Augusta, Ga. – As the United States begins observing International Education Week, the University System of Georgia (USG) announced that it has reached a milestone, having sent more than 6,000 students overseas to study last year. Over the past decade, the USG has increased threefold the number of its students studying abroad.

Dr. Richard Sutton, assistant vice chancellor for international programs, noted that, “Studying abroad has a major impact on student learning, academic achievement, and career success. The USG is committed to making these opportunities accessible and affordable for every Georgia student.”

Contributing to the USG numbers is the increase in the number of Augusta State University (ASU) students who participate in study abroad. ASU’s study abroad programs have seen an increase of about 20 percent in the past few years.

“It’s really important to realize how far ASU has come in such a short time. ASU has grown from three study abroad programs in three departments to 17 programs in almost every academic department,” says Dr. Holly Carter, ASU’s assistant vice president for international affairs.

One of the first programs developed by Augusta State was the Salamanca, Spain, study abroad program headed by Dr. Jana Sandarg, foreign languages professor in ASU’s Department of English and Foreign Languages. She and a group of students traveled to Mexico in 1982 in ASU’s first study abroad experience. The Salamanca program, which currently serves the entire USG, was given to ASU in 1992 and has been under Dr. Sandarg’s direction since then.

“I have students from all over the state. It is good for them to get to know students from other Georgia universities. This program helps make students more accepting of others outside of Augusta and it inspires them. I think this is a definite plus for our students,” says Dr. Sandarg.

Study abroad is currently being offered in 75 percent of the departments at ASU. To make it more affordable and convenient to ASU students, the sweat equity program was developed. The program allows students to earn their way abroad by selling concession items at sporting events. The money received from the concessions is applied to the individual student’s study abroad fund. ASU students also participate in fundraising events which include drawings and silent auctions.

“About 60 percent of our students participate in sweat equity or some form of fundraising. Some students are able to pay for their trip at one time; but the reality for most of our students is that they participate in some of the fundraising programs,” says Dr. Carter.

One such ASU student, Mr. James Mayes, a business major, has participated in three study abroad trips which have been partially funded by the Sweat Equity program. Through study abroad, Mr. Mayes has had the opportunity to dine with the governor of Florida at the embassy in Paris.

“It is through the sweat equity program that I have been able to afford to participate in study abroad. My field of interest is international business, so the opportunities that study abroad has presented will assist me in reaching my goals,” says Mr. Mayes.

“This high level of student participation in study abroad reflects the importance of the regents’ Strategic Plan in preparing Georgia students for the global economy of the 21st century,” says Richard Tucker, chair of the Board of Regents.

During the 2007-08 academic year, a total of 6,076 students from the System’s 35 colleges and universities studied outside the United States, as compared to the 1,850 students who studied abroad during 1997-98.

“I am delighted that our students are exploring the global classroom in such record-setting numbers,” says Chancellor Erroll B. Davis, Jr. “Not simply traveling, but living and learning in other countries will give them tremendous skills and advantages in meeting the challenges of a complex world.”

For more information on International Education Week, go to http://iew.state.gov/. The Institute for International Education’s Open Doors 2008 report, released today, is available at http://www.opendoors.iienetwork.org/.

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