Virginia State University News Students participate in global service learning in Africa July 26, 2010 Four Virginia State University students are spending part of their summer in Rabat, Morocco, participating in a global service learning education program. The initiative is a partnership between VSU and Cross Cultural Solutions (CCS), a non-profit international volunteer service provider which operates programs in 12 countries throughout Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. The VSU students, from various majors, are working in an orphanage, a children's hospital and non-profit organizations offering Moroccan children and young adults English language enrichment programs. In addition to performing volunteer service, the students attend lectures and Moroccan Arabic language sessions and participate in excursions to cultural and historical sites. Other activities have included a visit to the U.S. Peace Corps complex in Rabat. Through experiential learning, students are gaining insight into the culture of this Islamic North African country by engaging directly with local community agencies and Moroccan citizens. VSU faculty-led study abroad programs this year have included travel to Mexico, Costa Rica, and Morocco. Dr. Carl Garrott, VSU's Foreign Language Coordinator, traveled with students to the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, for an intensive Spanish language program. Dr. Joyce Edwards, Associate Professor of Sociology, traveled with students to Costa Rica as part of a CCS/VSU global service learning program integrated into a sociology class. Dr. Maxine Sample, Professor of English and Director of the Dr. George H. Bennett Office for International Education, is accompanying the students to Morocco as part of a Department of Education Title VI project to enhance students' study of Arabic language and knowledge of Islamic cultures. Destinations of other VSU students traveling abroad with non-VSU groups include Italy and France. These education abroad programs provide students an opportunity to enhance their global competence, not only through gaining firsthand knowledge of other countries and cultures, but also through learning to adapt their skills and think critically about their own values and perspectives in order to navigate diverse cultural environments. Students are encouraged to explore options for international careers relevant to their majors. Assisted with study abroad scholarships awarded by the Dr. George H. Bennett Office for International Education, and other University funded support, 11 students majoring in English, psychology, sociology, business management, hospitality management, HPERD and individualized studies have joined a growing number of students who are including an international experience in their Virginia State University education. Before the students' departure to Morocco, VSU's Office of University Technology offered them a session on blogging. Tapping their technology skills, the students are now blogging about their experiences and are eager to share their reflections. Several students' blogs can be accessed at these web sites: ofosuwa.wordpress.com<http://ofosuwa.wordpress.com>; kevans12.wordpress.com<http://kevans12.wordpress.com>; and moorkevo.wordpress.com<http://moorkevo.wordpress.com>. For more information about education abroad programs or international education program development, contact the Dr. George H. Bennett Office for International Education at Virginia State University (804-524-5986; bennettOIE@vsu.edu<mailto:bennettOIE@vsu.edu>). SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/meeting-form.html for the October 24-26, 2010 HBCU Library Alliance 4th Membership Meeting and the "Conference on Advocacy" pre-conference in Montgomery, AL. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.