Evaluating a college connection program designed to enhance features of global citizenship.

Abstract

Despite an increased number of international college students studying at U.S. colleges (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010), research suggests international college students do not interact with non-international college students (Arber, 2008; Hsieh, 2007; Rose-Redwood, 2010, Yin, Huang, & Hare, 2010). Such interaction is essential in developing features of global citizenship, which can then benefit both society and the students themselves (Morais & Ogden, 2010). This mixed method study evaluated Adopt a College Student, a program which sought to develop global citizenship by pairing international college students with non-international college students or local community members. Initial and final interviews and surveys were conducted with twelve international college students, non-international college students, and community members before and after program participation. While quantitative analysis showed a marginal decrease in global citizenship, qualitative analysis suggested non-international college students and community members, not international college students, showed increases in global citizenship in relation to Adopt a College Student. Increases may have been due to utilization of catalysts and suppression of inhibitors for global citizenship. These findings suggested programs like Adopt a College Student may effectively promote features of global citizenship if experiences with the program are significant. Implications for collegiate global citizenship initiatives and future research are also discussed.