"Internationalization of the faculty is essential to the internationalization of an institution,” said David B. J. Adams, senior program officer at the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, during a session at CIC’s Institute for Chief Academic Officers. He explained that faculty members with international experience of their own understand the value of studying abroad and are therefore more effective in persuading students to take advantage of study abroad opportunities. According to Adams, “faculty members with international experience deal more effectively and sensitively with international students.” In addition, faculty members with international experience will have more credibility when they incorporate international topics into their courses. “All of this adds up to the cultural change that must take place at colleges and universities if they are to be successful in educating today’s students,” Adams asserted.

Robert Holyer, provost at Presbyterian College (SC), examined some of the challenges CAOs may face in convincing faculty members of the importance of creating an international focus, citing potential financial obstacles as well as resistance from certain factions of the faculty. He and Adams suggested ways to bring international opportunities to the faculty, from providing funding and time to adjusting tenure requirements in ways that encourage international activities.

CAOs were also prompted to think about how they might help faculty members implement new ideas when they return from an international trip and how they might be recognized in a formal way in front of their peers to create a campus environment that actively embraces international activities.

Other internationalization strategies discussed during the session included creating on-campus events that feature international speakers, incorporating international components into general education courses (both travel and topics of study), and finding ways to use the international population in the surrounding community.