The overarching focus of the College of Arts and Sciences 2010 Strategic Plan is Experiential Learning . The general areas of focus within the Strategic Plan are an innovative interdisciplinary curriculum, taking students to the world and bringing the world to our students, faculty-student engagement, hands-on learning, intellectual enrichment, raising our College profile, and improving physical and financial assets.
A CAS education is a journey of intellectual transformation in which students explore diversity of ideas, experiences, and people .
CAS Diversity Statement
By fostering an open, harmonious, and hospitable context for learning and work, the College of Arts and Sciences encourages all its faculty, staff and students to recognize the intrinsic value of every human being in an increasingly interconnected world. Each member of the College of Arts and Sciences is responsible for actively supporting this commitment.
Guided by its mission and philosophy, the College of Arts and Sciences has a number of initiatives that promote internationalization and diversity through "Experiential Learning" among students, faculty, staff and the community.
Experiential Learning - Taking Students to the World and Bringing the World to our Students
CAS internationalization and diversity efforts focus on expanding the horizons of students. Initiatives under this broad goal include:
Study Abroad and Overseas Student Trips
Study abroad and student trips overseas, that have an academic focus, are often life-changing experiences for students. They provide rich opportunities for learning that cannot be delivered in any other way. Providing as many students as possible with the opportunity to have some kind of overseas experience is particularly valuable to our SIUE students who have frequently not traveled beyond the local region.
International students at SIUE
International students who attend SIUE greatly enrich the learning environment, and bring the world to our students through their unique and varies experiences and culture.
Visiting scholars and artists
Visiting scholars and artists also greatly enrich the learning environment both in and outside the classroom.
A diverse faculty, in the broadest sense possible, and one that mirrors the human variability of the world is an essential component in the structure of the University and College. Thus, attracting and retaining a diverse faculty must be a major goal for CAS.
Faculty exchange and travel
Faculty exchange is an option that brings visiting faculty to the College and thus enriches the learning experience. At the same time such an exchange provides our permanent faculty with experience at another institution that they can integrate in their future teaching.
Service learning that involves student engagement in community projects can have a significant impact on both students and can enhance ties to the community. The opportunities for service learning exist at SIUE but not everyone may be aware of them or incorporate them as options within a course or program.