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Global Awareness Program

Global Awareness Program : About GAP : Overview

Overview

GAP logoThe Global Awareness Program (GAP) awards transcript certification to students who have demonstrated a heightened degree of global engagement through their academic coursework, experiences abroad and co-curricular involvement. GAP is open to undergraduate students of any major who wish to supplement their KU degree with a unique certification.

GAP consists of three main components of which a student chooses any two to complete certification. Students may also fulfill all three components to receive the highest level of GAP certification. Students can tailor their GAP experience to fit their interests, experiences and degree requirements. Upon completion of the Global Awareness Program, students are invited to a formal recognition banquet, awarded a certificate and designated by official transcript notation.

performanceAt its heart, GAP strives to connect students to a broad array of international opportunities to provide new perspectives and integrate diverse aspects of a student's educational experience. GAP capitalizes upon the rich diversity of international activities at KU and encourages students to engage beyond the classroom. With its interdisciplinary emphasis and plenty of flexibility, GAP offers all students the chance to distinguish themselves and demonstrate that they are better prepared to live, lead and work in a global society.

In an increasingly interconnected world, an education with a global perspective can help students succeed. Not only does GAP recognize efforts to gain an understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural perspectives, but it can help bridge experiences in a way that is meaningful and marketable. GAP encourages all students to embark on an educational journey that includes a significant international dimension and provides resources and recognition for those students seeking a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the world.

History

KU campusIn 1999, former KU Provost Shulenburger posed a challenge to the University community that all undergraduate students should have the opportunity to have some kind of international experience before graduation regardless of whether they study abroad. A university-wide Task Force on Internationalization was formed and GAP is a result of recommendations made by this task force.

In late 2002, the Ad Hoc Committee for Certification of the Undergraduate International Experience was convened as a result of the internationalization recommendations. This sub-committee was charged with the task of "defining an international experience in a way that could be measured, certified and rendered on students' transcripts." The sub-committee sought to develop an international educational opportunity for students that was “substantial, certifiable and accessible” to all students.

First called the Global Proficiency Certification Program, the framework for what is today the Global Awareness Program took shape with input from a broad cross-section of the campus community. Members of the ad hoc committee determined that GAP would be structured around three components that leverage existing University resources. With input from each, GAP was approved for implementation by Provost Shulenburger, the Deans’ Council and the University Senate in late 2003.

GAP first offered certification to students in Fall 2004. While there have been very few modifications to the structure of the program overall, the program is continually fine-tuned to best meet the needs of the campus community.  One improvement has been offering students the option to complete all three components to receive 'GAP Certification with Distinction'.

Circle of PeopleSince its inception, approximately 2670 students have participated in the Global Awareness Program. Several other universities, in the US and abroad, have implemented programs based on GAP. GAP is also one of the many reasons that the University of Kansas was recognized by NAFSA with the Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization in 2005.

Growing all the time, GAP continues to evolve in order to carry out the vision of offering all KU undergraduates an international education experience.