Global Engagement

Global Initiatives 

Global Engagement is the home of internationalization at Sacred Heart University. There are six areas of service under the office, including collaboration with colleges and departments to promote and highlight all international efforts and initiatives across campus.

Our purpose is to initiate, facilitate, and foster the process of internationalization at SHU. Aside from building and maintaining internal and external partnerships, developing fiscally sound global projects and programs, as well as providing regulation and risk management of global university activities, the areas of service directly under the office include:

  • Comprehensive, university-wide internationalization
  • Global engagement of students and community that includes but is not limited to compiling SHU's global relations inventory
  • Study Abroad programming including that of SHU's campus in Ireland as well as study abroad outreach
  • Management of global ambassadors program
  • The English Language Institute that provides excellent instruction in English as a Second Language and orientation in US culture to all students who are non-native speakers of English

Mission & Vision

The mission of Sacred Heart University includes preparing students both personally and professionally to make a difference in the global community. This requires the University take an active role in creating and sustaining university-wide internationalization.

Comprehensive Internationalization “is a strategic, coordinated process that seeks to align and integrate policies, programs and initiatives to universities as more globally oriented and internationally connected institutions.

Global Engagement supports university-wide internationalization by:

  • Increasing awareness of and support services for campus-wide internationalization, as well as by building global awareness and engagement throughout the university;
  • Infusing global and diverse perspectives throughout the curriculum and connect internationalization to High Impact Practices;
  • Growing opportunities for faculty development, research and exchange abroad through an expanded partnership network with institutions abroad;
  • Developing and upholding international policies and procedures which minimize risks and promote excellence.

Global Engagement supports study abroad programming by:

  • Identifying, developing, nurturing, and reviewing diverse and academically-based international programs, both faculty-led and affiliation agreements with a commitment to quality, safety, affordability and accessibility;
  • Advocating and collaborating on a multidisciplinary level to convey the importance of study abroad and the integration of curriculum;
  • Appropriately advising students to maximize the study abroad experience — before, during and after the term abroad — and develop the habits of mind, heart and spirit that will prepare students to engage purposefully in a global world.

Global Engagement supports English Language Learners by:

  • Providing proficiency testing to all non-native English speakers who apply to Sacred Heart University 
  • Advising and registering students in ESL classes
  • Providing support services such as tutoring, conversation partnering and assessment