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Study Abroad Newsletter - October 2007

In this issue:

1. Upcoming Events
2. Application Deadlines and Scholarships
3. Study Abroad Fair - October 2
4. Passport Fair - November 3
5. Credit for Studying or Volunteering Abroad
6. Semester vs. Summer
7. Study Abroad Airfare Grant
8. New Scholarship for Business Study
9. Study Abroad Photo Contest
10. New Honors Credit Regulations
11. New Programs
12. The OIE is on Facebook!
13. Featured Study Abroad Location of the Month

1) Upcoming Events

See http://www.muohio.edu/international/events.php for more information on these events.

• October 2 – Study Abroad Fair – see below for more information.
• October 3 – Royal Holloway Information Session – 212 MacMillan Hall, 3-4:30pm.  Co-Sponsored program in England.  See http://www.muohio.edu/international/royalholloway.php.
• October 29 – Peace Corps Information Meeting – 217 Boyd Hall, 6-8pm.  See http://www.peacecorps.gov.
• November 3 – Passport Fair – Oxford Post Office, 10am-2pm.  See below ("Passport Fair ") for more information.
• December 3 – Study Abroad Orientation Session (for students going abroad in spring 2008 ONLY.)

2) Application Deadlines and Scholarships

• October 9 – Application deadline for Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (spring 2008).  See below ("Gilman International Scholarships") for more information.
• October 17 – Deadline for spring 2008 and early academic year 2008-09 Freeman-Asia Scholarships for study in East and Southeast Asia.  See http://www.iie.org/freeman-asia.
• October 19 – Second application deadline for MU Farmer School of Business Summer International Programs.  See http://www.sba.muohio.edu/home/international/
• November 1 – Deadline for summer 2008 U.S. State Department internships.  Available for students in areas including Business, Public Administration, Social Work, Economics, Information Management, Journalism and Biological, Physical or Engineering Sciences.  See http://www.careers.state.gov/student/programs/student_internships.html
• November 30 – Extended deadline for spring 2008 AustraLearn programs in Australia.  Exceptions:  University of Melbourne, Monash University and universities in New Zealand retain November 15 deadline.  See http://www.australearn.org/Programs/Semester_and_Year_Abroad/Dates_and_Deadlines/
• Spring 2008 deadlines for many Affiliated programs will be coming up as early as October 1 (or as late as mid-November).  If you're planning on going abroad next spring, visit your study abroad program's website to find out the application deadline.  Most programs admit students on a rolling-admissions basis, so it is best to apply as early as possible.  If programs extend their deadlines, we will do our best to let you know in future newsletter or on our Events page at  http://www.muohio.edu/international/events.php.
• CIEE's Language and Culture and Arabic Language programs in Amman, Jordan are filling up fast.  Apply ASAP if you're planning on studying there in spring 2008!
• Did you know that if you have ANY amount of financial need (as demonstrated on the FAFSA) and are studying abroad for a semester or more, you are eligible for a Study Abroad Airfare Grant?  For more information, see http://www.units.muohio.edu/sfa/study_abroad.htm or see below.

3) Study Abroad Fair – October 2

Mark your calendars!  Miami's annual Study Abroad Fair will be held Tuesday, October 2 in the Shriver Center Multipurpose Room from 2-6 pm.  You can stop by any time during the fair hours to meet with representatives of different study abroad offices and programs, collect information about different study abroad opportunities and ask questions of program representatives or returned students.  This is the biggest study abroad event of the year and a great low-pressure way to get started on planning your study abroad experience!  (If you're overwhelmed by your options after the fair, set up an appointment with a study abroad adviser and we'll talk you through it.)  To see a list of the programs that will be represented, visit:  http://www.muohio.edu/international/events.php

4) Passport Fair – November 3

The Oxford Post Office will be holding a Passport Fair on Saturday, November 3 from 10am-2pm.  On the day of the fair, you must bring the materials listed here: http://www.muohio.edu/international/passportfair2007fall.php.  (Because of the processing delay, those of you looking to travel or study abroad in spring 2008 - including any international Spring Break trips - may want to apply on your own rather than waiting until the fair.)  The Oxford Post Office is located on Brown Road and is served by the Blue and Green Miami Metro lines.

