By Jonathan Stankiewicz
Ever thought about going to London? How about Australia? Cuba?
Few have probably thought about going to countries thousands of miles away, but at CCSU, with the help of the Center for International Education (CIE), students are able to go to those places and more.
Last week at the Bellin Gallery, the CIE sponsored the 2012 Study Abroad Fair where students were able to meet and talk with professors offering courses abroad as well as meet the CIE staff. Food and refreshments were provided and students were able to get information on trips offered by the CIE.
Interim Study Abroad Advisor Melissa Pierce is expecting more people for the expanded programs the CIE is offering.
“We’re offering still a lot of upper level classes, but also some 100 level classes, which always gets a lot of students to come in,” said Pierce. Some programs are harder to go overseas, said Pierce, but this year the CIE has already seen an increase in interest.
Last year, CIE had 623 total students and professors go overseas: 412 students enrolled in courses abroad, 79 students in study abroad and 132 faculty.
“We are really striving to reach 1000 people from CCSU to go abroad,” Pierce said. “We are getting very close to that goal and i think this year is really going to be our best year that we’ve had yet.” Pierce added that the most popular trips are those to Italy and the UK.
So far this year CIE has close to 70 students in the semester abroad programs for this fall and next spring.
“This is our busiest year that I’ve seen yet and I’ve been here three years,” Pierce said.
The CIE had a slight decrease in the 2009-2010 year thanks to financial issues.
“People just weren’t willing to spend the kind of money that it takes to go abroad, but it was across the board for everything,” Pierce said. “There was less enrollment overall.”
The ones that are more in jepaordy are the more expensive trips, said Pierce.
A program to India was cancelled last year with a cost of $5000.
“You can kind of see why a student wouldn’t be able to afford that and it’s unfortunate,” said Pierce.
The CIE isn’t asking for deposits anymore, a change from how they have done things in the past, due to the new convienence fee.
“We are basically just taking the paper application as like done deal you are going on the program,” said Pierce. “You can back out of the program, but once you submit your application you’re really serious about going.” Students can still bring in the deposit and the CIE will accept it, but they aren’t asking for it anymore.
Today, there are a couple ways to save on studying abroad. Students should know that during the winter and summer programs cost extra for tuition fees whereas, going during the semester it’ll be covered by your other costs.
“We have scholarships up to $1000 and we have programs if you go during spring break it’s technically a spring semester course so if you’re a full time student,” said Pierce. “You just have to register for a spring break class and then you don’t pay extra tuition because it’s included in your fees for the semester.”
Scholarships are available for almost all of the CIE’s summer programs.
The Kyung Hee Global Governance program, which runs for the entire month of July next year, runs for $2,995 and includes six credits of tuition.
Political Science professor Ghassan E. El-Eid is excited to go back to the United Arab Emirates.
“This will be our fourth year,” said El-Eid. “Last year there were six of us that went.”
Students were able to see the desert by going on a safari in the desert, see the second largest mosque in the world and the global city of Dubai.
“Students appreciate the old, ancient culture,” said El-Eid. “They are able to learn both academically and culturally thanks to this trip.”
The winter session program costs $3,000, plus tuition and fees, with scholarships available.
Next summer, on the other side of the world, the CIE is offering a 28-day Australia trip with both Art and Biology classes. Students that go on the program will be able to travel throughout Australia to national parks, city of Sydney and the famous Ayers Rock.
CCSU Art professor Muriel Miller and Biology Professor Sylvia Halkin are the faculty directors for the trip.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for students,” said Miller.
Applications are being accepted now. The deadline for winter programs was October 1 and for Spring courses, the deadline is December 1. Students can register online like they would for their regular classes via CCSU’s WebBanner. The deadline for summer program applications are April 1.
For more information visit the CIE or their website at http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=546.