Professors and administrators from 18 colleges and universities across the nation will visit Samford University this week to see how Samford's core curriculum prepares its students beyond their academic calling.

Representatives from schools in 12 states and the District of Columbia will attend the "Faith, Vocation and the Core Curriculum" symposium, which begins Wednesday (OCT. 12).

The 34 visitors all have an interest in incorporating into the classroom meaningful cross-cultural experiences for students who come from a predominant faith tradition or similar cultural background. Those attending represent a variety of denominationally-affiliated schools and some public colleges.

While at Samford, they will observe cultural perspectives classes that are studying a unit on Islam and communication arts classes that are focusing on service learning.

The purpose of the symposium is to show how well the requirement of foundational courses at Samford prepares students not only for their academic career, but for their individual vocational calling, civic engagement and global citizenship, according to Samford arts and sciences associate dean and event coordinator Dr. Rosemary Fisk.

Dr. Patricia M. King, professor and director, Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, University of Michigan, will lead a plenary session on Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.

Her topic will be how people process information that may be different from their background or core belief system.

The three-day symposium is presented with funding from the Samford in Mission grant initiative as part of the Lilly Endowment, Inc.'s Programs for the Theological Exploration of Vocation, and Samford's Center for Teaching, Learning and Scholarship.