Study Abroad Club Meeting
Wednesday, April 3, 1996
6:30 pm
Alcove F, Kansas Union
We will discuss our scholarship proposal. Come with any comments, suggestions or questions. Everyone and Anyone Welcome!
During a weekend trip to Northern France and Brittany, these students in the Western Civilization program take some time to play on the rocks in St. Malo.
A great university is an international university, one whose programs have an impact on the entire world because its faculty think beyond local and national borders, and its students understand the inter-relatedness of a world where ideas and capital flow easily across geographical borders.
Robert Hemenway
Chancellor, University of Kansas
Study Abroad Club University of Kansas
An open letter to all KU students:
As we all know, one of the major obstacles that many students face in deciding to study abroad is cost. While KU is known for its low-cost, high-quality study abroad programs,the cost of studying abroad will be higher than studying on campus for many KU students. Two very important and critically diverging trends exist in the study abroad field. First, the cost of studying abroad is increasing each year. Second, scholarships and other sources of financial support for students are decreasing. In fact, at the University of Kansas, while Chancellor Hemenway has challenged the university to increase the number of its students studying abroad from "750 to 2000 by the end of the decade" (Lawrence Journal-World 8/22/95 p.2A), funds for study abroad scholarships, such as the KU Endowment Association fund, are now on the "endangered species list."
Because of these ominous trends, the Study Abroad Club is bringing a proposal to Student Senate in Fall 1996 to create a student-generated study abroad scholarship. Right now, Student Senate's University Affairs Committee is helping the SA Club to initiate this process. In the meantime, the SA Club feels that in order to make this proposal a true "KU students' proposal," we need to seek the support from those who will be affected by this proposal—KU students. Moreover, the main reason this scholarship should come from students is to show the administration that KU students do value and understand the importance of an international experience to quality higher education. The SA Club would appreciate any support and help with the promotion of this good plan.
The SA Club truly believes that this "student-helping-student" proposal is for an excellent cause that serves ALL students. This legislation recognizes the value of international experience as a more and more vital component of any degree program. Most important of all, the money goes directly back to students as soon as the proposal is approved and the new semester begins. This is not a $90 request for an increase in the student campus fee. This proposal will ask for $1-$5. Just a $1 fee increase for study abroad scholarships would make the difference between going and staying for a significant number of students. In addition, the scholarship would be ready to be awarded to students as soon as the proposal is adopted and all guidelines, rules, and regulations are set. Students will not have to wait until 1999 or 2005 to receive the benefit.
Talking about benefits, the "fruits" of this scholarship last a life-time; not only for students, but for the community as well. We hope that you can support us in pursuing this goal. Please do not hesitate to call Ted Noravong, Study Abroad Club Treasurer, at the Office of Study Abroad (4-3742 or at home: 4-6486) if you can help or if you have any questions.
A student on the Costa Rica program finds a spot in the shade to study on Manuel Antonio Beach, Costa Rica.
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The Portal Spring'96