In a recent survey conducted by The Collegian, 229 out of 263, or 87 percent, of Hillsdale College students surveyed said they would be interested in participating in a study abroad program.
But 39 percent of students said that the study abroad programs cost too much money for them to consider.
A further 32 percent said that business of their Hillsdale schedule is what makes the study abroad program impractical.
“It would be great if more donors got excited about study abroad and made more scholarships available for the programs. At that point, the major obstacle becomes whether you can fit your required courses into the remainder of your time on campus at Hillsdale,” wrote one survey respondent.
Financial Aid Director Rich Moeggenberg said that options for study abroad scholarships vary depending on the program.
“There is no gift aid for the St. Andrews or Oxford program or the summer programs, but for the German program, scholarships and need-based aid do follow students,” Moeggenberg said.
Moeggenberg said that there are scholarships that are given by alumni to fund study abroad programs, as well as designated funds set aside by the college. Moeggenberg said studying abroad is viewed as a good thing and he and his staff work to help students find additional funds through scholarships outside of the college.
“I just don’t have room for a ton of study abroad in my budget,” Moeggenberg said. “There are needs ahead of study abroad when it comes to funding.”
Senior and Collegian Associate Editor Sarah Leitner participated in the college’s summer program in Germany, where she spent a month expanding her knowledge of the German language and culture.
“My experience was so good because Dr. Geyer [professor of German] had spent so long working on it. He was very familiar with the program,” Leitner said. “I definitely think Hillsdale could expand on what they have to offer, but we have options.”
Between two and three percent of Hillsdale’s 1,460 students participate in a study abroad program in any given year, according to data compiled from each program director on the college faculty.
In contrast, Centre College in Danville, Ky., comparable in size to Hillsdale with 1,337 students, is ranked first in the nation for its study abroad programs by the Institute of International Education – 85 percent of students participate in at least one study abroad undergraduate program.
Annie Roessler, a Centre College senior studying behavioral neuroscience, participated in three study abroad programs during her time at Centre, studying in Panama, the Czech Republic, and France.
Roessler said that her first study abroad experience came in the form of a two-week cultural enrichment trip included as part of a scholarship. Her longest study abroad experience came during her junior year.
“I spent a semester in France, and I had to take a class in French, fill out an application, and write a letter of intent. The rest was handled through the [Centre College] study abroad office,” Roessler said.
At Hillsdale, the application process for a study abroad program starts at the Registrar’s office, where the initial form can be filled out. Available scholarships are managed through the financial aid office. The business office handles program payments.
More than 73 percent of students surveyed believed that Hillsdale should improve its study abroad offerings. Many of those who responded to the survey urged an improvement in the number of program options.
“Study abroad seems to exist only for language, history, or English majors, and I’m none of those majors,” wrote a survey respondent.
“The school prides itself on its Western heritage,” wrote another survey respondent. “Making it easier for its students to experience these cultures and places for themselves would be an attractive addition to what Hillsdale has to offer its students.”