Churchill Institute for Global Engagement Hosts Jefferson City “Global Studies” Faculty Leaders

The newly branded Churchill Institute for Global Engagement (CIGE) hosted a retreat Wednesday, September 25, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Mueller Student Center on the Westminster College campus in Fulton, MO with faculty from Westminster College’s transnational and international studies programs and teachers from Jefferson City High School’s new Global Studies Academy.

The idea came about when the JCHS leadership approached the CIGE’s Director, Dr. Kurt Jefferson (who is also Westminster’s Assistant Dean for Global Initiatives), about having Westminster  provide mentoring and assistance to JCHS faculty in helping them conceptualize their transition to eight new academies away from the traditional high school model.

“We believe that our partnership between the Churchill Institute and the Jefferson City High School Global Studies Academy will forge fruitful links in cross-fertilizing ideas, curriculum, and programming,” says Dr. Jefferson.

Jefferson City High School is a four-year high school with 1,800 students located in the state’s capital.  The academy model will be implemented in fall 2014.  Some 400 students will study in each academy, including Global Studies.

Westminster College’s Churchill Institute for Global Engagement has nearly 40 majors in transnational and international studies programs and it hosts global summer programs, a robust study abroad program, and handles the college’s global interaction. It also houses the recently concluded Hancock Symposium, held in September each year.  Westminster has 1,039 students of which nearly 20% are from over 80 countries, the fifth largest percentage of international students on an American liberal arts college campus and ranks first among all Missouri colleges and universities in percentage of international students.