KSU's Study Abroad Program

 Talia Gutierrz

Comm 3330-4

Assignment #1- Final News Story

Feb. 7,2011

Kennesaw,Ga.- Announced on January 31, Kennesaw State University earned the Institute for International Education’s 2011 Andrew Hesikell Award for innovation in international studies.

Thus far, KSU’s Global Learning Scholarship has awarded more than $725,000 to students since 2008, when the scholarship was founded. 

More than 1,000 institutions are eligible to compete for this award, yet KSU received 1 out of 12 of the awards.

Although KSU offers these scholarships to its students who attend international educations, it may not even matter if the attendance of students applying does not increase, says Keith Tudor, professor of Marketing and Professional Sales at Kennesaw State.

“Due to the economy, there has been a decline in enrollment over the last two years for study abroad programs.” He says, “This decline in enrollment of study abroad programs is an extraneous variable that hopefully changes very soon.”

Money for this scholarship is included in every student’s fees at KSU, yet while students are investing money towards this program, they are not taking much action to use it. KSU reports on its website that 866 students studied abroad in 2010 and the number gradually is getting lower.

Kennesaw State, which is now the third largest university in Georgia, offers this scholarship program as part of its broader efforts to expand access for more student opportunities and enhance global learning to every student who studies abroad.

“In today's complex, interdependent world, it is important to have first-hand experience of other countries and cultures,” says Dan Paracka, education-abroad director for KSU’s Institute for Global Initiatives.  “We believe that every KSU student should study abroad; therefore we are doing our best to make such important educational opportunities more accessible.”

Shannon Roche, a third-year Communication major at Kennesaw State, participated in the Italy study abroad program in summer of 2010. She agrees with the above statement and says she believes study abroad really helps young people understand how different American culture is compared to others. “It helped me see the history of that country and I also made friendships that last a lifetime,” says Roche.

Scholarships widen students’ access to the education abroad experience, says Paracka. Professor Tudor has a somewhat different opinion; “normally the scholarship would help students sign up for education abroad. I just don’t know if it did this year by looking at the low amounts of sign ups,” he says.

Tudor believes that students’ psychological perspective of the scholarship helps them feel like they are receiving some money back after paying x amount of dollars in their fees for the program. As of now each student enrolled in a study abroad program receives a $500 scholarship. The fewer students who enroll, the more money each student receives, boosting the scholarship value.

Overall, the fewer students who sign up for a study abroad program could change the trip experience. “The memories you share with each other and learn from one another are some of the most important aspects of the trip,” Prof. Tudor says.