Lander University has added its name to a list of colleges and universities that have made a commitment to double the number of their students who choose to study abroad by the end of the decade.
It is a campaign called Generation Study Abroad, sponsored by the Institute of International Education, which said, "Every student who wants to succeed in the global economy should study abroad." The organization points out, however, that less than 10 percent of college undergraduates take advantage of international academic programs before graduating, and it is looking for 500 institutions that pledge to significantly expand their study abroad programs.
According to Dr. DeWitt Stone, director of Study Abroad at Lander, the university places an average of 17 students each academic year in foreign schools for a semester of study. He said under terms of its Generation Study Abroad commitment, Lander will more than double that average to 38 students a year.
Stone said Lander will also continue to sponsor at least seven faculty-led international study tours for 70 students during spring break and summer terms.
Lander President Daniel Ball noted that the university began its study abroad program in the mid-1980s, enabling students to study at colleges and universities in Europe, Central and South America, and Asia. He added, "Our students return with only good things to say about their experiences. They enjoy and benefit from studying on campuses overseas alongside international students and being taught by faculty from the host countries."
Under its Generation Study Aboard agreement, Lander has committed to improving student access to study abroad counseling and to increase study abroad scholarships and clerical support for the program. Ball said Lander recently established minors in international studies and international business and will encourage other department chairs to visit appropriate programs abroad to find other curriculum links at schools overseas.
For its part, the sponsoring organization said it will award 5 to 10 grants a year to schools making outstanding progress with their targets, to be used for study abroad scholarships for students.