Off-Campus Study Fair
As one of the highest attended and anticipated academic events of the school year, the Off-Campus Study Fair is your one-stop place to familiarize yourself with all of the wonderful programs the Center for International and Intercultural Studies has to offer. This year’s Off-Campus Study Fair will take place on Thursday, Oct. 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Winston Room of the Student Center.
It is plain to see why last year’s fair drew over 400 students. With over 117 student volunteers, faculty
representatives and visitors from sites across the globe, this is the best opportunity to learn about the nuances and hear experiences of student participants from a variety of programs. Whether you’re a first year, an athlete, a STEM major, undecided, or considering any of our extensive off-campus study options, this once-a-year event is something you don’t want to miss.
Visit the fair for an in-depth overview of the exciting new changes to our beloved SLU signature programs. The London program will no longer be using homestay families and will be adding a new student housing option at the Stay Club Kentish Town which will provide shared spaces, movie theater, café, gym, laundry and more. Bordeaux, France will now be available for both the fall and spring semesters and will offer cultural enrichment funds to help fund students’ interests in engaging the local community.
Two new courses will be offered in the Kenya Semester Program: Contemporary Kenya: History and Politics as well as Africa Rising: Economics, Youth Innovations and Politics of Development, in addition to a new solar initiative taking place on the SLU KSP compound. New York City will have new housing locations at the Bard Residence in Williamstown, Brooklyn, and have relocated classroom space to the same facility that offers collaborative programming opportunities among other university students.
Finally, the Spain program has moved to the Universidad de Complutense (most famous university in Spain). This will allow students to take a wider selection of classes in Spanish, English or a mix of both.
The off-campus study fair is truly attracting global attention. Visitors will be journeying to Canton from several of our programs and partner programs, with representatives from the Freeman Asia Internship Program, Spain, New Zealand, India, Thailand and Trinidad. This will be a wonderful opportunity to find out information about these programs. You can expect to learn about students’ internship and academic endeavors participating in coursework, local celebrations, volunteering in rural communities, and visiting local businesses with their classmates in Bengaluru, India. Because the first cohorts for our Germany and Netherlands programs are on site this semester, these programs will be represented by St. Lawrence University faculty coordinators and international students from these countries.
Still not convinced? Accompanying all our passionate and knowledgeable student volunteers and international visitors will be an assortment of tea and other snacks from around the world, including coffee made grown on the farm of one of our very own SLU Kenya program host families. There will also be a photobooth and T-shirt contest for students to enjoy. Stay for 10 minutes or the full two and a half hours. Drop by with a friend or two and enjoy everything the Off-Campus Study Fair has to offer!
“Find out directly from those most knowledgeable of the programs (sometime even directors of the programs) how their program might be a fit for you or not. You can prepare questions and connect with faculty staff that can offer you many perspectives on the programs allowing you to make an informed decision on your choice for off campus study. Do not miss this unique opportunity.” –Nathan Inecia ’22
“My favorite part about both of my off-campus experiences (EU & Ireland) was the relationships I was able to make with my peers. Navigating my abroad experiences with cohorts of fellow SLU students encouraged us to not only bond in the classroom but outside of classroom because we shared new first-time experiences with one another (example: traversing public transit and communicating with locals who spoke various languages). My favorite memory was on my EU trip when we shared a kitchen space and got to cook and spend every meal together!” –Annika Jensen ’23
“My favorite part was the connections you make, not just with local people, but also the bonds you form with other students. You’re navigating new experiences and life together, and that creates something really special.” –Mutanu Mbithi ’22, participant of the Ghana summer course and is currently studying at XJTLU in Suzhou, China
“Participating in the Kenya Semester Program in 2009 as a student was an incredible opportunity that shaped how I see the world and the kind of work I wanted to do professionally. The KSP showed me the power of access to transformative experiences, and that has stayed with me in my career in admissions. Returning to Kenya last week to visit high schools, my first time back in Kenya since 2009, on behalf of St. Lawrence was a full-circle moment reminding me that the St. Lawrence experience has the potential to open doors and change lives for our students in equally profound ways.” –Lyndsay Malcomb ’10, Kenya Semester Program Alumna, Executive Director of Admissions
“I grew up behind the Iron Curtain, in communist Czechoslovakia, and my generation would have killed for an opportunity to study abroad,” says current director of SLU London Program, Juraj Kittler. “I am almost envious seeing the practically unlimited possibilities that current generations of students have in this regard, and they shouldn’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience different cultures.” Kittler points out that there is a significant difference between a short tourist visit and an extended stay abroad, when one is exposed to more mundane aspects of everyday life.