by Babatunde Odofin

Greensboro College has been actively involved in international education for over a century. It is inspiring to see how a small college like GC proudly upholds its international education. Despite GC’s efforts to provide international education, there was no club or platform for diverse students to connect outside of class, cafeteria or the coffee shop. However, a new initiative has been established with the aim of serving all students attending classes on campus, and this has led to the formation of the Greensboro College International Club (GCIC). This vision was born out of the institution’s commitment to cater to students from all over the world as well as domestic United States students. 

The Director of International Programs at GC was the driving force behind the establishment of GCIC. They wanted to start up the GCIC as they believe that this serves as a great opportunity to work with students and talk to people from various parts of the world. The director believes that it is a new beginning to work in higher education and understand how colleges and universities operate. Additionally, the college president, faculty and staff have been supportive and hope to see this program project GC forward into the future and further strengthen GC’s stride in international education.

On September 19, GCIC had its inaugural meeting at the alumni dining hall, which was attended by ten students. During the meeting, the students were given membership forms to fill out and the club’s constitution was read out. The club was established to promote intercultural exchange and foster a sense of community among the international and domestic students at Greensboro College. Moreover, the mission is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that encourages cross-cultural understanding, friendship and collaboration among GC students. The club aims to enrich the academic and social experiences of its members by organizing cultural events, educational programs and community service opportunities.  

A board of officers was also elected for the club for this academic year to ensure the club complies with college policies and regulations. The club will hold monthly meetings every third Tuesday of every month throughout the academic year at 12 p.m. on the ground floor of the Student Center.  

Membership is free and open to all GC students who are passionate about promoting international and intercultural exchange. To join, interested individuals need to fill out and submit a membership application. These applications will be available at any club meeting or event. GCIC is very excited and hopeful that the students will help keep the momentum going. GCIC welcomes all students on campus and invites everyone to attend the next meeting.