Mission & Goals

Mission Statement

The mission of Off-Campus Studies at The College of Wooster is to support The College in providing motivated and independently-minded students with a rigorous and comprehensive education encompassing values of diversity and global perspectives, through the facilitation of domestic and international off-campus study.

Rationale

Such experiences provide invaluable opportunities for students to undertake independent learning and intellectual inquiry and to develop critical thinking skills in a diverse environment on their path to becoming creative, engaged and responsible leaders in a complex global society. As students develop their capacity to function in an inter-cultural and diverse environment, they gain a deeper understanding of their own culture, of the world, and of themselves. OCS maintains that off-campus study is an integral part of a liberal arts education, and that students who participate in off-campus programs in racially and culturally diverse settings bring important global perspectives back to the campus community. Off-Campus Studies is unique among departments and programs at The College of Wooster, as the Director of Off-Campus Studies is directly responsible for the program goals of the Off-Campus Studies program, but only indirectly responsible for the program’s student development and learning goals. That is, the Director is not directly providing services that will meet the student development and learning goals, but is instead helping to link students to off-campus programs that directly provide the services and experiences for the students to achieve these goals.

Student Development and Learning Goals as a Result of Off-Campus Study

Knowledge and Inquiry

Students should have knowledge of the historical, cultural, linguistic, political, religious and/or social aspects of their host site and of global processes in general.
Students should seek opportunities to discuss current events and global issues with others.
Students should keep up to date on current events and international relations.
Students should seek interaction with diverse cultures, perspectives and ways of thinking.
Students should learn a new language, improve their second language skills, and/or be encouraged to continue language study at Wooster (if studying in a country where English is not the native language).

Interpersonal Development and Cultural Understanding

Students should be able to adapt to a diversity of cultural and social situations.
Students should welcome and accept multiple and diverse perspectives and beliefs.
Students should seek to interact with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Students should be able to communicate effectively with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Personal Development and Intrapersonal Understanding

By confronting personal values and beliefs different from their own, students should become more independent and confident in their own identities.
Students should understand that their own cultural backgrounds have strengths and shortcomings.
Students should understand their place in the local community.
Students should understand their place in the global community.
Students should seek to serve the various communities to which they belong.

Programming Goals

In order to attain its mission and student development goals, OCS will:

Collaborate with faculty and administration to help students integrate their off-campus experiences in a way that both enhances their education at Wooster and benefits other students on campus.
Work with the Off-Campus Study Advisory committee to evaluate off-campus programs in order to offer recommendations for endorsement or de-endorsement in line with The College of Wooster mission and the OCS mission for off-campus study.
Develop organized, ethical and comprehensive policies and procedures that promote off-campus opportunities for all Wooster students.
Advise students on off-campus study opportunities, policies and procedures.
Coordinate and sponsor on-campus programming that aims to assist Wooster students in choosing appropriate off-campus opportunities.