In July 2002, the first GCF Global Campus began in Chiang Mai, Thailand as a Demonstration Campus. At that time, a core group of Thai adults with disabilities began to create and develop their campus curriculum and learning environments while seeking a growing membership. Now in their 17th academic year, the campus participants are well-known throughout the country for their innovative educational approach to the experience of disability. Thai government officials, university faculty, and disability organizations often refer to them as the new generation of thinkers and leaders in disability culture.

In July 2003, Global Campuses Foundation was invited to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont to conduct an initiative with adults with differing abilities to determine if they would like to establish a Global Campus. Their decision was immediately favorable and within months three Global Campuses were formed: Global Campus St. Johnsbury, Global Campus Newport, and Global Campus Hardwick. In 2007-2008, GCF welcomed 3 more Vermont campuses: Global Campus Bradford, Global Campus Moretown, and Global Campus Randolph.

The most recent addition to the GCF network of campuses is Global Campus Springfield. Global Campus Springfield began in 2008. Global Campus Shiremont followed in 2010. In the fall of 2014, the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) partnered with GCF and piloted a campus in Lamoille County. The campus was named by participants as GC Lamoille and is thriving as our newest campus. In 2018, GCF received a grant from Jane’s Trust to start 3 new campuses. The campuses are currently launching in Brattleboro, Colchester and Montpelier, January/February 2019.

All of the GCF USA campuses have engaged in Campus-to-Campus Connections, C2C, activities within the state, and across the world to Southeast Asia. In 2008, the USA campuses hosted two of the key campus administrators from Global Campus Chiang Mai, Thailand on a two-month site visit in Vermont. In 2015, two other Thai colleagues made another site visit to the USA. (See: C2C description of various ways to connect across campuses.)

Global Campuses Foundation is truly fulfilling its vision and mission, and, with an active strategy for further impact expansion, it is planned for many more Global Campuses to emerge statewide, nationwide, and worldwide. We thank all of the GCF campus participants, resource persons, partners, and other important GCF colleagues and supporters for their contributions to the sustainability and success of Global Campuses Foundation.