Collaborating for Student Success: The Scholar of Global Distinction Program

UNC World View extends Carolina’s commitment to global education beyond the boundaries of campus by supporting global opportunities for community college educators and their students. Through the Scholar of Global Distinction program, UNC World View collaborates with North Carolina community college educators and students looking to increase their global knowledge and engage in globally intensive courses and experiences.

Director Charlé LaMonica emphasized how the Scholar of Global Distinction program has been an integral part of achieving UNC World View’s mission to equip North Carolina educators from the mountains to the coast with global knowledge, best practices, and resources to prepare students to engage in our interconnected world. LaMonica affirms:

“UNC World View is committed to fostering collaboration between UNC-Chapel Hill experts and North Carolina community college instructors as they infuse their courses with rich global content, deepen students’ understanding of the world, and prepare the next generation of leaders in our state and across the globe.”

Started by community college educators and developed with the support of UNC World View, the Scholar of Global Distinction program has expanded to reach 33 community colleges since the program inception at Davidson-Davie Community College in 2013. Through this partnership and with funding provided by the UNC-Chapel Hill National Resource Centers, UNC World View connects community college instructors with UNC faculty and librarians, provides them with relevant global resources, and supports these educators as they develop and implement globally focused courses and activities.

These courses are infused with global perspectives and content, and they provide community college students with skills important to their post-graduation plans, whether they are entering into a four-year institution like UNC-Chapel Hill or the workforce. These courses emphasize how global perspectives are a part of diverse range of disciplines, from Biology and Quantitative Literacy to Literature and Writing and Research in the Disciplines, as well as a variety of career paths, such as Law Office Management and Technology and Crisis Intervention. Participation in these courses develops students’ critical thinking and collaboration skills, digital literacy, and ability to communicate clearly and thoughtfully across cultures.

LaQuoia Johnson’s course on Pharmacy Trends at Davidson-Davie Community College, for example, prepares students to “provide culturally competent care to diverse populations” through activities that emphasize effective intercultural communication and deepen students’ awareness of the intersection between culture, physical and mental health, and medical care.

Hazael Andrew, Associate Director of UNC World View, collaborates with Scholar of Global Distinction community college instructors who are globalizing their courses through UNC World View by connecting them with UNC’s global resources and noted the impact of UNC Global’s commitment to serving the state’s educators and students.

Last spring, Andrew traveled to Guilford Technical Community College to attend Scholar of Global Distinction students’ capstone project presentations. Through these presentations, Andrew witnessed the depth of students’ global learning over the past two years and noted the impact the multifaceted programming, coursework, and intercultural travel and activities had on students’ critical thinking, written and oral communication skills, and abilities to engage empathetically with diverse populations.

“As a global research university committed to serving the state, UNC-Chapel Hill is invested in sharing our global resources with students at campuses across North Carolina so that all students have the opportunity to get a global education,” Andrew said. “Faculty and staff at both UNC-Chapel Hill and community colleges recognize how global education develops future-ready students who are empowered to work in our increasingly interconnected workforce.”

By taking globally intensive courses, studying abroad or engaging in intercultural experiences, completing a capstone project, and participating in international activities, Scholar of Global Distinction students also can earn a “Graduated with Global Distinction” notation on their transcript. This notation signals to academic institutions and future employers that Scholar of Global Distinction students are particularly committed to intercultural understanding and capable of engaging thoughtfully in our increasingly diverse communities and workplaces.

“Since 2015, it has been wonderful to see the profound impact the program has had on our students,” Carol Hayes, professor at Forsyth Technical Community College, said. “Through this program, our students experience personal growth, honing essential communication skills such as empathy, active listening, and self-discovery. They undergo significant academic development, gaining the confidence and maturity necessary to aim for greater accomplishments as they envision their place in an increasingly interconnected world. Our Global Scholars find a renewed enthusiasm for class and find a new belief in themselves that they can follow their educational and career dreams.  This program is a transformative global experience for our students!”

In a 2021 survey conducted by UNC World View and partners, approximately 78% of participants reported that they transferred to a four-year institution after completing the Scholar of Global Distinction Program. In spring 2023, 125 Scholar of Global Distinction students graduated from the program. Eleven transferred to UNC-Chapel Hill. The spring 2024 class was the largest to date, with 158 students graduating from the program.

Grace Evans, transferred to Carolina after taking part in the Scholar of Global Distinction Program at Wayne Community College. She said the program inspires intellectual curiosity and community engagement. Evans is continuing her global education with a double major in Russian and peace, war and defense. In 2022, she was awarded a scholarship through the Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) to study Russian in Kyrgyzstan for seven weeks, and as a member of the ROTC at Carolina, she received a scholarship to travel to Lithuania for an intensive eight-week program, Project Global Officer.

“The Scholar of Global Distinction program challenges students to think outside of the box and consider ways that we can participate in global learning experiences on campus, in our communities and abroad,” Evans said. “I am grateful for the foundations set by the Scholar of Global Distinction program at Wayne Community College that spurred on my academic interests and desire to pursue a career in intelligence and international relations.”