LBCC Explores Possibilities of Study Abroad Programs

Photo courtesy of Bolivia Study Program

History classes in Greece, art classes in France—LBCC explores the possibility of study abroad programs—if students show interest in involvement.

Last fall Ian Priestman, instructor of business management, and Dr. Robert Harrison, instructor of social science, met with LBCC President Greg Hamann about the steps needed to bring back a study abroad program for students. It's been five years since the college had a program of its own.

Priestman, originally from England, understands the benefits of an exchange program. In 1994 he came to the United States via an exchange scholarship from Fulbright, an international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Government. 

"I see how exciting exchange is first hand. It changed my life."

This summer Priestman went home to England and visited his old college in which he got the scholarship through and discussed the possibility of working with them to host programs for LBCC students. They are optimistic and interested.

It will be a long road to organize the return of a program. Hamann has asked Beth Hogeland, executive vice president of academic affairs and workforce development, to look into the logistics of bringing a program back.

"I do find the ideas around exchange students and foreign travel programs very interesting, and I am generally supportive.  But they need to have a place within the college's curriculum for them to be most effective," said Hamann.

The reason the previous program was terminated came from lack of student participation.

According to Hogeland there were about three students a year enrolling. The program is expensive in comparison to local studies and was not cost effective in terms of enrollment tuition and instructional cost to operate the program.

"For us to create and maintain a study abroad program we would have to feel sure that enough students to support the classes would enroll every term. Think about our on campus classes, which range in size from about 24 to 38 students. This is the number of students we are talking about needing every time we offer a class."

The classes could vary depending on area of study. Business studies, history, art history, ecology, and horticulture are a few examples of current programs at LBCC that would benefit from opportunity to study abroad.

The expense of international studies does fall heavily on students. They generally pay travel, tuition and living expenses. Other factors to be considered are the currency exchange rates in the country of study and transferrable credits internationally. 

But opportunity is there for students determined to partake. There are private companies available to help with ground work, fundraising, scholarships, and potentially financial aid. 

Kim Sullivan, the previous study abroad program coordinator, still helps students with interest despite the formal program being canceled. She works with students who can be part of a degree partnership with Oregon State University get connected to resources and programs there. 

"One of our goals for students is for them to become more culturally literate and appreciative of diversity," said Hogeland. "What we have done instead is connect students interested in studying abroad with the programs offered through OSU and Chemeketa Community College. This seems to have worked well."

Priestman and Dr. Harrison are in the process of marketing the potential for a new program and doing presentations for faculty on campus to get the word out to students. Their goal is for abroad study opportunities to not just be for particular departments but campus-wide knowledge. 

"I'm committed to helping students as much as I can, we're not OSU, but we should do better recruiting students for abroad studies," said Dr. Harrison.

In the mean time, LBCC is open to supporting faculty who want to offer classes in another country. Such classes are designed as a sort of cultural emergence course. 

"When enough students have been interested in a class in a particular country we create a section of a class to be taught by one of our instructors in that country.  The classes tend to be intensive and short term," said Hogeland. 

These courses may include a few weeks state-side preparing, then time abroad visiting museums or historic sites, followed by a few weeks of cultural debrief upon return.

For more information or to express interest in involvement contact Ian Priestman at priesti@linnbenton.edu.