University Daily Kansan / Wednesdav, August 22. 1990
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Study abroad is available Students can earn KU credit studying in a foreign country
By Marc Ardissone
Special to the Kansan
The KU Office of Study Abroad has been providing KU students with the opportunity to travel to countries with diverse cultures for more than 32 years.
Promoting the idea that international exchange is a necessary link in education, the Office of Study Abroad offers academic-year, semester, and summer travel programs, with the possibility of earning certificates. Foreign travel program deadlines and eligibility vary and most programs require a 3.0 grade point average.
Mary Elizabeth Debicki study abroad director, said travel to foreign countries could change a person's life
"What we're realizing is that it behooves all of us to put an international dimension into our academic career," she said.
The office has brochures and catalogs outlining the various programs offered by the 48 countries affiliated with KU available in 203 courses. The course files include information ranging from climate to tourist attractions.
Debicki said that if a student has a specific country in mind, he should come into the office.
research some of the available institutions for that country and make an appointment with a study abroad adviser.
Advising prospective students allows specific programs and options to be weighed carefully, she said.
"We want to get students in here to talk to us. We don't want them to be deterred because they may not understand what is required of them," Debcik said. Students don't realize that it is just as easy to take basic, required classes abroad as it is here, she said.
Two reasons students often are denied the opportunity to study abroad are the lack of early plan- ing and heavy financial burden, she said.
In the past, students who could not pay all of a foreign trip's expenses relied mainly on financial aid to help defer the costs, she said. But financial aid often did not meet all of the student's needs.
The financial burden should lessen during the next two years due to a joint effort by the office and the department of international studies and programs, Debicki said.
More merit-based scholarships of about $500, which will be available next year, and a proposed new payment plan should help make
foreign travel more affordable to KU students, she said.
The proposed payment plan, which may be implemented in 1991, would charge students institution tuition for foreign study. Students would still have to pay travel expenses, room and board.
"I're really an innovation," Debicki said. "This indicates a strong commitment. We don't come from going because of money."
Debicki said the reasons students decide to study abroad depended on the individual. Some students take advantage of the summer programs by using them as a way to fulfill a foreign language requirement, giving students the opportunity to learn a language's cultural nuances first hand.
Other students go to learn more about their native culture.
Other students, realizing how the U.S. economy is in touch with other nations, choose programs specifically designed to give them an international perspective in their area of interest.
"Living and studying in another culture teaches us about our own." Debicki said. "You have to go to another country to appreciate the
students often find themselves more marketable simply because of their cross-cultural experience.
Whatever the reason, returning
"If it doesn't feed you economically, it will always feed your soul," Debicki said.
During the course of a semester, about 250 students inquire about studying abroad and Debiikie estimated that about 600 students become involved in an academic-year program.
Debicki said the University's travel abroad program to Costa Rica was the largest and oldest study abroad program in the Western hemisphere. About 80 students are participating this year.
Mia Su St. Louis senior, said she learned about herself during her trip to Brighton, England.
KU hosts about 1800 foreign students. About 100 of them are exchange students.
"I wanted to meet new people and start over, to be self-reliant," she said. "The best part was having the opportunity to travel to different countries and to experience their cultures."
The Office of Study Abroad holds informational meetings during the year in living groups and various departments. On September 20 the office will hold a meeting for students to discuss their experiences abroad
New hall programs to foster community
By Toni Feltman
Special to the Kansan
Because leaving family, friends and familiar surroundings can be an unsettling experience, KU residence staff will help ensure the transition as painless as possible.
Special interest floors and a restructuring of hall governments are two programs that will promote increased sense of community this year.
One such program is to allocate one floor in McCollum Hall to freshmen admitted to the College Honors Program. The McCollum program will offer personalized advising from faculty and a mult-cultural perspective. The floor can accommodate 40 male and 40 female students.
Sandra Wick, assistant director of
Sandra Wick, assistant director of the College Honors Program, said McCollum was chosen because the large population of students required cultural diversity.
Sharon Brehm, former director of the honors program who developed the program, said it would be a contribution to the College Honors Program.
"Hopefully, in the future, it will become bigger," she said.
'Excellence in Ellsworth' is another program offered by the residence hall system to encourage a graduate who has been enrolled which began last year, has been
expanded from one to two floors.
Last year, one floor of Ellsworth Hall was reserved for incoming freshmen. This year in addition to the student body, all will be reserved for sophomores.
Some of the activities the two floors will be involved in are: hosting a dean's dinner, participating in a mentor program in which five to ten faculty members will meet and talk with the students once a month and attending study and time management sessions during Hawk Week.
Freshman participants also take psychology 104, General Psychology together.
Any freshman or sophomore can live on the reserved floors.
Deb Miller, residence hall director of Ellsworth, said the goal was for students to develop a sense of community faster.
She said that the program was in its trial stage but that she expected to see floors like it in other residence halls.
Fred McElheneen, associate director of housing, said he was pleased with the program's preliminary results.
McEhennie said there was a waiting list to get onto the freshman floor at Ellsworth.
"There is a somewhat higher grade point average among that group," he said.
Find a find.
At the new Lawrence Riverfront Plaza Factory Outlets.
This is smart shopping, in every sense. You'll find everyday savings of up to 60% off retail on your favorite designer labels and favorite brand names because you're buying direct from the manufacturer.
And, with over 30 factory-direct outlets to browse through, there's enough selection for even the most discriminating shopper. And we're opening more stores every day.
Come find some finds for yourself. At the new Lawrence Riverfront Plaza Factory Outlets.
No one has to know you didn't spend a fortune.
RIVERFRONT PLAZA To welcome all KU students back to Lawrence for a new semester, participating merchants will offer an additional 10% discount with a valid KU ID throughout the month of September. Offer on non-sale merchandise. See stores for details.
SEPTEMBER IS KU MONTH AT LAWRENCE RIVERFRONT PLAZA.
LAWRENCE
RIVERFRONT PLAZA
FACTORY OUTLETS
One Riverfront Plaza, Downtown Lawrence
913/842-5511. Open 7 Days a Week.
Mon.-Wed. 10am-7pm, Thurs.-Sat. 10am-9pm;
Sun. 12pm-5pm
Designer Fashions and Apparel • Housewares • Shoes • Sportswear • Coats • Jewelry Accessories • Intimate Apparel • Home Furnishings • Luggage & Leather Goods • Linens Plus "The Riverfront Players" Children's Theatre
A Chelsea Group Enterprise
COTTON SWEATERS
The 722 Massachusetts
Etc. 1-5:30 MF
8-10:30 Sat
Shop 1-6:00 S
12:00 Sun &mthr
9:30 Mon (9:30
1919 W. 46th St.)
Flavors
Enjoy what you'll enjoy for the rest of your college career...
Frozen Yogurt and More!
701 W.9th Across from Pup's
Barnhart Liquor
Competitive Prices
Convenient to Lone Star Lake Large Selection of Imports
Coldest Beer in Town
3032 Iowa Street
S.E. Corner
Across From K-Mart