CWRU student volunteers pose in matching t-shirts at the Center for International Affairs' grand opening in 2011

10 accomplishments of CWRU Center for International Affairs’ first decade; week of events planned

Case Western Reserve has long been a leader in global education and research. And for the past 10 years, the Center for International Affairs has been a driving force in this success. Since launching in 2011, the center has been a home for international students and activities and a central location from which the university can engage with global issues. 

To celebrate this milestone, the center—which has been recognized nationally and globally for its internationalization efforts over the years—is hosting a variety of events for faculty, staff and students April 11-15. 

Established in 2011 by now-President Emerita Barbara R. Snyder, the center is designed to be the strategic hub for internationalization on campus, the core unit for international students and students interested in studying abroad, and a key resource for faculty members as they develop and strengthen their global interests and relationships.

David Fleshler, vice provost for international affairs, said he is “incredibly proud” of the work of the many faculty members, researchers, educators, staff and students who have made Case Western Reserve an increasingly international institution over the past decade. 

“While the center did not initiate internationalization on campus, we greatly enhanced the university’s international work and standing by reaching out to university, government, and corporate partners around the world and by creating opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to make international connections,” Fleshler added. 

Since its inception, the Center for International Affairs—winner of the Institute for International Education’s prestigious Campus Internationalization Award and the Generation Study Abroad Seal of Excellence—has provided leadership, expertise, and support to the Case Western Reserve community, inspiring, cultivating, and promoting a dynamic international presence and a culture of global understanding, responsibility, and citizenship.

Today, the university has more than 200 formal international partnerships and many more faculty collaborations with researchers all over the world. 

The Center for International Affairs invites the campus community to celebrate its accomplishments this week with student giveaways, an International Achievement Luncheon and more. But first, take a look back on 10 of the center’s greatest accomplishments over the past decade.

Top 10 internationalization accomplishments in the last 10 years

  1. Doubled the number of international students at CWRU, providing immigration support and, more importantly, providing international students with a caring and understanding home away from home.
  2. Created an international student advocacy program to help international students adjust and thrive at Case Western Reserve.
  3. Established the Cultural Celebration Series to help bring the world to Case Western Reserve, recognizing major holidays abroad.
  4. Increased the percentage of undergraduate students studying abroad by 50%.
  5. Worked with faculty and departments to develop curriculum mapping for education abroad so that every student can find a study abroad program that works with their program of study.
  6. Created infrastructure and procedures to help faculty, staff and students in times of crisis while they are abroad.
  7. Secured more than $1 million in funding for international endeavors—specifically to support study abroad scholarship, to assist international students in staying and thriving in Cleveland, and to develop research relationships abroad.
  8. In conjunction with schools and faculty, created opportunities for research and engagement around the world, creating relationships and platforms and helping to secure funding for international collaborations in locations such as Taiwan, Brazil, Israel, China and South Africa.
  9. Developed a faculty grant program for international research and teaching.
  10. Designed and led an international rankings initiative, helping Case Western Reserve significantly climb in the rankings of elite global institutions.

Learn more about the center at case.edu/international.