By: Amelia Rose Zimlich | Managing Editor | arz1722@jagmail.southalabama.edu
“Advocacy + Inclusivity + Passion + Dependability + Innovation.”
These are the values listed on the website of the Office of International Education (OIE). For the department that handles many of the study abroad opportunities at South, they are vital to success.
“At South, we believe anyone can study abroad, regardless of major or year of study,” said Jan-Dominique Santos, an education abroad advisor. “Our office’s mission is to incorporate global perspectives into educational endeavors at USA. We offer over 800 programs to about 60 different countries. Students can study abroad during any semester for as short as one week, two months, a full semester, or a full academic year!”
Study abroad programs offered by the OIE include exchange programs, faculty-led programs and affiliate programs, as well as various virtual programs. According to Santos, the faculty-led trips are the most popular among South students. To help with the cost of taking classes internationally, the office offers various scholarships and grants.
“For most programs, students can use their financial aid package to study abroad,” says Santos. “Many institutional scholarships can be applied to different programs, as well. Our office itself awards over $100,000 in grants each year to students who want to study abroad. We also help students apply for nationally competitive scholarships!”
With the uncertainty surrounding the current state of travel to and from other countries, a study abroad trip might cause some students to hesitate. Santos recommends students visit the COVID-19 and Study Abroad Programs page, which is updated regularly to reflect current developments, to learn more about international travel regulations.
If students want to meet some of the OIE faculty and learn even more about study abroad, the OIE is hosting their annual Study Abroad Fair on Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Center lobby. At this event, students can learn about different programs being offered and interact with faculty, affiliate partners and other students. There will also be opportunities to get free merchandise and earn micro-scholarships by completing a scavenger hunt.
“The fair showcases multiple programs including faculty-led summer and winter programs, semester exchanges and everything in between,” said Santos. “Students will also be able to interact virtually with program providers to learn more about their program offerings.”
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