Office of Study Abroad

The Office of Study Abroad is committed to international education and offers a variety of study abroad programs. Program offerings range from one semester to full year exchanges, WIU language immersion programs, short-term faculty-led programs, and affiliated programs throughout the world. Both university-wide and major specific programs are available. Currently, direct exchange programs are offered in Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and The Netherlands.

Participation in affiliate programs allows students to study in countries such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Spain, and many others. Previous short-term faculty-led programs have been held in England, Italy, Canada, Mexico, and Russia while programs under development for Spring and Summer 2005 have destinations such as Ireland, France, Greece, Costa Rica, and China.

As part of the Center for International Studies, the Office of Study Abroad:

• Engages in, enhances, and keeps current in various activities relating to the internationalization of WIU students, faculty, and staff.
• Administers all facets of the individual student process from the initial application to the assessment of the student experience
• Provides logistic support for short-term faculty-led programs, taking the program from the faculty member's proposal through the recruitment process and the experience itself to the return of the group to WIU.
• Creates risk management guidelines and protocols for all campus study abroad programs.
• Conducts risk management meetings for faculty and University representatives.
• Conducts pre-departure orientation programs for students to better prepare them for their international experiences.

Enhancing and expanding study abroad opportunities for the WIU community is the main goal of the Office of Study Abroad. In order to fulfill this goal, the office plans to:

• Establish policies and procedures to build collaboration among all colleges, departments, and units to promote study abroad programs and to insure their integrity and success.
• Maintain and increase the number of both short-term and long-term study abroad programs
• Create and provide opportunities and programs for students to study abroad and increase the number of students participating in such programs.
• Work with the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs (ICISP) to promote study abroad opportunities for all members of the campus community and residents of the region.