Calvin Again Ranks High for Students Studying Abroad

November 17, 2004 == MEDIA ADVISORY

This is International Education Week (November 15-19) and as part of the
celebration the Institute for International Education (IIE) has released its
annual "Open Doors" report, a summary of study abroad by U.S. college and
university students.

And once again Calvin College is one of the top schools in the country for
students who study abroad.

In fact, Calvin ranked second in the country among baccalaureate institutions
for the number of students studying abroad in the 2002-2003 school year.
Calvin had 524 students studying off campus that year, trailing only
Minnesota's St. Olaf College which had 641 students abroad.

In addition among master's institutions Grand Valley State University ranked
15th in the country with 359 students abroad.

The IIE notes that in the first full academic year after the 9/11 attacks
(academic year 2002-2003), the number of U.S. higher education students
receiving credit for study abroad increased sharply - up 8.5% from the previous
year to a record total of 174,629 students.

Findings from the report were released at a November 15 press briefing at the
National Press Club in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with International
Education Week.

"This increase," says the IIE, "remains a strong indicator of the tremendous
interest in study abroad, both in spite of and in response to the changing
geopolitical climate following 9/11. As study abroad opportunities have become
more plentiful, varied and more affordable, the number of students taking
advantage of an academic experience abroad has increased dramatically."

The IIE notes that since 1991-1992 the number of students studying abroad for
credit has more than doubled (from 71,154 to 174,629, an increase of 145%).
Open Doors data also shows a continued increase in the diversity of
destinations for U.S. study abroad.

That diversity is reflected at Calvin where students can live and study in
such countries as Honduras, China, Ghana, Hungary, Spain and more. Calvin also
has semester-long U.S. programs in New Mexico and Washington, D.C.

The college believes that off-campus study programs broaden a student's
perspectives on both the world and the kingdom of God, enhance a student's
self-discipline and provide students with "coherent, comprehensive and
authentic learning experiences that have an unusually deep and long-lasting
effect."
 
LINKS

For more on International Education Week see http://exchanges.state.gov/iew/
For more on the Open Doors report see http://opendoors.iienetwork.org
For more on Calvin College study abroad options see
http://www.calvin.edu/academic/off-campus/

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Received on Wed Nov 17 14:06:30 2004