The Townsend Institute for Global Competency

O'More College of Design believes that a college experience should offer students exposure to, and training with, other countries and cultures. Our membership is currently composed of faculty, students, and board members from 45 states and 20 countries. With each year that passes, more and more of our local econ­omy will include global ties. An understanding of this global economy as well as global politics, global education, global religion, global conflict, and global art and design are imperative to the total preparation process of making our students marketable throughout the world. This global training involves an un­derstanding of the traditions of various cultures in order to avoid misunderstand­ing. But these cultural experiences also enrich our lives and provide us with a true understanding of our world. Local businesses are eager to hire employees who are globally competent and internationally prepared. With this in mind, the Hilliard and McAfee Institutes at O'More College created our new Global Vision­ing Program.

The Townsend Institute Heritage The Townsend Institute was made possible by a grant from Carolyn Townsend McAfee in memory and honor of her parents, Raymond Clay Townsend and Sophia Malin Townsend.

O'More Opportunities for Global Competency:

  • O'More-Grand Tour: International travel courses which provide research, training, and travel to various international communities each year.
  • O'More-Market Trips: Market trips and experiential travel courses to de­sign centers, workshops, and conferences both within and outside the United States (Boston, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and more).
  • O'More-Ireland: A summer semester in Abbey-Leix Ireland, the ancestral home of the O'Mores; Ireland internships; and educational and artistic exchanges.
  • O'More-Oxford: Membership in the Oxford University Summer Research Institute, Harris Manchester College, Oxford, England-a research program for O'More fellows, scholars, and professors.
  • O'More-Outreach Institute: Cultural community service projects by O'More design teams of students and faculty.
  • O'More-First Nations: A program of cultural, academic, artistic, and ex­ploratory study into a variety of Native American Tribes. Activities include Project Cherokee, and Indian Summer: A First-Nations Gathering.
  • O'More Rural and Metro America: Research and travel to small and large academic, design, and artistic venues throughout the United States.
  • O'More-Explore: Short field trips and fun adventures to explore the world of history and nature in our own backyard (Civil war sites, the Natchez Trace, in Tennessee, the Florida Keys, etc.). These trips are typically offered during the fall, spring, and summer breaks.
  • O'More-Sister Cities: Twinning and exchanged with a variety of other countries (currently Canada and Ireland).
  • O'More-GlobeFest: "A Celebration of Nations" international and cultural festival with authentic representatives of multiple cultures each year.
  • O'More Global and Cultural Lecture Series: for O'More members
  • Globalization Training: for O'More Professors
  • Classroom Global and Cultural Training: for students. They may determine their personal level of global credentialing

O'More Credentialing in Global Competency Level  I:

Global Competency Credentialing requires global training concurrent with the pursuit of an aca­demic degree. In consultation with the Townsend Institute for Global Competency and the Hilliard Institute for Educational Wellness, students de­sign an individualized program of study. The pro­gram encourages students to take advantage of the many international and cultural learning op­portunities available through O'More College of De­sign, as they prepare for the ever changing global community. Credentialing requires the following:

  • 6 semester hours of academic courses dealing with international/global is­sues, contemporary or historical cultural events/issues, foreign language, or independent global studies.
  • 6 semester hours of travel abroad and/or cultural training through the O'More Cultural Field College: studying or interning in a foreign country and/or unique cultural communities in the U.S.
  • 45 hours of documented global/cultural community service such as Habitat for Humanity, Tom's Shoes, Angel Tree, Cherokee Reservation, etc. Each event must be pre-approved by the Globalization Department.
  • 45 hours of lectureship/workshop training through O'More co-sponsored programs such as: Passport to the World, Art Up Close and Personal, or non-O'More sponsored lectures and workshops approved by the Global­ization Deptartment (documented attendance at lectures/workshops).
  • 45 hours attending global and cultural events with documented attendance at international/cultural fairs, cultural concerts, etc.
  • A research project and paper related to global competency within the student's particular discipline. A Senior Research Tutor will be assigned to each student to oversee the project.

For more information, contact Professor Jessa Sexton, Director of the Hilliard Institute for Educational Wellness, jsexton@omorecollege.edu

 

Townsend Institute Logo