Winston-Salem State’s Office of International Programs has not seen any cutbacks, despite current economic woes.
“We still have plenty of funds and programs available for students looking to study abroad,” said Deana Brim, OIP program assistant.
Study abroad programs are often funded through scholarships and financial aid.
“My study abroad to Ghana and Benin was covered by my international education scholarship and financial aid,” said Bridget Armstrong, a junior English major and mass communications minor from Raleigh.
“I think many students fear how much studying abroad will cost,” said Rickford Grand, OIP and study abroad adviser. Grand is working in his first semester at WSSU but held a similar position for more than 17 years while living in Japan.
“When I was a student, I thought study abroad was for privileged kids; however, that is not the case,” Grand said.
All courses that students take while studying abroad are pre-approved so that the credits will be valid at WSSU when they return.
“Students can study anywhere in the world,” Brim said.
Students who want to participate in study abroad must have completed two semesters and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.75. For students to receive the credits they earn abroad, they must maintain a “C” average.
OIP collaborates with institutions, corporations, agencies and others to provide students the opportunity to study around the world.
The Council on International Education Exchange and International Student Exchange Programs informs OIP about study abroad opportunities.
Companies such as CIEE and ISEP provide hundreds of universities with information on their web sites.
Different programs provide different experiences. OIP guides students through the process of finding a program that suits their interests and majors.
Students can apply for passports from the Passport Acceptance Agency in the Alumni House.
According to Brim, WSSU typically has 20 to 25 students who study abroad per semester and 30 international students that study at WSSU. OIP helps international students feel more comfortable in their new environment.
“The goal of International Programs is to promote study abroad and global awareness,” Grand said.
Grand said he believes that students can be discouraged by the long amount of time they will be apart from their loved ones while studying abroad. He says that students typically look for the summer programs.
“Programs in the summer are usually four to five weeks, where as semester programs are much longer,” Brim said.
The current fighting along Mexican borders and other global conflicts can make certain regions of the world unsafe.
Conflicts such as terrorism and war can deter students from study abroad in these areas, Brim said.
OIP is advised by the U.S. Department of Information on areas that are involved in conflict.