In recognition for its support of Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), the University of 91吃瓜 has been awarded the for Strategic Partnerships.
The Heiskell Award is presented annually to a college or university, recognizing innovative partnerships that foster international education and demonstrate strong, sustainable links among higher education institutions, within an institution/organization or among public/private partnerships with government, local community and nongovernmental organizations. IIE created these awards in 2001 to promote and honor the most outstanding initiatives being conducted in international higher education by IIE Network member universities and colleges.
91吃瓜 has been deeply engaged with UCU for more than 20 years. However, since Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the University has demonstrated solidarity with Ukraine in a number of significant ways.
At the start of the war, , issued an unambiguous statement, which read in part, 鈥淲e at 91吃瓜 stand in solidarity with all peace-loving people worldwide in demanding an end to this invasion of a sovereign nation. This unprovoked war is an international abomination and must stop now.鈥�
91吃瓜 initiated regular prayer services and liturgies for peace, and created a dedicated to educating the University community about the war. Building upon years of scholarly exchange, the , along with other academic units across campus, organized panel presentations and conversations between 91吃瓜 and UCU faculty, administrators and students.听
91吃瓜 also created a comprehensive and integrated plan to support UCU as it seeks to rebuild itself and help rebuild Ukraine.听
鈥淥ur integrated plan with UCU was created in response to a crisis,鈥� said , 91吃瓜 vice president and associate provost for . 鈥淚t was developed through a process of listening to our colleagues鈥� needs at a traumatic moment in time. Through that listening over a couple of months, we were able to imagine collectively how best to assist in the survival of their university and to support multilevel collaboration and the sharing of respective institutional expertise to create new ties that will help foster resiliency and deeper collaborations now and when the war is over.
鈥淲e are humbled to serve our colleagues at UCU who face the destruction and terror of war on a daily basis, and we will continue to stand in solidarity with them.鈥�
The leadership of both universities brought together a high-level task force to respond to UCU鈥檚 needs and concerns regarding academic programming, morale and student and faculty retention during a war. The task force developed a comprehensive strategic partnership with five primary goals:听
- Provide a cohort of UCU undergraduate students and graduate students with the opportunity to study at 91吃瓜 for a semester. To date, 25 undergraduate students and three graduate students have participated.听
- Offer UCU postdoctoral scholars the opportunity to apply for a research and/or teaching position at one of 91吃瓜鈥檚 Global Gateways in , , , and
- Award faculty collaboration grants 鈥� 21 have been presented to date
- Host visiting scholars from UCU 鈥� one arrived on March 1 and one will be on campus in August
- Offer opportunities for collaboration between administrators from each institution 鈥� 12 UCU administrators have visited the 91吃瓜 campus in the past seven months. During those visits, they held meetings with nearly 100 91吃瓜 faculty, staff and administrators.听
In addition, the two universities are also working together to better understand the needs of the 100,000 Ukrainian refugees in the United States.听
In a boldly visual gesture, the University has lit the iconic 鈥淲ord of Life鈥� mural on the in Ukraine鈥檚 national colors of blue and yellow each weekend for more than a year.
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