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Connecticut College receives $1 million gift to advance campus internationalization

December 15, 2008

NEW LONDON, Conn. - Connecticut College has received a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor to advance the internationalization of campus curricula and to support faculty in international research opportunities.

"In today's increasingly global marketplace, it is essential that college graduates enter the workplace with a broad perspective. This very generous gift supports our comprehensive strategy designed to infuse a cross-cultural perspective into our curriculum, programs and campus culture," Connecticut College President Leo I. Higdon Jr. said. "A gift like this in times like these speaks to the strength and commitment of the Connecticut College community and our educational mission."

Connecticut College has a long tradition of internationalism which is reflected in the college's mission statement, "Connecticut College educates students to put the liberal arts into action as citizens in a global society."

The college is currently pursuing a major initiative to develop an International Commons that would bring an international dimension to every discipline and impart a global perspective to all faculty teaching and research.

"This gift will have a direct and very meaningful impact on students and faculty by helping to establish an endowed fund for new curricular approaches to foreign language acquisition and study of global issues through team-taught courses," said Dean of the Faculty Roger Brooks. "It will enable the college to design courses that bridge traditional divides among disciplines in the exploration of transnational issues and to forge closer working relationships between foreign language faculty and their colleagues in other disciplines."

The grant will also support faculty who pursue research opportunities overseas.

Internationalization is one of four key initiatives in a $200 million fundraising campaign Connecticut College publicly launched in October. A majority of Connecticut College students currently study abroad; many also do international internships or join faculty in important research overseas. With additional support raised through the Campaign for Connecticut College, the college will integrate more of that international perspective into the daily academic and co-curricular life on the New London campus. To date, the Campaign for Connecticut College has raised $113 million.

Situated on the coast of southern New England, Connecticut College is a highly selective private liberal arts college with 1900 students from all across the country and throughout the world. On the college's 750-acre arboretum campus overlooking Long Island Sound, students and faculty create a vibrant social, cultural and intellectual community enriched by diverse perspectives. The college, founded in 1911, is known for its unique combination of interdisciplinary studies, international programs, funded internships, student-faculty research and service learning. For more information, visit www.connecticutcollege.edu.

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For media inquiries contact: Amy Martin (860) 439-2526; a.martin@conncoll.edu