Park University, an innovative institution of higher education, joins America's other innovative colleges and universities in creating and shaping a new interconnected world by preparing global learners through cultural awareness to lead, communicate, and conduct business in a world marketplace. This is made clear in Park's strategic plan, Explorations & Transformations 2012: Access to Excellence and guides me in my service as Park University's president. I accept the duty and responsibility to uphold the university's promise to provide access to academic excellence, both faceto- face and online; and to maintain its commitment to prepare learners for serving an everchanging world.
Since 1875, Park's classes have been filled with student learners who study, live, and work side by side with those from other cultures, as they prepare to embark on career paths that take them into fields such as the arts, education, and business. More recently, Park University has benefited enormously from its participation in the ACE Internationalization Collaborative. Our faculty and staff have engaged with colleagues at peer institutions, sharing best practices and exploring new areas of collaboration worldwide.
I consistently hear from corporate leaders who express frustration about the need to reorient their new hires to think globally. We view international education both as a moral imperative and a competitive advantage. Throughout its history, the university has served international students on its campuses, guided by its mission and vision to prepare learners to serve the global community through lifelong learning. Our core values call upon each of us to reflect on our purpose as a community of scholars and learners to remain engaged in our communities throughout the world.