5) Credit for Studying or Volunteering Abroad

It's great when students can find a study abroad or service-learning program on their own!  We do strongly encourage, though, that if you find a program without the assistance of a Study Abroad Adviser, that you verify with our office that Miami University can accept credit from that program provider.  Not all study abroad or volunteering abroad providers are alike, and not all are reputable!  If you found your program on your own, rather than through our office, and want to get academic credit for the program, then take a moment to check and see:

1. Is the program listed on our website?  Look at the country's page at http://www.muohio.edu/international/programs.php.  All of the programs listed on our website have a credit arrangement that we can accept.  There may be more than one option for credit, though, so please feel free to contact us if you're not sure which credit option you should choose.  If the program is not listed on our website, then please find out:
1. Who is the provider?  Find out what you can about the organization, including their website address.
2. Who issues the transcripts for the program?  Does the program list a School of Record who partners with the organization to produce their transcripts?  Does the transcript come directly from a foreign university?  Do they expect you to work out an arrangement with your department here at Miami to earn independent study credit?
2. Contact a study abroad adviser.  Our contact information can be found here:  http://www.muohio.edu/international/about.php#sa-staff.  Let us know what you've found out about the program and their credit process, and we can let you know whether Miami can accept the credit.

6) Semester vs. Summer

Many Miami students study abroad in the summer, but Miami is encouraging more and more students to consider studying abroad for a semester or a year. Why is this?

1. Cultural immersion. Spending a semester or a year studying abroad gives you more time and experience to move beyond the "tourist" experience and to get involved in local culture. The longer you study abroad, the more time you have to see the highs and lows of living in another country and to integrate yourself into the culture.
2. Wider selection. Most universities in the northern hemisphere run on calendars that are close to our own, and may not offer their own courses in the summer. In the southern hemisphere, our summer usually falls right into the middle of their school year (so it's hard to jump into the middle).  Many of our study abroad affiliates organize their own summer programs, but these are not as numerous or as varied as the semester offerings and usually offer fewer courses alongside local students.
3. Lower total cost. Semester study abroad programs may cost more, the same, or even less than a semester at Miami. It's important to consider, however, that you're replacing a semester of Miami's semester cost with your program's fee, rather than adding an extra summer program fee onto your regular Miami semesters. With proper planning, a semester spent abroad should fit easily into your academic plan and should not delay your graduation!
4. Scholarships are available. There are many more scholarships available (from Miami or from outside sources) for semester or year-long study than there are for summer programs. The new airfare grants offered by the Office of Student Financial Assistance also apply only to semester or year-long study abroad programs.

Summer study abroad can be a good starting-off point if you've never been abroad before, or a way to focus on a particular subject area with one of your professors.  For some students who don't plan ahead or have very rigorous schedules, it may be the only option that will work. However, we encourage you to talk to your academic advisor about how a semester or year-long program can fit into your course of study.  You may be surprised!

7) Study Abroad Airfare Grant

The Study Abroad Airfare Grant can be a great way to off-set the travel costs of your study abroad program.  It's just one of the ways that we are working to make studying abroad affordable for any student.  To qualify for this grant students must have financial need, attend full time during either the fall or spring semester in a study abroad program, and submit the following to the Office of Student Financial Assistance:

• A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial need.
• A printed and signed estimate of the airline ticket cost.
• A completed Consortium/Contractual Agreement and a Study Abroad Declaration, if studying in a non-Luxembourg program.

Eligible students with financial need may receive a university grant up to $600 for their study abroad airline ticket and could receive the remainder of their ticket price in an interest-free university loan.

For more information, see http://www.units.muohio.edu/sfa/study_abroad.htm.

