Who doesn't study abroad and what can be done about it?

ROUNDTABLE # 1
Facilitator: Janet Miller
Participants: Elisa Baena, Katie Cizauskas, James Godde, Amy Greeley, Urs Haltinner, Patty Lamson, Mandy Reinig

1. Which student populations at our institutions are underrpresented in study abroad? Why?
• Minority students and economically disadvantaged students were included in this list.
2. What are the institutional obstacles to students' ability to study abroad? If so, what are they and how do we address them?
• We found considerable interest in why men don't study abroad (sparked by the article sent to me by Betsy). One group member stated that, at her institution, sports seemed to dictate whether or not study abroad was possible. And this pertained not only to the athletes (football, especially) but also to fans where those sports were highly popular.
3. What does it matter when certain populations do not study abroad?
• It was suggested that—no matter who falls into this group—a long-term, developmental approach must be the solution. More people need to be involved in promoting study abroad (teachers, coaches?) so that more of these students are aware of possibilities. We should inform students of benefits to any field of study.
4. When students do not study abroad, are their ways they can reap the benefits ascribed to study abroad without leaving campus? If so, how?
• It was suggested, too, that perhaps a series of (shorter) experiences may be as valuable as a single long-term (semester) experience, especially if those experiences involve hands-on, working, community involvement projects.
5. How can we reach out to populations that do not study abroad? Who bears the responsibilty in the institution for removing obstacles and encouraging study abroad across the student body more broadly?