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SKEMA Business School - GTI Course Requirements for Bachelor's students

The GTI is providing 12 hours of content for SKEMA's Bachelor's degree students in their US History and Culture course. If you have any questions about these requirements, email gti_TA@ncsu.edu for clarification.

Course Overview - New Students for Spring 2013

Course Overview - Returning Students (from Fall 2012)

Grades & Assignments

  • Attendance/participation in GTI workshops & International Cultural Leadership Project (ICLP) events = 20%
  • Personal reflection of a Leadership Development Series workshop = 20%
  • Personal reflection of an academic ICLP event = 20%
  • Final personal reflection of semester/year at NC State = 40%

Attendance is expected at all workshops. Being late is equivalent to one-half an absence and will affect your participation grade. Absences due to illness will be excused with proper medical documentation. Unexcused absences will result in a 0 for that portion of the course. There are no make-up sessions for missed workshops. You are responsible for keeping track of your scheduled workshop dates and times.

The majority of your grade is comprised of two short personal reflections and one longer reflection. The written personal reflection allows a person to look back at an experience in a thoughtful way that assesses the meaning and impact of the event. Reflections provide a means of self-assessment for the student to consider his or her own thinking and learning processes. They help students analyze their own observations, attitudes, beliefs, and values. Reflections can also help students make connections between the current and past experiences as well as future goals.

Students will be graded on each reflection on a 20-point scale according to this rubric. Students must work on personal reflections individually and not as a group. Any assignment turned in for academic evaluation must be completed in accordance with the NC State Code of Student Conduct. Students are expected to submit only work that is the product of their own efforts and must give proper credit and citation to all other information sources. If any student is found guilty of plagiarism in any form, he or she will automatically receive a 0 on the assignment and referred to SKEMA administrators. Students who do not submit the 3 required reflections outlined below will receive a 0 for that portion of the course. Assignments turned in after the deadlines will incur a 10% penalty for each 24-hour period it's late (ex. turning in your assignment at 5:01 pm means the highest grade you can receive is 18/20). Assignments that are turned in more than 5 days (including weekends and holidays) after the due date will not be accepted and will be marked as a 0 for that portion of the course. You are responsible for remembering the due dates of your assignments.

Culture Shock Workshop & Orientation (NEW students only)

This two-hour orientation is held during the first week of class for all of the new students in a small-group workshop setting . It is broken into two distinct sections, a workshop and discussion on culture shock and then an extensive overview of course expectations and requirements for the semester. Attendance and participation is compulsory for all new SKEMA students.

Students will be able to:

  • identify the various stages of culture shock
  • apply strategies that will help them cope with culture shock
  • define culture and its role in their lives
  • identify differences between French and American cultures
  • navigate through various online platforms and systems so they can sign up for events and workshops

Building Friendships Workshop (NEW students only)

Trained peer leaders facilitate an interactive workshop for SKEMA and NC State students during the beginning of the semester. The workshop covers topics such as cultural differences in social behaviors and expectations. Student leaders present some of the biggest challenges American, French, and other international students face when they try to form friendships at NC State University. It allows students to examine and discuss various social scenarios in which cultural misunderstandings occur. Attendance and participation is compulsory for all new SKEMA students.

Students will be able to:

  • describe the different expectations of friendship in French and American cultures
  • explain differences in non-verbal communication between French and American culture
  • compare and contrast cultural dimensions regarding time, activities with friends, and food
  • discuss the different expectations in social and business situations
  • identify the differences between safe and unsafe social situations

Leadership Development Series (LDS) Workshop presented by CSLEPS

The LDS workshops provide the resources necessary to develop personal integrity, organizational understanding, communication skills, and an ethic of service. Workshops are led by faculty and staff, community members, and student leaders. They cover a wide variety of topics. Make suure you read the workshop description carefully before signing up. Students MUST attend one workshop and complete a graded reflection about their experience and what they learned. Reflections should be between 250-300 words. They must be submitted online by 5 pm on April 12, 2013 and should include a brief summary of the workshop and what you learned from your experience.

