Community College Forum: Education Abroad Issues Jen Sydow Education Abroad/International Student Advisor Scottsdale Community College

Challenge #1 Financial obstacles and financial aid issues for education abroad students. –Many students face financial obstacles when they study abroad on a program that is not sponsored by their home institution. –What can they do? Create a dummy code (SA 200: Study Abroad 200) so that aid may continue as if the student were studying at home. Is there another way to convince the Financial Aid Office?

Challenge #2 Adjunct instructors and education abroad –There are many community colleges who have a policy that does not allow Adjunct to lead an education abroad program. –Are there ways to work around this policy? Co-lead as long as there is a full-time instructor or staff member present. Other options?

Challenge #3 Short-term study abroad programs are scrutinized for their duration and its true impact on students. What kind of outcomes assessments are community colleges using as a way to effectively document the impact on students’ mastery of knowledge of course content and cultural awareness? –Qualitative (journals, website articles, testimonials) –Quantitative (IDI, self-evals)

Challenge #4 With increasing budget cuts, how are community colleges educating/promoting their benefits and virtues to the rest of the world? –Alumni (ambassadors) –EducationUSA –Website

Other Challenges: What are you facing in your office?

Randy Bush, Butler Community College, Julie Pitts, Johnson County Community College, Jen Sydow, Scottsdale Community College, Thanks for attending!