Mark Bellcourt and Nate Whittaker, academic advisers in CEHD Student Services, presented at the Education Abroad Network’s Financing Study Abroad event earlier this month. Bellcourt and Whittaker highlighted the Learning Abroad Center’s new Bridging Loan program, which assists low-income students with upfront study abroad costs like confirmation fees and airline tickets. “The program was a response to the fact that many low-income students were applying to programs, but dropping out after being charged these fees. This became an issue with my global seminar to South Africa two years ago, so a number of stakeholders on campus met to discuss possible policy changes that would assist low-income students financing learning abroad,” Whittaker says.
Cindy Pavlowski, academic adviser in the School of Social Work, and Ellen Sunshine, academic adviser in CEHD Student Services, also participated in the event. “I’ve seen the incredible benefits when my students study abroad and feel that if a student can make it happen, it will probably be the best experience they have while here at the U. The financial piece is important because it is one of the biggest perceived barriers for students when considering a trip abroad,” says Sunshine.