Growth in Study
Abroad Capacity at the
University of Georgia
NASULGC
Chicago, Illinois - November 2008
Updated November 2009
Dr. Judith Shaw, Associate Provost for International Education
Dr. Kasee Laster, Director of Study Abroad
UGA – the institution:
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America’s first state-chartered university (1785)
Georgia’s flagship institution
Three-part mission: “to teach, to serve and to
inquire into the nature of things"
Carnegie Classification: Research Universities
(very high research activity)
16 schools & colleges
UGA – the students:
Enrollment:
Fall 08: 34,180
 Graduate: 8,713
 Undergraduate:
25,467
 In-state: 79%;
international 6.3%;
out-of-state 14.7%
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UGA – study abroad numbers, 2007-08:
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2,000+ UGA students participate for credit each year.
100 faculty-led programs (75-80% of participants).
Three international residential centers (UK, Italy, Costa Rica).
47 exchange partners (4% of participants).
Ranked 9th in Open Doors for number of participants.
30% of students study abroad by graduation.
Location statistics match national trends: approximately half to
Western Europe, 15% to Latin America; Asia is fastestgrowing region.
Three-quarters study abroad in the summer, rest a semester or
full year.
UGA – history of expansion:
The number of students studying abroad has tripled over a dozen
years.
Participation Over Time
2500
1931
2000
1641
1500
1244 1308
2069 2092
1741
1441
1081
902
1000
629
734
500
0
1996- 1997- 1998- 1999- 2000- 2001- 2002- 2003- 2004- 2005- 2006- 20071997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
UGA – history of expansion, cont.
Much growth has come in summer and short programs.
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
199899
19992000
200001
200102
200203
200304
200405
200506
200607
Academic & Calendar Year
< 8 weeks during academic year, 1 quarter, very short summer, misc
One Semester (or 2 quarters)
Summer (2-10 weeks)
UGA – role of leadership:
Three institutional strategic goals:
Building
the new learning environment
Investing in research
Competing in a global economy
“I am convinced that no single experience has a greater
impact on a student than long-term residential study
abroad.” – President Michael F. Adams, May 20th, 2008
Dr. Adams’ initiative led to the establishment of
three residential centers abroad, which now host
one-quarter of participants in UGA programs.
UGA – administrative model:
Faculty:
 Initiate new program proposals.
 Make all logistical arrangements, hire, and pay faculty.
 Recruit & select students.
 Create a budget; programs must break even financially.
 File enrollment lists & itineraries with OIE.
Office of International Education:
 Strategic Planning Committee assesses 6-15 new proposals each year for
a). strategic fit with existing offerings, b). risk management, c). budgetary
viability, and d). academic rigor.
 Provides risk management & budgetary training; reviews budgets.
 Provides opportunities for recruitment.
 Conducts student advising and outreach.
 Coordinates several scholarships, serves as central information
clearinghouse for others.
UGA – entrepreneurial financial model:
Two Types of Revenue:
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Tuition return – students pay tuition to the Bursar’s Office, which is
returned to the programs.
Tuition return must cover instructional expenses –summer salaries; foreign
speakers; faculty airfare, room, and board; facilities & equipment costs
abroad; course-related entrance fees.
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Program fee – charged directly to students by the program and covers
everything else: student travel and room and board; insurance;
sometimes visas, student air travel, and/or ground transportation; cultural
and recreational entrance fees.
Until recent budget difficulties in Georgia, OIE had a $100,000 fund to seed
new programs.
UGA - financial model, cont.
Role of HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally):
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Lottery-funded scholarship for in-state students with a B average or
better.
Almost every in-state freshman at UGA is on HOPE; most keep it until
graduation.
HOPE covers all tuition at public universities and a portion at in-state
private institutions.
Covers the tuition portion for UGA study abroad programs; students
going on external programs receive an amount based on credit hours.
Due to HOPE, many families do not pay tuition for any part of college;
thus additional resources are freed up for study abroad.
Out-of-state students do not receive HOPE, but pay in-state tuition rates for
study abroad.
UGA – types of study abroad programs:
 Faculty-led
(short-term, Maymester,
summer, and semester)
 Non-traditional (individual internships &
research placements)
 Exchange
 External
UGA – recent program models
contributing to expansion:
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Cambodia – gerontology and intergenerational studies summer
Vietnam – public health Maymester
Antarctica – natural resources, winter break
Athletic Training - Taiwan
IT/MIS – Dalian, China
Conflict Resolution – Ireland (Social Work) and Ecuador (Public and
International Affairs)
Reacting Abroad (historical re-enactment pedagogy) – Classics, Greece
Genetics of Invasive Species (NSF grant) – Nanjing, China
Viticulture – Italy, College of Agriculture
Avian Biology – Costa Rica, College of Agriculture
UGA – advantages of the
entrepreneurial, faculty-driven model:
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Strong faculty buy-in.
Allows for expansion even in tough budget times.
Critical mass of students studying abroad fuels
growth via word of mouth.
Expanded marketing base (over 200 faculty and staff
on campus work with study abroad in some aspect)
Faculty reach students directly.
Diversity of programs & disciplines.
Quick response to disciplinary needs & trends,
underserved student populations and disciplines.
UGA – future directions:
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Task Force for International Education (2006-07)
goal: 40% participation in study abroad by
graduation.
Residential centers in Africa, Asia, a Germanspeaking location, and a French-speaking location.
More students studying abroad for a semester or
longer.
Increased diversity in locations, student
demographics, and disciplines.