin May 6 (3 days ago)

to Sheila, Kathy, me

Dear Sheila and Kathy,

TRS has in the past approved History of Religions in Mexico (offered in Cuernavaca) as a course worthy of Theology credit at SMC, so I am happy to support Alvaro's request to have it listed as equivalent to TRS 150: Topics in the Study of World Religions.

Best,

Zach Flanagin, Ph.D. Professor and ChairDepartment of Theology & Religious Studies Saint Mary's College of California dflanagi@stmarys-ca.edu

John Ely May 6 (3 days ago)

to Sheila, me, Lorinda

Dean Hughes,

This e-mail is to declare the Sociology Department's full support of having "Soc 123: Chicano Culture and Society " be part of the curriculum being offered in the Cuernavaca Semester Abroadprogram. This course looks at a different American ethnic groups each time it is taught. For many years, Dr. Ramirez covered this class for our department when it came around to covering Chicano Culture and Society and the course always received very good evaluations. I would also like to make a plug for the Cuernavaca program in general. Many of our majors did this Semester Aboard with Dr. Ramirez when it was offered and would come back saying it had a major impact on them. The sociology program is very happy to see it coming back.

Sincerely,

John Ely, Chair Department of SociologySaint Mary's College of California

Jennifer Heung May 8 (1 day ago)

to me, Sheila, Kathy

Dear Alvaro,

I’m writing in response to the courses the Anthropology department has historically accepted from students who studied abroad in Cuernavaca. The courses listed below will be accepted by the Department as Anth 121: World Cultures.

SOC 308 México Today (ANTH 121) SOC 309 Latin American Studies (ANTH 121) SOC 346 Analysis of Mexican Culture (ANTH 121)

Please let me know if you have additional questions about courses. Best,

Jennifer

Dr. Hisham H. Ahmed May 5 (4 days ago)

to Sheila, Kathy, Kathy, me

Hello Sheila and Kathy,

The Politics Department fully supports the proposed reinstatement of the Semester Program in Cuernavaca, Mexico in spring 2017. Furthermore, we will approve the transfer of PLS 345 The Mexican Political System (SMC credit, POL 145).

Please feel free to let me know should you have any questions.

Best Regards, Hisham

Hisham H. Ahmed, Ph.D. –Professor Chair, Department of Politics

Chair, Academic Senate

Saint Mary’s College of California 1928 Saint Mary’s Rd.

Moraga, CA 94556

925-247-8495

Dr.hhahmed@gmail.com Hha1@stmarys-ca.edu www.hishamahmed.com

5 May 2016World Languages and Cultures

Dear Kathy, (copy to Dean Hassell Hughes and Professor Ramirez),

I am pleased to support the program to Cuernavaca for spring 2017. Dean Hassell Hughes and I are working with Professor Ramirez and my colleagues in WLC on some protocols that are department-based given his intended absence from January to May. With an understanding that these protocols will be finalized, I offer my support.

1. I write this message as Chair of World Languages and Cultures, first.Based on my review of what was submitted, and what had been granted in the original Cuernavaca proposal years ago, pleas see below for my approval of the following course articulations for Spanish designation. Please note that some of the courses also had a second or different discipline designation and on that I cannot comment (hence the question mark next to those).

2. In my capacity as Chair of the Core Curriculum Committee, I have also been asked to determine which courses, if any, might satisfy Core requirements. I am happy to provide "provisional" designation for spring 2017, with an understanding that a full Core designation proposal will be submitted in fall 2016. It would be necessary to see the full course description and syllabus, and an articulation of the learning outcomes vis a vis Core expectations to make a permanent designation. That work belongs to the Working Groups of each Core area, respectively. This is true even for courses that have an SMC articulation that currently holds a Core designation.

Please see the below chart for course articulation. Warmly,

Frances M. Sweeney, Chair of World Languages & Cultures

Cuernavaca course

Title Dept Designation Core designation

Art 421 History of Mexican Art

Span 197 ok/ AH 144?

provisional AU: Analysis

SPAN 306 Introduction to Literature

Span 11 ok provisional: AU: Analysis/GP

SPAN 311/HIST 311

Spanish Civilization

Span 160 ok/HIST100 ?

none

SPAN 312/HST 312

Spanish-American Civ

Span 161 ok/Hist160 ?

none

SPAN 320 Spanish for Spanish Speakers

Span 9 ok provisional GP

LING 421 Spa phonetics and phonology

Span 100 ok none

SPAN 162/PLS 345 Mexican Political System

Span 162 ok/Pol145?

none

PSY 434 Psychology of Mexico

Psych 165? none

RLG 401 History of Religion in Mexico

Span 197 ok/ TRS 150?

provisional TU: Explorations

ANTH 123 Chicano Culture and Society

Span 132 ok/ 123? none

SOC 308/Span 308 Mexico Today Span 132 ok/Anth121?

provisional: GP

SOC 309/Span 309 Latin American Studies

Span 130 or 132-- need to know if lit or culture/Anth 121?

none

SOC 346 Analysis of Mexican Culture

Span 162 ok/Anth121?

provisional: GP

SPAN 306 Introduction to Literature

Span 11 ok provisional: AU: Analysis/GP

HIST 494 History of Mexico Span 162 ok provisional: GPSPAN 323 Spanish

CompositionSpan 10 ok none

SPAN 346 Analysis of Mexican Culture

Span 132 ok provisional GP

SPAN 371 Spanish for Business

Span 170 ok none

SPAN 405 Span American Lit I

Span 140 ok provisional GP

SPAN 406 Span American Lit II

Span 141 ok provisional GP

SPAN 407 Span American Short Story

Span 130 ok provisional AU: Analysis

SPAN 408 Mexican Literature Span 145 ok provisional AU: Analysis