Learning Abroad Center

20 Years of Curriculum Integration

20 Years of Curriculum Integration Banner

 

20th Anniversary of Curriculum Integration at the University of Minnesota

In the late 1990s, the University of Minnesota (UofM) began a pilot project to test new ways to integrate study abroad into the curriculum. This initiative offered a model for interactions with other academic units. Meanwhile, the leadership of the UofM placed priority on providing international perspectives as part of the undergraduate experience. Past presidents Mark Yudof and Robert Bruininks enthusiastically supported study abroad as one way to integrate international perspectives into the curriculum. Over the last 20 years, undergraduate experience abroad participation has grown from 861 to over 3,000, and learning abroad as a percentage of degrees granted reached 35% in 2019. 

With encouragement from top administrators, the Learning Abroad Center (LAC) pursued grants to fund the development of this model in a way that could be shared with other institutions. The LAC received grants from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) and then the Bush Foundation. The University expanded integration work to nearly every college on all UofM campuses (four at that time). The focus was on the long-term impact that a transformation of study abroad attitudes and behaviors could bring to our institution.

Read more about the 20th anniversary of Curriculum Integration at the University of Minnesota.

History of Curriculum Integration by College

The following interviews highlight the long-term impact that a transformation of study abroad attitudes and behaviors brought to our institution from the perspective of some of the stakeholders essential to the project’s success.

The Success of Curriculum Integration (5-minute version)

The Success of Curriculum Integration (30-minute version)

The following interviews highlight the long-term impact that a transformation of study abroad attitudes and behaviors brought to our institution from the perspective of some of the stakeholders essential to the Curriculum Integration Initiative project’s success.

Dr. C. Eugene ‘Gene’ Allen, PhD

Former University of Minnesota Provost for Professional Studies, Dean of Agriculture, and Associate Vice President for the Office of International Programs

Gene Allen

Christine Anderson, PhD

Academic Director, Learning Abroad Center

Christine Anderson

Lynn Anderson

Founding Director of Curriculum Integration. Associate Director, Learning Abroad Center

Lynn Anderson

Michelle Cumming Lokkegaard

Administrative Leadership

Michelle Cumming Lokkegaard

Michael Houston, PhD

Former Associate Dean of Global Initiatives and Professor Emeritus

Mike Houston

Martha Johnson, PhD

Assistant Dean, Learning Abroad

Martha Johnson

Susan Kubitschek

Former Assistant Dean & Director, College of Science and Engineering

Susan Kubitschek

Meredith McQuaid, J.D.

Associate Vice President and Dean of International Programs, Global Programs and Strategy Alliance

Meredith McQuaid

Craig Swan, PhD

Former Professor of Economics and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

Craig Swan

Gayle Woodruff

Director (system-wide), Curriculum and Campus Internationalization

Gayle Woodruff