Internationalization in Community Colleges: Perceptions Regarding the Role of a State Consortium

Community colleges currently serve almost half of the undergraduate students in the United States and in an effort to prepare students for interactions in an increasingly globalized world many offer international education experiences. A review of the literature presents a call for higher education to engage in international education along with a strong rationale for doing so. However, despite support from national organizations and indications from employers regarding the value of a global perspective, there are barriers to internationalization for community colleges. One often cited potential solution is the utilization of consortia to assist with managing resources and cost effectiveness. This study uses a case study approach to explore the role of a state consortium in informing international education among colleges in a state system. Interviews and examination of consortium documents were used to establish perceptions regarding the foundational beliefs and roles of the consortium. Barriers to the work of the consortium are also presented.