Student Perceptions of Global Engagement Community (GEC) Impact

Thursday, November 14, 2024

3:30 PM – 4:20 PM EST

Location: Freedom Hall A

Chair and Presenter(s)

Tianyu Liu (he/him/his)

PhD Student
Penn State
State College, Pennsylvania

Slides

Presenter(s)

Nikki Mattson

Teaching Professor, Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives
IECP at Penn State University
State College, Pennsylvania

The Global Engagement Community (GEC) at Penn State University is a dynamic living-learning (LLC) environment where domestic, exchange, and international students intentionally come together to explore intercultural learning and relationship building.

This poster reports out on a mixed-methods study, spanning three years, that examines GEC student perspectives about their experiences within the community. Our research draws from pre-semester survey responses and post-semester semi-structured interviews.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the transformative impact of the Global Engagement Community (GEC) on participating students.
Develop a heightened awareness of the value of intentional intercultural experiences in higher education.
Appreciate the importance of academic components in shaping the impact of an LLC.