The aim of the Global Awareness (GA)
component of the Odyssey experience is to help students understand and
appreciate cultures or environments other than their own. Toward that end,
students are encouraged to engage in learning outside the classroom that
broadens their intellectual horizons and deepens their understanding of the
political, social, cultural, environmental, spiritual and economic issues
affecting the world today. Global Awareness opportunities are also designed to
promote personal growth and self-reliance as well as to provide new
perspectives about the student’s own culture or environment.
Any Global Awareness activity for which
Odyssey credit is awarded must contain both an immersion component and a
reflection component. Exposure to the target culture or environment shall be
direct and substantial: one to two weeks of continuous immersion should
be viewed as a minimum. The reflection component may include such things as
guided small- and large-group discussions, papers, journals, and oral
presentations. The Director of International Programs can assist in developing
appropriate reflection activities.
Examples of experiential learning
activities that might fulfill this category:
INDIVIDUALIZED ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES. This
category includes study abroad experiences as well as internships that are
completed in a foreign country. Foreign students enrolled at Hendrix as well as
American students studying abroad may apply for Odyssey credit under this
rubric.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. This category
includes projects completed outside the context of any academic course. Examples
include participation in service-learning trips to other cultures, projects
that involve extensive student research on-site in a foreign environment, and
individual or group study trips to another culture or environment.
COURSES. Any course that incorporates
substantial travel to other cultures or environments as well as an appropriate
reflection component could be a candidate for GA coding.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE GA CATEGORY
Supervisors for the GA category may be
members of the Hendrix faculty or administrative staff.
A GA experience need not involve travel to
a foreign country. An unfamiliar culture or environment in the United States
can qualify. In your proposal explain carefully how such an experience meets
the GA criteria.
Foreign students at Hendrix may apply for
GA credit for their experiences in the United States.
All GA experiences require a reflection
activity.