Linda and Dave Wesselink have committed $350,000 over the next five years to enhance the infrastructure to support current and future international students, ensuring international students feel welcome and succeed at Central.
As chair emeritus of the board of trustees, Dave Wesselink remains an ardent believer in the educational impact of global experiential learning. He and Linda have generously supported faculty development in global education in the past, which has led to renewed creation of programs abroad. This new gift supports expansion of Central’s international program and initiatives and includes a coordinator position to work with students from the point of admission to Central College until the student leaves campus.
The funding supports the work with students for orientation to the campus and to the United States, and coordinates efforts with the department of modern languages, Student Development, the class dean with responsibilities for international students, and the associate dean for global education. The extension of the program also allows for assistance with placement opportunities at internship sites, and for exchange students from Bangor University we will partner with our resident director at Bangor to ensure a smooth transition and orientation for students.
In April 2012, the Central College Board of Trustees approved a strategic framework document with top initiatives including a commitment to become an international community of global learners. In doing so, we enhanced our identity as a leading liberal arts college in global, experiential education. Half a century after the creation of Central’s first study abroad program, the college reaffirms its commitment to educate students for participation in the complex, richly intercultural society of the 21st century.
In the summer of 2013, the Vermeer Charitable Foundation awarded a $500,000 grant to Central to support our international student initiative. This lead gift to Central College also was intended to inspire others to help transform the college into an international community of global learners by focusing on the recruitment of international students to the Central campus. The model of “Selection and Success” is designed to recruit and admit students who we anticipate will succeed at Central and then provide them with the support needed for success. The transformational gift from the Vermeer Charitable Foundation inspired Linda and Dave to further support the success of our international students on campus.
