Exposing Students to the World

Great Decisions is an after-school enrichment program for high-school students. Great Decisions consists of eight topics on current issues outlined in non-partisan articles and supported with companion videos. The program, developed and annually updated by the Foreign Policy Association, is the longest-standing and largest grassroots world affairs educational program of its kind.

The program’s goals are to:

  1. Expose students to complex and critical issues facing our world.
  2. Develop critical thinking, listening and decision-making skills.

The topics for 2010 are: Special Envoys, Kenya/R2P, Global Crime, China, Financial Crisis, Russia and its Neighbors, Persian Gulf and Peacebuilding.

Participation

Participating high schools typically meet every 4-6 weeks, from September-March for a one to two hour session, facilitated by a faculty member from Edward Waters College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville University or the University of North Florida. The program concludes with students participating in an International Crisis Management Exercise (ICME), which is designed to provide an experience in making decisions about a complex foreign policy challenge.

The faculty sponsor at each high school establishes the guidelines for participating. Generally, the program is open to twenty to thirty 9th - 12th graders. The high schools participating during the 2010-2011 academic year are:

  1. Allen D. Nease
  2. Episcopal
  3. Fletcher
  4. Jean Ribault
  5. Nathan B. Forrest
  6. Mandarin
  7. Ponte Vedra
  8. Stanton College Preparatory
  9. William M. Raines
  10. Yulee

All participating schools must be registered prior to September 1st of each school year. Students or teachers may contact the World Affairs Council at (904) 280-8162 to learn more and get assistance in organizing a program or in becoming a program facilitator.

Funding

The program is offered at no charge. Costs of materials and facilitator stipends are covered through:

  1. The Council’s membership dues
  2. Donations and Sponsors
  3. Grants

We would like to thanks our Great Decisions Sponsors:

Jacksonville Business JournalJaxportEverBank

We would like to thank our strategic partners who provide financial support through grant awards and/or in-kind services:

  1. The Emily Balz Smith Foundation
  2. The Rotary Club of South Jacksonville
  • World Affairs Council Jacksonville - Great Decisions Raines
  • World Affairs Council Jacksonville - ICME 2010