As the 531 Cherrington Global Scholars of fall 2007 return to the DU campus, the four-year-old Cherrington program has once again met its goal of sending at least 60 percent of the undergraduate population to a myriad of foreign countries.
A total of 585 students studied abroad last quarter, and an additional 64 students are currently studying abroad for the winter and spring quarters. If short-term programs such as the Costa Rica program are included, the percentage rises to 70 percent.
This year there are 27 Cherrington students who have decided to stay abroad for the full year, which is more than usual. The most popular countries for study abroad students this year were Italy, Spain and Australia. Eighty-five students chose to study abroad in Italy, 73 in Spain and 71 in Australia. Italy has been the most popular destination for the past two years.
According to the Open Doors statistics on international educational exchange, DU ranks second in the nation among research universities for the percentage of the student body that study abroad. Research universities are universities that offer a graduate program and includes students who are obtaining their doctorates. Yeshiva University in New York ranks first.
Returning students will have more opportunities to give feedback about their experiences abroad, said Study Abroad Director Carol Fairweather.
Twenty-four sessions for returning students will be offered throughout February. The sessions will be comprised of 15 to 20 people and the purpose of them is to assess whether there are aspects of the study abroad program that need to be changed. This year, the Health and Counseling Center has agreed to assist students who are having a hard time adjusting back to school or who are encountering symptoms of reverse culture shock.
Fairweather said the Cherrington program is “constantly trying to take away the myth that students will not be able to go abroad due to their major requirements.” By teaming up with schools such as the Lamont School of Music and the Engineering school, Cherrington is adopting specific programs that will allow students to study abroad without it affecting their major requirements.
Cherrington has also added a one quarter study abroad program offered in the spring specifically for students in athletics.
Fairweather said Cherrington will be also more focused on pre-departure orientation in the coming years.
As for study abroad returnees, Fairweather says she hopes they bring back the many lessons they have learned while in their prospective countries.
“I want to see that the experiences is integrated with their four-year degrees, and students make that experience count by adding to class discussion. We also hope that students will have a great appreciation for the international students we have on campus because now most of them will know how it feels to be a minority,” Fairweather said.
There are approximately 800 international students including undergraduates, graduates and scholars on campus.
Fairweather said she hopes students will be able to recognize the issues we have in our own backyard, and strive for change.
“Students go to countries such as China and see poverty, but you don’t have to go a long way to see that. Be aware of those types of issues in Denver,” Fairweather said.
