Community Colleges & MSIs

Through our collaboration with Hemispheres, and on our own, SAI has nurtured strong institutional partnerships with community colleges and minority-serving institutions to help them meet increasing demands for internationalized curriculum in an ever more globalized world.  SAI fulfills the need for South Asia expertise and internationalized programming in Central Texas through several intensive and on-going collaborations.

Launching Global Studies at Huston-Tillotson University

Since 2012, SAI has collaborated with Huston-Tillotson University (HT), a historically Black college in east Austin, to develop a global studies program on their campus.  In support of their initiative, SAI sponsors the teaching of courses, faculty research and professional development, and the hosting of symposia, special exhibits and film screenings.  HT plans to launch a new Global Studies major by 2018, starting with an emphasis on environmental and social justice.  SAI also works with HT to build its library resources related to South Asia.

Internationalizing Cultural Foundations Courses at St. Edward’s University

Since 2014, SAI has collaborated with St. Edward’s University to expand the international content of its curriculum to expand coverage on the region of South Asia.  Located in South Austin, St. Edward’s ranked #5 in the 2016 list of “Best Colleges for Hispanic Students.” Each year, SAI sponsors the teaching of a Contemporary World Issues course.  The SAI sponsored courses include an overview of a crucial global issue with a focus on the region of South Asia.  In addition, SAI works with St. Edward’s faculty to organize symposia, film screenings, and other events that bring South Asia to their campus.

Strengthening International Relations at St. Mary’s University

Since 2014, SAI has worked with St. Mary’s University in San Antonio to cultivate informed and responsible leaders in the global community through its Graduate Program for International Relations. SAI partners with their faculty to develop new curriculum units, courses and on other research projects and programs related to the study of South Asia. Read here to learn more about one of SAI’s collaborative partnerships.

Globalizing Curriculum and Professional Development with Austin Community College

In the 2016–17 academic year, Hemispheres launched a professional development program in partnership with Austin Community College (ACC). Through the Faculty Learning Community (FLC) – Globalizing Curriculum ACC faculty are introduced to experts on Human Rights and Global Issues and are given opportunities to learn from their FLC colleagues and to develop projects that bring Human Rights and Global Issues into their classrooms. SAI also partnered separately with ACC to host a series of two-week training programs for principals from three colleges in Punjab Province, Pakistan.  The program afforded the visitors an opportunity to learn about ACC practices, organizational processes and resources. The visits also offered learning opportunities for ACC faculty and administrators to understand the structure of Pakistani colleges and the challenges they face as they embark on a pilot project to adopt US community college practices at their own institutions. 

Other Collaborations

In addition to the above collaborations, SAI has also partnered on projects with faculty at Johnson County Community College,  Sam Houston State University, Texas State University, and The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Faculty from community colleges and minority-serving institutions are also welcome to join our Educator Travel Aboard Programs and our workshops for high school educators.  Community college and MSI faculty have attended and enjoyed these opportunities, as well as training through the Hemispheres Summer Institute.

To learn more about one of the above opportunities, or to explore new ways to work with SAI, please contact Sidra Rind.