Ohio University students eager to see the world, hoping to perfect a foreign language or for whom the thought of studying in Athens conjures images of Greece - not Southeast Ohio - can learn about programs in various parts of the world at today's Study Abroad Fair.
The fair, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Baker Center Ballroom, will feature faculty and student representatives from 37 of OU's study abroad and exchange programs.
It's really the one time throughout the year everyone will be together
said Molly Micheels, program coordinator for OU's Office of Education Abroad.
More than 600 students visited last year's fair, and the location was moved to Baker to better accommodate high attendance.
In addition to OU representatives, the fair will feature 24 independent programs, Micheels said.
Education Abroad hopes the fair will help freeze dwindling enrollment numbers. After about a six percent decrease in program enrollment last year - about 50 fewer students - the office has stepped up on campus marketing and financial aid counseling.
One component has been going more digital Micheels said, adding the office is using mass e-mails, listservs, Facebook advertisements and a new Twitter account to reach a wider number of students while being more cost efficient.
In addition to digital outreach, the office hopes classroom presentations and posters in dorms will increase awareness and interest in study abroad programs, said Catherine Marshall, director of Education Abroad.
I am pretty confident that the economy has had an effect on participation rates Marshall said, adding that cost is not the sole factor influencing enrollment numbers.
Last year, about 60 percent of colleges, universities and independent programs across the country reported declining enrollment in study abroad programs according to a survey by the Forum on Education Abroad.
OU students studying abroad must pay regular tuition for the number of credit hours taken abroad, additional costs in the form of program and administrative fees and out-of-pocket expenses, such as a passport, student visa, meals, books and materials, airfare and incidentals.
Studying abroad costs a student $2,000 to 4,000 more than a quarter at OU, Marshall estimated.
Kaitlin Duffy, a junior studying communications, spent significantly more than she had expected while studying abroad in Paris this past summer.
Our meal plan was only Monday through Thursday. Sometimes we wouldn't get meals because we were doing excursions. I only had 'x' amount of money and was forced to spend it because you have to eat
she said.
The total program fee for Duffy's month-long study in Paris was around $4,500, on top of tuition, the administrative fee, meals, spending money and airfare.
I had to ask my mom to help me
Duffy said, adding that she's still working to pay back her parents for the money they lent to her for the trip.
Marshall said there are aid options for students who wish to study abroad in spite of the economic recession.
There is hope
she said, adding that both federal financial aid and OU scholarships and grants can be used to cover the cost of studying abroad, and the department is working to increase money available via scholarships.
Today's fair will include a general information table with representatives available to discuss financial aid and scholarship opportunities with concerned students.
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Kirstin Allinson
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