Study Abroad: Calvin, MSU and GVSU All Fare Well

November 15, 2005 == MEDIA ADVISORY

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.

Michigan State, Calvin College and Grand Valley State University are all among
the top 20 in their respective categories.

Calvin has had a strong study abroad emphasis for several decades and annually
is among the top schools in the country for students who study abroad.

According to a survey of graduating seniors done last spring, 60 percent of
the Calvin class of 2005 had studied off-campus, either in an interim course or
a semester program, or both, during their time at Calvin.

And in the latest IIE report, Calvin ranked fourth in the country among
baccalaureate institutions for the number of students studying abroad in the
2003-2004 school year. Calvin had 489 students studying off campus that year,
trailing only Minnesota's St. Olaf College, Lee, Tenn., and Colgate, N.Y.
nationally. Calvin dropped two spots from a year ago when it had 524 students
abroad.

The IIE report notes that study abroad in non-traditional destinations is
expanding rapidly, especially to countries where American students see
potential career opportunities. Study abroad in China increased by a dramatic
90 percent.

At Calvin students can live and study in China as well as such countries as
Honduras, Ghana, Hungary, Spain and more. Calvin also has semester-long U.S.
programs in New Mexico and Washington, D.C.

Calvin director of off campus programs Ellen Monsma says 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."

Other state schools also fared well in this year's study abroad rankings.

Among master's institutions Grand Valley State University ranked 16th in the
country with 360 students abroad (one student ahead of the prior year). And
Michigan State University was second among doctoral and research institutions
with 2,269 students abroad in 2003-2004.

Findings from the report were released at a November 14 press briefing at the
National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

LINKS

For more on the Open Doors report see http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/?p=70975

For more on Calvin College study abroad options see
http://www.calvin.edu/academic/off-campus/

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Received on Tue Nov 15 09:06:17 2005