VCU works to expand scope of international education support – VCU News

Written by Amelia Hayman

“VCU is a very diverse institution with a large population of students who are nationally underrepresented in education abroad,” said Stephanie Tigner, director of global learning in the Office of Global Education. “Everything we do as an office is with that in mind.”

One of those programs is Black + Abroad, an event series co-sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. The student-centered program focuses on first-hand accounts of studying abroad, and this year's gathering on February 27 will feature a panel discussion exploring the nuances of global citizenship and international travel for Black students. . VCU also offers a $500 voucher that can be used to pursue study abroad opportunities.

“It’s really important for Black students to use representation as a way to see themselves studying abroad,” Tigner said.

As part of this year's program, Black international students will discuss their experiences studying in the United States, Tigner said, adding that students of African descent can have a very different experience in this country than African-American students. It pointed out.

“The Global Learning Department is committed to intentionally connecting VCU domestic students and VCU international students for mutual benefit,” she said, adding that such connections are a key component of campus-based global education. He said that.

Another example is at the Gladding Residence Center. Here, Global Village is a GEO-sponsored program-in-residence that connects culture and community. Throughout the semester, lectures and workshops focus on international students. For example, a sushi making night at West Grace North on February 19th included visiting students from Shimane University in Japan.

“Campus-based learning experiences like this one bring students together to expand their horizons and form a community,” Tigner said. “Interactions between individuals provide opportunities to explore cultures and foster mutual understanding. Students become more curious, learn about themselves and other cultures, and engage in global problems and the world as part of solutions. They may seek more cultural involvement, such as studying abroad, which provides an opportunity to consider their position.”

In other opportunities, GEO is partnering with VCU's federally funded TRIO program to host a service learning trip to Las Canas, Dominican Republic in early March. TRIO supports first-generation, low-income students and students with disabilities, and Tigner said the school should seek to include these underrepresented populations.

“First-generation students may enter college without any prior knowledge or consideration of having a study abroad experience,” she said.

To encourage travel participation in March, which coincides with spring break, organizers selected destinations that are more accessible in terms of airfare. We also created a week-long program, rather than a semester-long program, to help students who have jobs or other responsibilities from home better accommodate travel. And the timing of the spring semester rather than the summer allows students to take advantage of existing financial aid.

“Money is often cited as the biggest barrier to studying abroad,” Tigner says.

GEO offers scholarships to encourage study abroad. Among these awards, the airline ticket voucher award is donated to students using miles earned by the university. The newest is the L&L Friendship Fund, established in 2023 with approximately $2.5 million from an anonymous donor.

GEO currently provides free passport photos to students and employees. Many Americans don't have a passport and don't know how to get one. “We don't want the passport application process to be a barrier, so we want to make it easy and demystify the process,” Tigner said.

Students also have access to a library of resources to help them navigate issues related to aspects of identity, from cultural norms to finding services like hair care, before or during their trip abroad.

By addressing potential concerns and barriers for underrepresented students head-on, “we hope that our study abroad participants more accurately represent the rich diversity of VCU's student body.” '' Tigner said.

Study Abroad Day, scheduled for the last Monday in February, is part of International Education Week, a joint initiative of the Departments of State and Education that takes place in the fall. Learn more about study abroad and scholarship opportunities. global.vcu.edu/aroad/