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October 2003

More students traveling for courses

Heidi Hurst with University Studies Abroad Consortium talks with students about study abroad opportunities at the Study Abroad Fall Fair in mid-September.

One widely accepted premise is that textbook- and tuition-burdened students are always broke. It's that money factor, along with recruitment, that is one of the biggest hurdles for UNF's study abroad programs.

Fears about terrorism and SARS are not impacting the number of students studying abroad, according to International Center Director Tim Robinson. In fact, the number of UNF students studying abroad continues to grow, from 180 students in 2000-01 to 248 in 2002-03.

"The biggest thing seems to be the economy," Robinson said.

Programs at UNF range from about $1,000 to $4,000 and can be for a week or a few months. Robinson said study abroad costs can be worked into financial aid packages, and some programs have other resources.

The Coggin College of Business, for example, has the John Barrett Fund, which provides $7,500 a year for 10 years to subsidize study abroad.

The college had seven faculty-led study abroad programs last academic year that drew 107 students. Sixty-four students took faculty-led courses through Arts and Sciences, 35 students went through the College of Health, and 22 participated through Honors.

While the number of study abroad participants continues to increase at UNF and across the country, Robinson and others, including the U.S. government, would like to see it climb higher.

UNF was No. 19 in its Carnegie Classification, which includes master's institutions, for the number of student participants in study abroad in 2000-01, according to rankings by the Institute of International Education. Robinson is awaiting the next round of rankings, which will be released in November.

"There's a lot of interest on campus," said Dr. Donald Graham, coordinator of study abroad programs in the International Center.

Graham works many of the study abroad fairs and orientations, and said parents often are more excited than the students about study abroad prospects. Neither Graham nor Robinson has noticed an increase in questions or concerns related to the events of the last two years.

That's not to say UNF hasn't been affected. Robinson said the University has a new requirement that faculty leaders must have a cell phone or satellite phone. When the war broke out in Iraq, UNF tried to reach groups traveling abroad, but was unable to in one instance.

The SARS outbreak also forced the postponement of a business college trip to China. The trip, which had a health care accounting theme, was a required part of the Weekend MBA program for May graduates, who ended up working on a project here instead of in China. Ten of the original 20 students are scheduled to take the trip next spring, said Dr. Jeff Michelman, who leads this program.

Two students studying on their own in China during the outbreak also were asked to return home, but only one student did so, Robinson said.

Robinson said study abroad programs at UNF go through several checks to make sure faculty and students will be safe, and programs are reviewed each year. He said only one program has been denied, and that one would have gone to Israel.

While the International Center does play a role in study abroad programs, the task of setting up programs rests on willing faculty members. Dr. Jeff Steagall in the Coggin College of Business, who is involved with several study abroad trips, said the first time setting up a program is time-consuming. Handling all of the students' travel requests and questions also takes time.

"A lot of individual attention is required," he said.

Steagall, who's been leading trips for more than five years, said there's always something new to see, even after several visits.

"The lure for me is watching the students' minds open," he said, adding that it's the same reason he went into teaching.

But the money issue affected Steagall's planned summer trip to the Czech Republic. The usual program was expanded this year, but the price also expanded, curtailing students' interest. Steagall said the previous model - and lower price - will return for this academic year.

Students are not limited to the study abroad offerings in their colleges. Students can take study abroad courses in another college or through other universities and organizations.

"Getting them abroad is the important thing," Steagall said.

To help the business college accomplish that is Anne Sheridan's job. Sheridan began this fall as the assistant director for the Center for International Business Studies.

"The world is getting smaller," Sheridan said, "to be competitive, they need to have these kinds of experiences."