  • Sign up for an LDS Workshop with your Unity ID and password BEFORE January 25. Workshops fill up quickly!
  • Make sure you cancel your reservation if you are not able to attend.
  • Submit a personal reflection about the LDS workshop by 5 pm on April 12. A personal link will be emailed for you to complete and submit your assignment online. It's best to compose and save your reflection in a document editor like Microsoft Word and copy and paste it into your online submission.

International Cultural Leadership Project (ICLP)

Students must participate in 3 events of their choice throughout the semester. ICLP events include cultural, volunteer, and academic activities/events invovling international and domestic NC State students. Cultural events will explore traditional American recreation activities such as bowling and line dancing. Volunteer events will take place at various non-profit organizations around the Triangle. Students must complete a graded reflection on one of the numerous academic events offered by NC State and the GTI throughout the semester. Reflections should be between 250-300 words. They must be submitted online by 5 pm on April 12, 2013 and should include a brief summary of the event and what you learned from your experience.

  • Sign-ups for events planned by the GTI take place on OrgSync. Attendance is taken at GTI events.
  • A weekly newsletter is emailed to your NC State Gmail account with events and activities that will count for credit if you attend with 2 SKEMA and 2 NC State students. Proof of attendance must be submitted on OrgSync to receive credit for the event (upload a photo of everyone who attended and include the names of the SKEMA and NC State students).
  • Students can also propose their own ideas for an ICLP event. There must be at least 2 SKEMA and 2 NC State students at the event. Proof of attendance must be submitted on OrgSync to receive credit for the event (upload a photo of everyone who attended and include the names of the SKEMA and NC State students).
  • Students MUST attend an academic event (they will be labeled on OrgSync and in the weekly newsletter)
  • Submit a personal reflection about an academic ICLP event by 5 pm on April 12. A personal link will be emailed for you to complete and submit your assignment online. It's best to compose and save your reflection in a document editor like Microsoft Word and copy and paste it into your online submission.

Workshops for returning SKEMA students (from Fall 2012)

SKEMA students who are returning from the Fall 2012 semester MUST attend the following 2 workshops during the semester:

1) Race Relations in the US: Wednesday, February 13 from 2-4 pm, Room 356, Witherspoon Student Center
Race and racism have a long and pervasive history in the United States. Understanding that history as well as how it affects education, socioeconomic status, language, opportunity, media, and relationships today is critical to understanding the culture and sociopolitical environment of the United States. Changing preconceived and incorrect notions of race and difference has multiplier effects through all of levels of a society. Tthis workshop will challenge how participants see and view the construct of race.

Students will:

  • Evaluate the subjective history of race relations in the US
  • Examine the notions fo race
  • Synthesize the ecological dimensions of racism

2) Leading a Diverse Workforce: Wednesday, April 3 from 9:30-11:30 am in Cox 206
One of the most common reasons employees leave an organization is their relationship with their supervisor. Today's workforce is changing dramatically and your leadership skills must keep pace. Learning to address the needs of a diverse workforce and communicate effectively are critical skills for success and require practice. Culture influences organizations and leaders influence culture. This is an introduction to the skill set required for today's 21st century leaders.

Students will:

  • learn about the four cultures that exist in organizations
  • practice differentiating facts from assumptions
  • learn how to prepare for difficult conversations

Final Personal Reflection

The final personal reflection should be between 600-800 words and should cover your time here in the United States. It must be uploaded online by 5 pm on April 19, 2013. A personal link will be emailed for you to complete and submit your assignment online. It's best to compose and save your reflection in a document editor like Microsoft Word and copy and paste it into your online submission.

Examine and synthesize how you were affected by the activities you participated in, the people you've met, the courses you've taken, and other experiences you've had during your semester (or in some cases, your academic year) abroad by answering some or all of the following questions:

  • What did you learn about American culture from this experience and how could it help you in the future?
  • If you don't think you learned anything about American culture from this experience, why do you feel this way and how much responsibility do you bear for it?
  • What did you learn about your own culture from this experience and how could it help you in the future?
  • How could you have made this experience more valuable?

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