St. Cloud State University is being recognized for its excellence in integrating international education across all aspects the university with a 2013 Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization.
Presented by NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the Simon Award is named after the late Senator Paul Simon of Illinois who was a strong supporter of international education and foreign language learning. Other universities receiving the Simon Awards for Comprehensive Internationalization are Colorado State University, Green River Community College, Lone Star College System and the University of South Florida.
“Our international students add vibrancy to our academic community, and their presence in our classes brings an important international perspective to all students,” said St. Cloud State President Earl H. Potter III. “The internationalization of St. Cloud State is an ongoing process with an in-place strategy, strong foundations of international activity and broad community support.
This is the second award for international efforts for St. Cloud State already in 2013. St. Cloud State’s partnership with Universidad de Concepción in Concepción, Chile, was honored with an Andrew Heiskell award in January.
The 11th annual Simon Award winners reflect a broad diversity of approaches present in campus internationalization today, both in terms of models and implementation.
“We are proud to present the 2013 Simon Awards to these colleges and universities for their comprehensive commitment and remarkable achievements in bringing global education opportunities to their students,” said NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Marlene M. Johnson. “They are excellent models for how higher education across the country can and must innovate to prepare our students for the global economy we live in today.”
St. Cloud State hosts more than 1,000 students from more than 80 countries and is among the top 10 in international enrollment in the nation among master’s level institutions.
