The University of Michigan International Institute has been named an instructional unit, allowing it to work with departments to establish joint appointments with part-time effort from existing and new faculty.
The change, approved Thursday by the Board of Regents, will enable the International Institute to recruit faculty to serve as directors for 17 programs and centers, which are dedicated to interdisciplinary education and international engagement.
“Shifting a portion of faculty effort to the International Institute will allow staff the flexibility to help grow existing programs and to plan for new ones,” LSA Dean Andrew Martin wrote in a memo to the regents.
“It also establishes greater faculty involvement and creates stable curricula for students in its undergraduate and master’s programs.”
The institute seeks to internationalize education, advance global engagement and promote innovation in order to enrich the learning environment for U-M students and faculty. It offers four undergraduate concentrations, eight minors and six graduate programs.
The undergraduate concentration in international studies has grown extensively since its establishment in 2009 and has one of the highest enrollments in LSA.
