Right before mid semester break, students were informed whether or not they were accepted to SLU’s various off campus study programs for Spring 2015. Roughly two thirds of SLU students study off campus at least once during their college career, it is evident that off campus study is key part to the full Laurentian experience. Nationally recognized for its top of the line off campus study programs and huge percentage of the student body, who participate, the continuously rising numbers of applicants each semester does not surprise many.
This semester the number of students applying for study abroad opportunities seemed much higher than usual. Karl Schonberg, the Associate Dean of International studies, stated that though the numbers are, overall, very high “they are not an all time high.” With a steady increase each semester this semesters numbers did not blast through the charts by any means.
The majority of student interest fell between the London, New Zealand, and Kenya programs, all commonly sought after destinations each year. Ordinarily, mid level interest programs in Vienna, Italy, Washington D.C and New York City, saw a slight increase in applicants as they slowly gain popularity each semester.
Much concern this time around in the application process fell within the Kenya Program. A SLU favorite for over forty years, SLU’s Kenya program was cancelled this fall due to safety concerns in the area. All this aside, this semseter the Kenya program still saw the same number of applicants, and has accepted the usually twenty students, including four students scheduled to go this past fall. Schonberg states that the program, at this point, is scheduled to carry on this spring as the issues at hand have been addressed and are currently being taken care of.
With steadily increasing applicant pools, and growing numbers of students applying to multiple programs, the Off Campus Study office is faced with the daunting tasks of selecting and denying students each semester. With these rising numbers, Schonberg says the office hopes to, overtime, increase program sizes and offer more options to students to “give as much opportunity to qualified students,” and allow students the opportunity to carry on the SLU tradition and engage their educational experience globally.