Holy Cross Ranks Second in Long-Term Study Abroad Participation
Holy Cross ranks second among baccalaureate institutions in the United States for long-term study abroad programs, according to a new report released by the Institute of International Education.
Long-term study abroad programs are defined as taking place during a full calendar or academic year. Though Holy Cross offers single semester, month-long summer programs, and faculty-led study tours during school vacations, the majority of programs require students to learn overseas for the entire academic year.
“We are very proud that we continue to rank at the top among schools in the percentage of students we send abroad for the full academic year,” says Brittain Smith, director of the Study Abroad Program. “We believe that the year experience is the most transformative and allows students to become multicultural global citizens.”
This year’s ranking marks the fifth time in the last six years that Holy Cross has made the top five, and the third straight year Holy Cross has occupied one of the top two positions. Last year, Holy Cross was ranked first and Smith College second; the schools traded positions this year.
The increasing number of summer and short-term study abroad programs is opening the door for Holy Cross students looking to give international study a try, explains Smith. “We hope that first-year students who may be unsure about studying abroad for the full academic year will take advantage of these programs and discover that a longer stay abroad will appeal to them after all,” he says.
With 122 students studying abroad for the full academic year, Holy Cross is one of just three baccalaureate institutions in the country with more than 100 participants, according to the report.
The national results were published in Open Doors 2011, the annual report compiled by the Institute of International Education. The institution, which was founded in 1919, is an independent not-for-profit organization that receives funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The report relies on data from the 2009-10 academic year — rather than the 2010-11 academic year — to find the total number of U.S. students who study abroad because these numbers are reported only after students receive credit for their academic programs.
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As a ’93 grad who studied in England from ’91-’92, I fully agree that studying abroad for the whole year is the way to go to experience complete cultural immersion. My JYA had a significant and positive impact on me socially, civically, and academically. I believe every American student would benefit from this international experience.