COLLEGE PRESIDENTS SHARE THEIR VIEWS
Educating Global Students at Queens College
By President James Muyskens, Queens College
At Queens College it is easy for us to keep our eye on the world as we have students from over 150 nations. Because of this diversity, we are committed to making sure our students graduate with an understanding of cultures and nationalities other than their own.
As part of this commitment, we have been expanding our global education initiatives by revising our curriculum and offering an Education Abroad program that lets students take credit-bearing courses almost anywhere in the world.
Last fall and spring Queens College hosted a very successful Year of China, which included world-renowned scholars and performing artists. This academic year we will present the Year of Turkey: Past, Present, Future, which will explore the politics, society, economy, arts, and ethnicities of Turkey. I invite you to join us on our exploration; you can find a full list of Year of Turkey events at www.qc.cuny.edu/yearofturkey
Two recent gifts will help the college expand its offerings in Middle Eastern studies, building on our existing classes in languages, history, and culture. QC graduate Nasser Khalili, co-founder and chairman of the Maimonides Foundation—an organization that promotes peace and understanding among Jews, Christians, and Muslims—has donated generously to support a visiting professorship in art history, with an emphasis on Islamic art. And the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation has contributed a very 21st-century gift: a website devoted to the arts of the Islamic world (www.artsoftheislamicworld.org).
As we place great emphasis on student satisfaction, we are proud that a report by the Education Trust identified Queens College as one of only five U.S. schools that do a good job of serving low-income students. And once again the college was named one of the country’s best undergraduate institutions in The Princeton Review’s 2012 guide The Best 376 Colleges. In a nod to our extraordinarily diverse learning environment, the college ranked 11th in the United States for “Lots of Race/Class Interaction.” Among the words of praise we received from students were “Great education at an affordable price,” “personable, intelligent professors,” and “amazing diversity.” It’s gratifying to know that our students have such positive things to say about their experience with us.
Our beautiful residence hall, The Summit, which opened in fall 2009, is so popular, we have a waiting list for this fall. The Summit is attracting students from the greater metro area—and beyond—who recognize that they can reap the benefits of a residential experience and a first-rate education at a very affordable price. #
