During Meredith Doran’s time working with international students at Penn State, she noticed a need for greater global engagement on campus.
“The global has kind of arrived on campus, and yet we don’t have a lot structures in place that kind of facilitate sharing cultures with each other, sharing languages with each other, especially for undergrads.”
Doran is the director of the English for Professional Purposes Intercultural Center. She helped create the Global Engagement Community, a special living option opening next fall on the fourth floor of Beaver Hall.
A mix of 75 international and domestic students will be accepted to live on the floor after completing an application.
“So far, we already have several student applicants. It’s a mix of American and international students. The people who have applied are extremely excited about it and say that it’s really something they’d been hoping would be available on campus in one way or another.”
Doran says the new residents will engage in planned social activities, service projects and a class in the residence hall to broaden cultural understanding in a casual setting.