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Many of you may have read Thomas L. Friedman’s book, “The World is Flat.” The major point in this book is that the world has changed. As a result of the dispersion of information technology across the world, Americans can now communicate with people from around the globe. Although the United States still remains the dominant economy in the world, competition and collaboration with peoples from many different cultures and languages is now something that affects all of us. Ready or not, we all live in a global world. Whether you work for an international organization, vacation abroad, have lost your job to international outsourcing, enjoy music from different countries, or just shop at Wal-Mart, you are part of the internationalization of America. People from other counties recognize the importance of internationalization and the dominance of the United States. In my visits to various foreign universities I have met with many students who are studying English, learning about American culture, and who show a great curiosity about America. To be competitive and to operate successfully in this environment, our students must also have a world view. Faculty and students in the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences at CMU have been leaders in international studies, not only in the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures, but in each of the departments that make up the college. This newsletter documents some of the efforts by students and faculty engaged in international activities. While I am supportive of all our international efforts, I am most excited about the opportunities for our students to study abroad. In almost all cases, the students who study abroad come home with a better understanding of the countries they visited, a better understanding of the United States, and a better understanding of themselves and the opportunities available to them after they leave CMU. I would like all of our students who have a desire to study abroad to have the opportunity to do so. Each year the college uses some of its undesignated gifts from alumni and friends to help support students who wish to study abroad. If you share my enthusiasm about the importance of studying abroad, I encourage you to consider making a gift to support scholarships for students who wish to study abroad. You may contact our development office at (989) 774-3354 or CHSBS@cmich.edu or indicate that your gift is for “study abroad” when you mail in the envelope in the center of this newsletter. I hope that you enjoy reading about the many exciting international activities taking place in the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Sincerely,
Dean College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences
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