Best Practices at Judson College Prepared for the Presidential Symposium on Intercultural Competencies Calvin College, March 27- 30, 2003
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Created a new student organization called BASIC (Brothers and Sisters In Christ), focusing on increasing awareness of diversity on Judson’s campus and in the community. BASIC’s primary purpose is to dialogue with students about social issues that they may not discuss in a classroom setting and break down the social and cultural stereotypes that are predominant in today’s society. Topics have included racial reconciliation, homosexuality, eating disorders, sexual abuse, war and terrorism, rap music and media portrayal of minorities, affirmative action, white privilege and stereotypes. The group also sponsored a Hip-Hop concert during orientation.
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Enhanced the orientation for our new International students (I2I) to better acquaint our new students from abroad to our culture. Traveled to Third World countries (Kenya and Guatemala) as a part of college sponsored mission trips and aim to make one international missions trip annually.
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Sponsored two students to minister in Myanmar by teaching English in an American Baptist college.
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Introduced students to diverse cultures through the "Urban Experience". This week long trip included taking students to homeless shelters, evangelizing door to door in low income Ethnic neighborhoods, tutoring and Bible studies for minority students and interacting with the homosexual community in Chicago.
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Experienced styles of worship in churches of diverse populations to expand our sense of the cultural differences within the church.
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Recommended several chapel speakers from different ethnicities to educate our students on various cultures.
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Hired new minority employees to more accurately reflect our student body. Positions filled were in Advancement, Admissions, Technology services and the International/Intercultural office.
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Initiated academic courses, such as Minority Experience in America and Cross-Cultural Studies, which focuses on a different region each semester.
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Increased awareness of the Study Abroad program and sent students to Hong Kong, England, Netherlands and Australia.
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Participated in various conferences that focused on increasing diversity on campus, including the CCCU conference, ACSD and the National Christian Multicultural Student Leadership Conference (NCMSLC).
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Proposed a scholarship specifically for minority students.
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