This presentation shows what a vital role that university and collegiate academic advisers play in the study abroad process, including an overview of study abroad from a U.S. perspective, numbers, growth, key majors, the Simon Bill in front of Congress, how to work with faculty to support and promote study abroad, and how academic advisers can get more of their students and advisees to consider an international experience.

1. Integrating Study Abroad Into Your Students’ Academic Plans The Vital Role Academic Advisers Can – and Should – Play Steve Luther Manager of Faculty and Academic Outreach AustraLearn – AsiaLearn – EuroLearn Educational Programs of GlobaLinks Westminster, Colorado

3. Myths and Misperceptions

4. Challenges to and Strategies for Getting Students Abroad

5. Types of Study Abroad Programs – What’s the Difference?

6. Funding Sources – More than You May Think

7. The Senator Paul Simon Act

8. The Role that Academic Advisers Can Play

9. Spreading the Word to Students

10. Working with Faculty

11. Information Resources

14. 241,791 U.S. students studied abroad – +8% increase from 05-06

15. 2% of U.S. collegiate student population – still

16. Duration

17. 55% short-term programs – 8 weeks or less

18. 40% mid-term programs – semester/quarter

19. 4% long term programs – year abroad

20. By Class Standing (UG)

21. 36%: Junior; 21% Senior; 13% Sophomore

22. Majority

23. Caucasian (82%), Female (65%)Information from Open Doors Report 2008, Institute of International Education http://www.opendoors.iienetwork.org/

24. Most Popular Destinations

26. 19%: Business/Management (46,000; +17%)

27. 13%:Humanities (32,000; no change)

28. 8%:Fine/Applied Arts (18,500; +10.5%)

29. 7%: Physical/Life Sciences (17,600; +14.5%)

30. 7%: Foreign Languages (17,300; -1.5%)

31. 4%: Education (10,200; +12.5%)

32. 3%:Engineering (7,400; +13%)

33. 1.5%:Math/Computer Science (3,500; +8%)

34. 1.5%:Agriculture (3,500; +25%)

35. 3%: Undeclared (7,600; + 0.4%)

36. 6.5% “ Other Fields” (16,400; +2.5%)Information from Open Doors Report 2008, Institute of International Education http://www.opendoors.iienetwork.org/

37. Study Abroad Student Participation 2006-2007 – NACADARegion 10 By State Arizona (3,900 Abroad +4% vs. Prev. Year) Colorado (3,800 Abroad; +18%) Utah (2,800; +3%) New Mexico (870 Abroad; -1%) Wyoming (355 Abroad; +55%) (CA 24,000 Abroad; NY 19,000; PA 15,000) Total # Abroad Students Nationally, Doctoral Inst. #15 U. Arizona (1,777) #17 BYU (1,756) #26 Ariz. State (1,487) #36 CU-Boulder (1,159) (1 NYU 3,034; 2 Mich St. (2,801); 3 UT-Austin (2,172) By % of UG Participation Nationally, Doctoral Inst. #2 U. Denver (74%) Information from Open Doors Report 2008, Institute of International Education http://www.opendoors.iienetwork.org/

39. 67%: Not enough home univ. scholarships, funding

40. 61%: Not enough staff to handle more students

41. 40%: Not enough interest from faculty to integrate study abroad into curriculum for credit transferInformation from The Forum on Education Abroad, State of the Field Survey 2008 http://www.forumea.org

42. Common Myths and Misunderstandings About Education Abroad from Students Costs too much/no funding There’s no financing options or scholarships Will delay graduation Need to speak a foreign language No applicable programs for specific major – especially professional programs (Nursing, STEM fields, Education, Architecture, etc) Credit won’t transfer to degree Nobody to help me on campus Unsupportive faculty – or are they? Lack of opportunities for upper-division students or after undergraduate graduation How will this experience help me – currently or after graduation?

