In the News: Swine Flu Cramps Our Study Abroad Style

Last month, several universities across the country decided to cancel their study abroad programs heading to Mexico this summer. 

Sometimes you have to just roll with it. 

With the outbreak of the H1N1 virus in major metropolitan centers throughout Mexico and more cases being reported by the day, universities are getting nervous that their students will contract the illness. There are some huge liability issues for universities who allow their students to head to Mexico, but perhaps our fear of litigation is getting in the way of common sense. While this a new type of flu, most medical professionals say that you're just as likely to die from H1N1 as any other flu. The big issue is making sure you wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer, and keep your distance from visibly ill people. 

Sadly, I've had to advise a few students away from studying abroad in Mexico this summer due to university concerns for health and safety. But that's not gonna stop me from visiting - My best friend from elementary school is getting married there next week! And I'll be there with medical mask and all. Viva la Mexico! 

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In the News: Sustaining Study Abroad Even in the Snow

Don't you love a good carbon off set? Well, you should. And you should be learning about other ways you can reduce your carbon footprint in study abroad - on campus, in your office, for students, and onsite. I live in South Dakota. If you're curious, it's COLD in South Dakota, very cold, like -20 degrees below zero cold on a regular basis. But I made a pact with myself (or the planet, if we're getting technical), that I would walk to work every day during the winter. Granted I live about six blocks from campus. I've lived up to this pact through about 1,000 feet of snow this winder and sub-zero temps that I only thought occurred in NORTH Dakota. 


After this rough winter traipsing through the snow looking like this:

This is why they call it Sno-Dak. 

I was encouraged to read the Inside Higher Ed article related to sustainability in study abroad. It's good stuff, but it definitely got me thinking about what I can do in my little one woman study abroad show on campus to help the environment. Well, not driving to work every day helps a bit. I've told students about the Green Passport program, about carbon offsets, and about the glorious wonder of public transportation in their host countries, but is that enough? 


At the end of the day, nothing we do will ever be enough (I'm such a Debbie-Downer, I know) to completely live carbon footprint free. I just need to hope that these South Dakota farm kids (like me!) will study abroad at all, and the lessons they learn along the way will encourage more sustainable behaviors upon return (or even before). 


My favorite line from the IHE article: "Education abroad can best address the planet's woes through, well, education abroad."


What is your campus or study abroad company doing to offset your carbon footprint? What advice do you have for students setting out on their study abroad programs this summer?

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In the News: Millennials Volunteer, Dress Funny, and Help Each Other Study Abroad

Turns out Gen-Y is pretty darn awesome. 

The quintessential millennial brat pack complete with British accents. 

We may have already thought they were the bees knees with their penchant for volunteerism, technological abilities, and their sense of style. (Okay, maybe not that last one so much.) But now we have even more reason to give this generation a round of applause.


Last year, the student body at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign voted on and passed a measure that would levy a $5 fee on all students which will help fund study abroad operations and scholarships for the university. Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, and the University of Texas at Austin have instated similar fees. Inside Higher Ed has the full story. Click the link above. 


I don't know about you, but I think this is pretty freakin' awesome. Missouri Southern State University (where I started my college career, but I transferred to Northeastern after my freshman year), had a robust study abroad grant program when I attend where EVERY student received a $1500 stipend to apply to the cost of a study abroad program. This supported the university's unique international mission. However, MSSU's international mission has come under considerable scrutiny this year given the state-wide budget deficits. The grant program is still in place, but amounts are much less and much more competitive. Sad. 


Regardless, it's encouraging to hear about these types of institution-wide efforts to make study abroad more accessible AND get the entire campus invested (literally and figuratively) in international education. 


Do you know of other universities that have interesting campus-wide initiatives that help fund studying abroad? 

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