Eau Claire ranks near top in study abroad
Number of UW-Eau Claire students taking advantage of nationally-ranked program more than doubles within eight years, Markgraf says
Emily Rae Hartwig
Issue date: 12/5/05 Section: Campus News
Junior Eric Duwe's classroom experience last semester wasn't that of a typical college student. After learning about tropical rainforest issues in his environmental class, he and fellow classmates went to and studied the very subject they were discussing - the rainforest.
"It's eye-opening," he said.
Within the past eight years, the number of Eau Claire students who have traveled abroad has increased yearly from 165 to more than 450, said Karl Markgraf, director of the Center for International Education.
"This growth is an affirmation that students value their experiences abroad and are communicating that to their peers," he said.
UW-Eau Claire holds two national rankings for its study abroad program. The school ranks 10th nationally for the number of students who study abroad at an institution for their master's degree and second for duration of study in the same category, Markgraf said.
Eau Claire also ranks as the top master's level school for students coming to study abroad in Wisconsin.
"We're really committed to long-term study abroad," Markgraf said. "Greater cultural immersion takes place when students study and live in a country for a semester, rather than when they visit for two or three weeks."
Duwe, who studied in Costa Rica last spring, agreed, "(CIE goes) out of their way to find good programs and maintain contact with these countries."
When students return from a study abroad program, they want to share their experience with friends and family, Markgraf said; hence, students returning from study abroad experiences are a "marketing machine."
Markgraf said CIE employs students who returned from studying abroad as peer advisers for others interested in the same location and to act as classroom speakers addressing the topic of study abroad.
He listed several ways CIE works to make studying abroad popular. One is being sensitive to cost.
Private school students with more affluent backgrounds easily can afford to travel, while Eau Claire students are often from median income or first-generation student families, Markgraf said. Keeping this in mind, CIE strives to keep costs low and provides a wide range of financial aid opportunities, he said.
"It's a genuine, sincere education," said senior Micah Hernandez, who studied abroad in Valladolid, Spain, in the spring of 2004.
Living with a host family in a small town was unique, he said. CIE also seems to pick places away from tourist hotspots, he added.
Duwe recognized how studying abroad is becoming more important as the world becomes globalized and international relations become crucial.
"At first I was surprised that the university could 'force' me to study abroad," said Duwe, who's Latin American Studies major requires him to study abroad, "but then I saw it as a great opportunity to really take my studies in political science and LAS to the test by going out and really exploring some of these issues."
"It's eye-opening," he said.
Within the past eight years, the number of Eau Claire students who have traveled abroad has increased yearly from 165 to more than 450, said Karl Markgraf, director of the Center for International Education.
"This growth is an affirmation that students value their experiences abroad and are communicating that to their peers," he said.
UW-Eau Claire holds two national rankings for its study abroad program. The school ranks 10th nationally for the number of students who study abroad at an institution for their master's degree and second for duration of study in the same category, Markgraf said.
Eau Claire also ranks as the top master's level school for students coming to study abroad in Wisconsin.
"We're really committed to long-term study abroad," Markgraf said. "Greater cultural immersion takes place when students study and live in a country for a semester, rather than when they visit for two or three weeks."
Duwe, who studied in Costa Rica last spring, agreed, "(CIE goes) out of their way to find good programs and maintain contact with these countries."
When students return from a study abroad program, they want to share their experience with friends and family, Markgraf said; hence, students returning from study abroad experiences are a "marketing machine."
Markgraf said CIE employs students who returned from studying abroad as peer advisers for others interested in the same location and to act as classroom speakers addressing the topic of study abroad.
He listed several ways CIE works to make studying abroad popular. One is being sensitive to cost.
Private school students with more affluent backgrounds easily can afford to travel, while Eau Claire students are often from median income or first-generation student families, Markgraf said. Keeping this in mind, CIE strives to keep costs low and provides a wide range of financial aid opportunities, he said.
"It's a genuine, sincere education," said senior Micah Hernandez, who studied abroad in Valladolid, Spain, in the spring of 2004.
Living with a host family in a small town was unique, he said. CIE also seems to pick places away from tourist hotspots, he added.
Duwe recognized how studying abroad is becoming more important as the world becomes globalized and international relations become crucial.
"At first I was surprised that the university could 'force' me to study abroad," said Duwe, who's Latin American Studies major requires him to study abroad, "but then I saw it as a great opportunity to really take my studies in political science and LAS to the test by going out and really exploring some of these issues."
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