43. Reality Check: Causes of Why More Students Aren’t Going Abroad Can’t afford it – particularly in current economy Don’t know about – or apply for – scholarships Don’t find out in time – lack of campus outreach Nobody ever told them why or the benefits Disjointed campus process: runaround, bureaucracy Don’t know what to do/how to access Restrictive majors and/or academic departments Some faculty may say: “Can’t get a better education anywhere but here” Lack of institutional policies Lack of a dedicated study abroad office or coordinator Lack of support for students’ program Financial/institutional aid portability Public vs. private institutions – differing challenges

44. Explaining the Benefits 2nd best thing a student can do while in school Open to all students – all majors Studying abroad = more employable Life-Changing – no matter how small Millions of $$$ of scholarships available Financial aid may very well be allowed to be used on these programs Credit can transfer back (specific to univ., dept policies) Meet students from around the world – future contacts – gateway to international travel and work possibilities Once-in-lifetime experience – hard-pressed to duplicate for the rest of their lives Strong U.S. dollar abroad (favorable exchange rates in many overseas countries)

46. Attend campus study abroad fair (if held)

47. Meet with academic adviser or faculty adviser to plan the experience into their curriculum

48. Talk to their parents/others in decision process

49. Meet with financial aid office

50. Apply and gain acceptance to study abroad program of choice

51. Obtain required course approvals

52. Apply for scholarships

53. Attend pre-departure orientation

54. Go abroad!

57. Some Independent Sources:

58. Gilman: $6 Million in Funding ($4-5,000 awards) + $3,000 “Critical” Language Grants

59. Rotary: Award amounts up to $25,000

60. Fulbright: Many Programs, Millions in Funding

61. Boren/NSEP: Award amounts up to $20,000

62. Freeman Asia: Awards amounts up $7,000

63. Diversity Abroad.Com: 20 $1,000 Awards

65. Ensure diversity in student participation

66. Diversity locations – particularly developing countries

68. 25% direct to students; 75% direct to institutions (85% of that toward scholarships)

69. Institutions apply to independent foundation for grantsInformation from NAFSA: Association of International Educators www.nafsa.org/simon www.nafsa.org/takeaction

74. Short-term and/or faculty-led

75. Volunteer or Service Learning

76. Degree earned overseas (grad school)

79. Almost always offer scholarships

80. Open access to all students

82. Curriculum integration/matching

83. Bulk purchase/currency hedging to keep pricing down

84. Work with financial aid processes, arrange consortium agreements

87. They do want to reach out to academic departments, but often are time-challenged or only make contact during a “crisis”

88. Is there an annual or bi-annual study abroad fair?

89. Is faculty/academic adviser training offered in study abroad?

90. Presentation/table at freshman orientation; homecoming; parents’ weekend; campus tour stop

93. Links on your academic department website

94. Class announcements or presentations

95. Some provider organizations actively partner with academic departments for scheduled campus visits

96. Bulletin boards, departmental libraries

97. Students clubs and societies

98. Utilize study abroad alumni in your department

99. Recruitment tool for future majors

100. Is your dept using social media? Facebook, Twitter, Digg, etc

101. Support the campus study abroad/international programs office by spreading word of events, info sessions, etc

103. Helpful websites: studyabroad.com, goabroad.com, iiepassport.org, studyabroaddirectory.com, studyabroadfunding.com, studyabroadlinks.com

105. Faculty can suffer from lack of information about overseas programs and options

106. Curriculum matching (for overseas universities) key

107. Ideal: faculty-driven process for course approval and credit transfer

108. Most will usually allow at least a short announcement in their classes

109. Short-term, faculty-led programs are a good entrée to whet the appetite

110. The more rigorous the major, the less flexibility there is to integrate study abroad

112. Questions/Discussion Steve Luther Manager of Faculty and Academic Outreach AustraLearn – AsiaLearn – EuroLearn Educational Programs of GlobaLinks Westminster, Colorado www.globalinksabroad.org 800-980-0033 / 303-446-2214 sluther@globalinksabroad.org