8) New Scholarship for Business Study

John T. Petters Foundation: Study Abroad Scholarships

Scholarships in the range of $5,000 for undergraduate study abroad programs which Miami will accept credit. Programs must have some business components and must take place in the summer or fall. Students must also demonstrate financial need. Deadline to apply: mid-December with scholarships awarded in February. Applications and further information may be found at http://www.johntpettersfoundation.org

For information on this and other scholarships, see http://www.muohio.edu/international/scholarships.php

9) Study Abroad Photo Contest

Congratulations to the top finishers of our 2007 Study Abroad Photo Contest: Dana Bouchard, Nicole Brasseur, James Buckley, Catherine Fitzpatrick, Lauren Henry, Victor Lin, Aubrey Purcell, Rachel Rudwall, Jason Young and Martin Zeinway. Their photos can also be seen here: http://www.muohio.edu/international/photocontest2007.php. These and the other top 12 pictures in each category are on display in MacMillan Hall until the end of the semester. Be sure to stop by and check them out!

10) New Honors Credit Regulations

The University Honors Program regulations have been adapted this fall to allow students on particularly challenging programs to apply for Category A honors credit.  The challenge criteria for Category A are:

1. Direct enrollment in a foreign university and active engagement in academic courses with host-country students (required)
2. Completion of at least one university course (not a language course) taught in a language other than English
3. Completion of at least six credit hours of foreign language courses that focus on the language spoken in that country
4. Completion of a course where the majority of students in the course were not US or Miami students
5. Residence with a host-country family or with a host-country roommate for the duration of the study abroad experience
6. Completion of at least one course for the student's Miami degree program
7. Immersion into the study abroad culture through involvement in regular volunteer activities or an internship
8. Completion of an independent study or research project focusing on host country and/or region
9. Engagement in ongoing reflection during the study abroad experience such as the creation of a weekly journal entry, regular meetings with faculty advisor or supervisor, etc.

Even for students who are not in the University Honors Program, these are great things to consider when searching for a program that will challenge you intellectually.  For more information on these honors credit changes, please contact the Honors & Scholars Program.

11) New Programs

• AIFS is offering a semester or year-long program in Hyderabad, India beginning in fall 2008.  They have also expanded their offerings in China and are offering new summer programs in Peru and Costa Rica.  See http://aifsabroad.com/india/
• Arcadia has a new partnership with the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.  See http://www.arcadia.edu/abroad/default.aspx?id=8058

12) The OIE is on Facebook!

We have integrated our Events calendar (http://www.muohio.edu/international/events.php) with Facebook, so that Facebook users can now find study abroad events on our website, on the http://events.muohio.edu calendar or on the Miami University events calendar on Facebook.  If you RSVP for a Facebook event, the Events application will remind you when that event is coming up.  Check it out!

13) Featured Study Abroad Location of the Month

"Lake Tekapo"
by Lauren Henry

"Upon arrival in New Zealand, I was driven through the picturesque and sparsely populated (except for sheep) countryside toward the hot springs of Rotorua. Despite jetlag, in three days my orientation group managed to go caving and Zorbing, eat an enormous Maori Hangi (feast), and learn about New Zealand culture.  But this was only the beginning.  During my 5 month stay in NZ, I quickly came to realize that not only is the amazing landscape of New Zealand an outdoor enthusiasts dream -- from hiking, glacier exploration, snowboarding to surfing--the culture, the people and the possibilities for exploration are also (as a Kiwi would say) 'sweet as'."

- Allison Vetter, studied at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand through AustraLearn

New Zealand is one of the least-congested countries in the world, meaning that there are plenty of open spaces for those seeking an outdoor lifestyle.  Rugby, football (soccer) and cricket are popular sports, and many students take advantage of opportunities to go rock climbing, hiking, or skiing in the varied landscapes of the country.  The dramatic scenery has been used as a backdrop to films such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Most universities are in the urban settings of New Zealand's cities, including Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.  New Zealand offers students the opportunity to take their classes in English, which means that study abroad students have access to their full range of academic offerings.  It is a popular choice for students who are interested in science classes or subjects such as Sports Science or Exercise Science, as well as students in the liberal arts.  Students who choose to study there have the opportunity to travel all through the North and South Islands of New Zealand, and many choose to travel to other nearby countries such as Australia and Fiji as well.

• For more information on study abroad programs in New Zealand, see:  http://www.muohio.edu/international/sa-nz.php

This monthly newsletter is brought to you by the Office of International Education. Please remember: if you wish to subscribe, unsubscribe or read this issue online instead of through email, you can do so at http://www.muohio.edu/international/sa-newsletter.php