EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State University's study abroad program is one of a handful of programs being recognized during the American Council on Education's (ACE) Academic Excellence and Cost Management Awards Symposium in Washington, D.C.
MSU is receiving the award in recognition of democratizing access to its study abroad programs, developing strategies to make it easy for students to participate in high-quality international experiences and controlling costs associated with study abroad.
"High quality is often misperceived to be a function of high cost, but at MSU that is simply not the case," said MSU President Peter McPherson noting that MSU has doubled student participation in study abroad in the past five years.
"I think we have proven, and this award acknowledges it, that a large public, research-intensive institution can offer accessible, high-quality study abroad programs at comparable costs to those on campus."
Since President McPherson issued the challenge in 1995 to have 40 percent of MSU's graduating seniors study abroad by 2006 - an unprecedented level at a university with a population of 43,000 students - MSU has increased participation by more than 100 percent (1,565 students studied abroad in 1998-99). And according to the Institute of International Education's report "Open Doors 1998-99," MSU now sends the largest number of students abroad from any single campus in the United States.
In addition to increasing student enrollment, MSU has added 54 new study abroad programs during the past three years, including programs in China, Hungary, India and the Czech Republic. MSU currently has more than 145 programs in 52 countries.
"This award, coming from one of America's most prestigious higher education organizations, acknowledges the importance of study abroad as an integral component of undergraduate education in the United States," said John Hudzik, dean of MSU's International Studies and Programs who is accepting the award at tonight's ceremony. "MSU is pleased to be recognized for its leadership role in building global competence in American students."
Ed Ingraham, acting director of the Office of Study Abroad said, "I am gratified that MSU and its Office of Study Abroad, led by my predecessor Michael Vande Berg, are being recognized for the fine work that has been done here to provide MSU students many high quality study abroad opportunities at a cost comparable to what students pay on the East Lansing campus."
MSU's study abroad program was among six programs recognized by ACE that were selected from more than 120 entries.
The awards program is spearheaded by ACE with collaboration from the American Association of Community Colleges, Association of American Universities, Council on Independent Colleges, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. It is part of the College is Possible campaign, a nationwide effort by more than 1,200 colleges and universities to inform the public on issues involving student aid and college affordability.
ACE is a comprehensive association of the nation's colleges and universities dedicated to analysis of higher education issues and advocacy on behalf of quality higher education programs. Counted among ACE's members are more than 1,800 accredited degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations and corporations. The USA Group Foundation is the research and philanthropic arm of USA group, the nation's largest student loan guarantor and administrator.
For more information about MSU's study abroad program, contact the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920 or visit http://www.study-abroad.msu.edu/. For more information about the ACE awards program, visit http://www.acenet.edu/ or call Barbara Hill at (202) 939-9459.