Margaret Jablonski, Ed.D.
Vice Chancellor for Student AffairsSenior Student Affairs Officers Institute in Spain, 2005
Forty-five senior student affairs officers gathered in Salamanca, Spain to examine issues of diversity and globalization. The five-day seminar was led by experienced vice presidents and was an interactive learning process. The small group seminars enabled everyone to participate fully and dialogue with colleagues in a comfortable setting.
The University of Salamanca is the third oldest university in the world and a popular study abroad site for U.S. students. We toured the Colegios Mayores (the residential college) and held all our sessions in centuries old buildings. The charming town square was a wonderful venue to continue our outside of classroom learning.
I was able to experience in a personal way, a study abroad program. The eight workshops during the week were:
- Principles and Practices of Providing Student Services
- The Living/Learning Lifestyle in Spanish Higher Education: The Colegios Mayores
- Leading Systemically in a Networked World
- Creating a Culture of Diversity
- Quality Assurance: Responsibility for Accountability or Liability for Responsibility
- Partnering with Parents of Today’s College Students: Can We Make it Work?
- The Bologna Doctrine: A Case Study in Large-Scale Institutional Change
- The Challenges of Educating Global Citizens in an Increasingly Chaotic World
This helped me understand what students go through in a country where they do not speak the language and have never traveled before. I returned to UNC more committed to find ways for our senior staff to participate in international experiences. I challenged each department head to have one international experience in the next two years. On this website you will see some of their highlights. International travel broadens our perspectives on a variety of issues and enables us to be better mentors and advisors for our students.
London, May, 2006
I traveled to London to connect with our Study Abroad program created by Professor Unks, (Education), and also supervised by Professor Hammond (Theater). Approximately 60 students participated in this program, which runs for four weeks. The students live together in a small hotel, taking breakfast with the professors each morning, attending two classes and seeing about 12 plays/musicals while they are there. Numerous cultural activities and educational experiences are built into the month, from the museum to concerts to a river cruise on the Thames.
I connected with the students for the dinner cruise and was able to speak with many of them individually, asking them what they were learning, what most surprised them, and how this would be incorporated into their program of study back home. Another night we attended a new play that tested my limits on expression around sexuality and offensive language. I was able to talk with the professors and the students about this and I considered this part of my learning experience on this mini study abroad trip to London. This is a well managed, carefully planned and executed trip that has benefited hundreds of students over the 30 years it has been in existence.
Ireland, 2005/2006
I have traveled to Ireland seven or eight times, including Spring, 2005 to participate in a Quality Assurance Conference in Dublin (evaluation/ accreditation). I have been connected with the Irish Student Services Association, speaking at two of their conferences over the past five years. My mother’s parents were both born in Ireland and we have cousins I have visited several times. I am captivated by Ireland – the land, the people, the culture, the myths. I was thrilled to be able to make the professional contacts to enable me to deepen my connections with the Irish people and education in Ireland. I have learned much about hospitality, comfort, and generosity from my Irish colleagues.
I have been asked to join a visiting team for the National University in Maynooth in October, 2006. I will be working with my counterpart from Trinity College (Dublin) to examine the student services program at Maynooth and make any recommendations. I look forward to exploring one university in depth to learn from them about the student experience in Ireland.
