Global Scholars Mission Statement

"The Center for Global Leadership, rooted in the Hallmarks of a Notre Dame de Namur learning community, provides students with authentic experiences that educate, empower, and inspire them to develop cultural curiosity, humility, and compassion in order to inform their leadership and service experiences in both the local and global communities."

What Global Scholars Has Meant to Me

The Global Scholars Program has been a constant activity throughout my high school career. Global Scholars has given me the opportunity to participate in programs I would not have otherwise been able to. I have talked and made connections with individuals from all over the world. I have also become a more informed global citizen, with greater awareness and knowledge for what is going on in the world around me. 

Global Scholar Requirements

Coursework and Language Study:  In addition to all Notre Dame graduation requirements:

• • Maintain 3.6 GPA while enrolled in the GCS program.

  • Completion of four globally oriented elective courses. See the course options below.

  • Global Scholars must complete four years of the same world language.

International and Cross-Cultural Experiences:  Completion of three cross-cultural experiences, through which students engage with and often befriend peers who have different identities from themselves; teaching our students the soft skills considered to be vital for success in our 21st century world. Each experience requires approval from the program coordinator in order to qualify. 

• • Cross-Cultural experiences might include:

    • Academic exchange programs, international volunteer experience.

    • Leadership and/or active participation in international or multicultural organizations. Volunteering/service with local organizations that have a global mission (tutoring ESL persons or refugee children, working at cultural organizations, etc.)

    • Virtual exchanges, international conferences, pen pal communication

    • Hosting an exchange student

Program Attendance: Participation in a minimum of four on- or off-campus global-themed activities and events. These might be lectures, performances, conferences, workshops, museums visits, field trips, etc.. The goal for these opportunities are to observe, listen, and reflect in order to learn more about the world. 

Reflections: Reflecting on novel and unique experiences are critical to cross-cultural learning and skill development. Reflections are to be written after each experience, 1-2 pages in length, and submitted to program coordinator through GCS Canvas Course.

School Clubs: Involvement in one school-sponsored club that relates to global issues and/or studies.

• • Model UN, World Affairs Club, Politics and Policy Club, Diversity Club, Identity/Affinity Clubs, Chinese, Russian, French or Spanish Club.

Senior Research Project: The Senior Research Project through English classes will focus on globally-oriented topic. Field work for SRP should provide you with valid experience for your research and for building on skills related to intercultural or global competencies. Both must be approved by program coordinator.

Progress Meetings: Scholars must meet with program coordinator once in freshman year, twice in sophomore, junior year, and senior year. The student is responsible for scheduling her meetings through calendly once Mrs. Moffat sends out the link. These meetings are meant to check in with the students well-being as well as discuss progress made towards completing requirements. For example; project themes, global extracurriculars, cross-cultural experiences completed, leadership goals, reflections written, course selection, senior research project topics, etc.

Webfolio: Completion a of a global citizen webfolio. Scholars will begin to compile their webfolios in the spring of their sophomore year and will have them ready to be included on college applications in the fall of senior year.   This will include reflections on all aspects of the scholar program (coursework, global experiences, clubs, events, programs, travel, etc.), as well as photos, videos, presentations, and other forms of documentation of their robust and rich experiences in the program.