Factors influencing campus internationalization: a case study of a Liberal Arts College in the Upper Midwest.

Abstract

The process of campus internationalization at St. Norbert College, a small liberal arts college in the Upper Midwest, is analyzed as a case study in this dissertation. St. Norbert College was selected as an institution because it received the Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization in 2004. Using two studies that demonstrate effective methods for implementing campus internationalization (Johnston & Edelstein, 1993; Kelleher, 1996), and a more recent study on transformational change in higher education (Eckel & Kezar, 2003), a framework of five important factors is used as a theoretical proposition in the case study. Through interviews with key faculty members, senior administrators, and staff involved in campus internationalization, and analysis of documents dating back to 1972, seven important factors are identified, including the five factors in the framework, as well as two other factors unique to St. Norbert College. Employing a systems model, an explanation is developed of how a combination of multiple factors working together influenced several campus-internationalization initiatives at St. Norbert College. There are similarities in the factors influencing campus internationalization when comparing the case institution against the theoretical framework, suggesting some commonality of factors. Also identified are important factors unique to St. Norbert College. The combination of factors working together is key in the development and sustainability of campus-internationalization initiatives.