West Valley trustees to consider if global education is a priority

By Rebecca Ray

In June, the grant that makes a program for cultural exchange possible at West Valley College will end. But students and faculty members at the college hope that the West Valley-Mission Community College District Board of Trustees will give high priority to the global education program in the district's budget and allow the program to continue.

At the next district board meeting, which will take place on March 1, at Mission College in Santa Clara, the board is scheduled to vote whether or not to make the program a priority.

West Valley student Riquel Martinez, 20, of San Jose, a first-year communications major and member of the Student Senate, said she wanted global education to continue "because of the rich educational experience it offers to every single student. It expands your understanding of other peoples' cultures. It's definitely an enriching experience you couldn't get otherwise."

The global education program at West Valley focuses on bringing more international students on campus and encouraging students who are from the United States to study abroad so that students can learn more about people from different cultures. The program is currently funded by a grant from the community college state chancellor's office. The grant, which is for about $75,000 and shared jointly with Mission College, has allowed the global education program to exist at West Valley for the past three years.

Through the global education program, students study abroad, including traveling to Mexico to learn about immigration issues. Officials in the program have also worked with the Santa Clara County Office of Human Relations on immigrant education needs.

In addition to keeping these components of the program, students and faculty would like to have at least one full-time international student coordinator. Presently there is one part-time international student coordinator, who helps international students obtain visas and complete other paperwork that's necessary for them to attend college in the United States.

A full-time staff member would also track the changing market and determine which components of the program should be added and deleted so that the program could remain competitive, said Ken Colson, design project director for the grant. Colson is an anthropology professor and chair of the anthropology and geography departments.

Colson said that he would also like to see classes that students can take by logging onto the Internet. He said he would also the global education program at West Valley to partner with community colleges in Mexico to establish technical training programs there.

Martinez said that she would like to see a more expanded study abroad program. Second-year Spanish and education major Megen Bristow, 20, of San Jose, said that when she lived in Mexico for one month through the college's language immersion program, meeting students from other cultures added to her college experience.

"Global education teaches students diversity, but it also encourages them to learn beyond the boundaries of their classrooms or nation," said English instructor Leslie Saito.

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