Center for Intercultural Engagement
Union University is uniquely positioned as a leader in 21st century missions. Furthermore, intercultural engagement — including community development, humanitarian outreach, and integrative skills — is essential for a globalized world and increasingly important to our student population.
The Center for Intercultural Engagement (CIE) — integratively situated, structured, and staffed — provides campus-wide intercultural academic programming support. By optimizing the missional impact that our students and our community members have here and around the globe, the CIE bolsters Union's broader mission of supporting interculturally-engaged, Christ-centered education that promotes excellence and character development in service to Church and society.
The CIE consists of staff and faculty members who are committed to providing guidance, support, instruction, and development for intercultural academic initiatives grounded in current theory and research, current practices found across the academy, the International Education Industry, and our core values.
The CIE partners with both academic departments and various divisions of student services to develop and implement interculturally-engaged curricular and co-curricular programming.
Union University Statement on Immigration
In light of the complex and contested sociopolitical response to immigration, refugees, and asylum seekers, Union University affirms its commitment to providing Christ-Centered higher education regardless of a student's place of origin. Union embraces the Southern Baptist Convention's resolution on immigration and the Gospel, declaring that "any form of nativism, mistreatment, or exploitation is inconsistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ," as is "any bigotry or harassment against any persons, regardless of their country of origin or legal status." Union's Center for Intercultural Engagement provides comprehensive support for its international population, including a first-year experience, language support when needed, and assistance with current government regulations involving international students and scholars. Union celebrates the cultures represented in our student body, faculty, and staff. We recognize the immeasurable potential that intercultural engagement has on Christ-centered education and resolve to maintain a caring and supportive learning environment that positively shapes hearts and minds.