CSB/SJU receive Senator Paul Simon Award Nov. 13 in Washington, D.C.

Representatives from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University received the 2012 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill Hotel in Washington, D.C., during International Education Week.

CSB president MaryAnn Baenninger took part in a panel discussion on steps higher education institutions can take to meet rising student demand for foreign languages, access to study abroad opportunities and international experiences needed to compete for jobs in today's global economy.

The panel was hosted by NAFSA: Association of International Educators, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.

Following the panel, a reception honoring the award-winning schools was held. The reception included remarks from Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Ann Stock; and Maureen McLaughlin, senior adviser to the Secretary of Education and director of international affairs.

The 2012 Senator Paul Simon Awards for Campus Internationalization were announced March 6. Besides CSB/SJU, Juniata College (Huntingdon, Pa.), Northern Arizona University, San Francisco State and the University of Michigan received the award.

Each year, institutions that win Simon Awards are profiled in a NAFSA report, "Internationalizing the Campus 2012: Profiles of Success at Colleges and Universities." NAFSA said CSB/SJU has taken a "well-coordinated approach to internationalization."

"The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University ... understand the need for sustainability and made expanding international education experiences a cornerstone of their 2010 strategic plan," the report said. "Now, 60 percent of the 2,000 female students and 45 percent of the 1,900 male students study abroad ... , while the colleges' Center for Global Education is expanding partnerships for exchanges and internships across China, Japan and India."

Named for the late senator from Illinois, the Simon Award recognizes outstanding and innovative achievements in campus internationalization. Simon was a strong supporter of international education and foreign language learning. 

Read the March 7 CSB/SJU release on the award.