Arts and Sciences Building Facade

Intercultural Learning

for Faculty & Staff

Valpo University Students

Explore Intercultural Learning

The Language and Intercultural Learning Center facilities intercultural learning opportunities and curates resources specifically for Valpo faculty and staff. LINC initiatives that support intercultural development include an online assessment that measures intercultural competence, short-term and occasional discussion groups, and one distinctive program for those who’ve committed to further developing their intercultural competence, coming Spring 2025.

Below, explore opportunities and resources designed for Valpo faculty and staff. Contact LINC Director Carol Goss for more details.

Pictured above are faculty and staff who participated in the 2024 LINC Summer Reading Group. In early August, members met at for their final discussion of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. After enjoying a light meal, the group watched the film Origin, a creative and powerful adaptation that depicts Wilkerson’s path while researching and writing her book.

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Faculty and Staff Groups Overview

  • PODCAST PARLOR (Fall and Spring): Join other faculty and staff for Podcast Parlor, an occasional group for faculty and staff interested in discussing language matters and intercultural perspectives. The group meets five times this Fall, each time on a Thursday, 12:00 – 1:15 pm. Find details about Spring meeting times and other details at Podcast Parlor.
  • IDI PLANNING GROUP (begins mid-January): If you’re a faculty or staff member who has completed the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), you are invited to join a Community of Practice to help you begin your IDI Plan. The first IDI planning group discussion is tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-January. I’m interested. Please contact me.
  • WINTER 2024 READING GROUP: Join other faculty and staff members to read a text over winter break 2024. Return in January 2025 to discuss once or twice. Text selection TBA.
  • LANGUAGE GROUPS: Put yourself in the role of learner and try a new language by participating in a student-led language group. Though these informal groups are created for students, based on their interests, Valpo faculty and staff are also welcome to participate. Fall Language Groups
  • SUMMER 2025 READING GROUP: Join other faculty and staff members to progressively read and discuss a text throughout the summer months. Text selection TBA.
  • SUMMER 2024 READING GROUP (concluded August 2): A small group of faculty and staff met on five occasions over the summer to progressively read and discuss the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. This short-term group gathered for the last time in early August to view the companion film Origin. Future short-term reading groups will be developed in the coming year.

Please contact LINC Director Carol Goss if you know of other helpful online resources.

* LINC Director Carol Goss is currently taking this course and can share her experience, if you are interested in learning more.