Salve recognized with international Innovation Fund award

NEWPORT – A new Spanish minor at Salve Regina University won the school one of eight “100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund” awards, according to an announcement made by the university on Tuesday.

The “100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund” initiative launched two years ago by the White House, U.S. Department of State, Partners of the Americas, and NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Together with the Council for International Educational Exchange and Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra, Salve Regina’s department of modern and classical languages and the office of international programs crafted a new Spanish minor which incorporates a six-credit, eight-week summer study and service program in the Dominican Republic.

James Mitchell, associate professor and chairman of Salve Regina’s department of modern and classical languages, explained the minor is targeted at students pursuing careers in nursing, social work, administration of justice and health care administration.

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“By developing students’ Spanish language skills and knowledge of Hispanic Caribbean cultures, [this program] will prepare students graduating from four of Salve Regina’s largest academic majors to better serve the local populations in Rhode Island, Southern New England and other metropolitan areas nationally,” he said.

Recipients receive a $25,000 grant and Tuesday marks the third of four rounds of grant competition, supported by Santander Bank N.A., which were open to all higher education institutions in every country in the Western Hemisphere as part of President Barack Obama’s signature education initiative.

The goal of “100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund” is to increase the number of U.S. college students studying abroad in the Western Hemisphere to 100,000, and the number of Western Hemisphere students studying in the U.S. to 100,000 annually by the year 2020. With this goal, the administration hopes to enhance hemispheric competitiveness, increase prosperity and prepare a more globally competent workforce.

Erin FitzGerald, Salve Regina’s director of international programs, said she expects this program to increase the number of Salve Regina students, in the targeted majors, who choose to study abroad, especially in Western Hemisphere countries. The opportunity, she added, puts in place the infrastructure needed for future students to follow in their footsteps.

Those schools also honored include Universidad EAN, Colombia; Universidad Tecnologica de Tijuana, Mexico; Vancouver Island University, Canada; College of Staten Island, CUNY, New York; Louisiana State University, Louisiana; Marian University, Indiana; and Towson University, Maryland.

All eight honored universities were celebrated at a press conference held at Salve Regina on Oct. 4.

The “100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund” has awarded 78 Innovation Fund grants to teams of 168 higher education institutions in 20 countries across the Western Hemisphere.

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