DEKALB COLLEGE’S GLOBAL CENTER HAS DRAWN ON THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF ITS FACULTY AND MORE THAN 1,800 FOREIGN STUDENTS TO INTERNATIONALIZE THE SCHOOL AND ITS CURRICULUM SINCE IT OPENED IN AUGUST 1995. NOW, IT IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO TURN THAT EXPERIENCE TOWARDS ASSISTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CULTURALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES OF DUNWOODY, CLARKSTON, PANTHERSVILLE, LAWRENCEVILLE AND CONYERS, IN WHICH THE COLLEGE’S CAMPUSES ARE LOCATED.
ALTHOUGH NO CONCRETE PLANS FOR THE COLLEGE’S PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SCHOOL HAVE MET WITH THE CENTRAL DEKALB CLUSTER OF THE ATLANTA PROJECT, THE CLARKSTON BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS AND LOCAL COMPANIES TO DISCUSS WAYS FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO ACCESS THE COLLEGE’S RESOURCES.
HARRIET NICHOLS, DIRECTOR OF THE GLOBAL CENTER, SAID THAT THE CENTER WILL PUBLISH A LISTING OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXPERTISE OF THE COLLEGE’S FACULTY AND STAFF THIS SPRING, FOR USE BY BOTH STUDENTS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS.
THE CENTER ALSO HOPES TO TRAIN ITS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO ACT AS CULTURAL CONSULTANTS FOR THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY, SHE SAID, AND IS EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND ITS FACULTY EXCHANGE AND STUDY-ABROAD PROGRAMS.
IN ADDITION, DEKALB COLLEGE CURRENTLY OFFERS CLASSES IN ARABIC, JAPANESE, CHINESE, RUSSIAN, FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH AND ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE THROUGH THE GLOBAL CENTER, SAID MS. NICHOLS, AND PLANS TO ADD PORTUGUESE, ITALIAN AND SWAHILI.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL MS. NICHOLS AT (404) 298-3959.
BY BRIANA PEHLMAN