Area and
Global Studies AGS, formally Area Studies AS, operates as one unit and is
currently housed in the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Originally, the programs were separate and autonomous, resulting in minimal
growth and relative isolation. In 2003, the university-wide reorganization
brought the various Area and Global Studies' programs together under one dean,
thus making communication and cooperation between the various programs and
other interdisciplinary units easier. More significantly, it facilitated the
allocation of critical resources to the Area and Global Studies' budget and created
a “new home” for the unit in Lake Ontario Hall with a single office for
administrative support. Faculty Governance approved joint appointments of
full-time faculty to work closely with non-resident faculty to staff
interdisciplinary programs’ courses and to build the curriculum. Consequently,
the Area and Global Studies programs were strengthened and programming
increased.
The
discussion about the best organizational rubric for Area and Global Studies
dates back to 1996. By 2003, there were several attempts at further
reorganization and numerous proposals were submitted to the dean of the Brooks
College for review. In 2010, Provost Gayle Davis issued a directive to Area and
Global Studies programs to reorganize and create a department that will attract
more students to the minors, avoid course duplication and remain cost
effective. The reorganization process resulted in three major actions. First,
Faculty Governance granted Area and Global Studies “special unit” status as it
transitions to a department. The unit required an administrative system with a
director to oversee the transition, supervise faculty and staff, handle
scheduling and chair the unit’s personnel review process. The second act was
drafting the unit’s first strategic plan in 2011 with a mission, vision, goals
and objectives for the next five years by a team of dedicated faculty
representing all programs in Area and Global Studies. The final act occurred on
April 22, 2011 when the members of the reorganization committee and faculty voted
in support of the document and to move forward with the implementation of the
strategic plan. It is important to note that Area and Global Studies was
established as a unit in 2011, therefore this document represents the unit’s
second strategic plan.
As a unit,
Area and Global Studies is ever mindful of the guiding principles of Brooks
College strategic plan, and strives to fulfill the unit’s mission to provide
information and educate students to be well-informed global citizens who are
knowledgeable, and creative in their thinking about cultures, problems, and
perspectives of specific geographic regions, diverse groups of people and
ethnicities. Area and Global Studies is guided by their vision to be recognized
nationally and internationally as a leader in Interdisciplinary global and
regional teaching, and learning, academic excellence, faculty and undergraduate
research, and community engagement. Area and Global Studies will continue to
model inclusion and foster a nurturing and creative environment that supports
faculty, staff and students.
Mission
The mission
of Area and Global Studies is to educate students to be well-informed global
citizens who are knowledgeable and creative in their thinking about cultures,
global issues and interrelated perspectives of diverse geographic regions, and
groups of people and ethnicities.
Vision
Area and Global Studies will be a premier academic department committed to the advancement of global and regional learning, student-centered teaching, interdisciplinary research, and community engagement.
Value Statement
As a unit,
Area and Global Studies values innovative interdisciplinary teaching, learning,
and research; high-impact/experiential learning; the advancement of global
learning; nurturing a creative environment that supports faculty, staff, and
students; a multiplicity of ideas, perspectives, and inquiries;
interdisciplinary collaboration between programs within the unit, and across
campus; cultural diversity and inclusion; and engagement with local, national,
and global communities through learning, research, shared knowledge,
partnerships, and collaboration. All Area and Global Studies values is to the
benefit, professional growth and cultural development of the students we teach.
Strategic Priorities, outcomes, and key objectives
Strategic Priority Area 1: Actively engage learners at all levels.
Outcome A: Grand Valley's learning environment is personal, challenging, and transformational, supporting excellent academic programs and co-curricular opportunities.
Outcome B: Grand Valley is diverse and inclusive.
Outcome C: Grand Valley has mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and connections with local, state, national, and world communities.
Outcome D: Grand Valley supports innovative teaching, learning, integrative scholarly and creative activity, and the use of new technologies.
Outcome E: Grand Valley strategically allocates its fiscal, human, and other institutional resources.
Strategic Priority Area 2: Further develop exceptional personnel.
Outcome A: Grand Valley's learning environment is personal, challenging, and transformational, supporting excellent academic programs and co-curricular opportunities.
Outcome B: Grand Valley is diverse and inclusive.
Outcome D: Grand Valley supports innovative teaching, learning, integrative scholarly and creative activity, and the use of new technologies.
Strategic Priority Area 3: Ensure the alignment of institutional structures and functions.
Outcome B: Grand Valley is diverse and inclusive.
Outcome C: Grand Valley has mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and connections with local, state, national, and world communities.
Outcome D: Grand Valley supports innovative teaching, learning, integrative scholarly and creative activity, and the use of new technologies.
Outcome E: Grand Valley strategically allocates its fiscal, human, and other institutional resources.
Strategic Priority Area 4: Enhance the institution's image and reputation.
Outcome A: Grand Valley's learning environment is personal, challenging, and transformational, supporting excellent academic programs and co-curricular opportunities.
Outcome C: Grand Valley has mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and connections with local, state, national, and world communities.
Outcome E: Grand Valley strategically allocates its fiscal, human, and other institutional resources.
