The Griffon News

When you see English professor Karen Fulton in the halls these days, her step is usually in double-time, in part because she’s also the director of Western’s Study Away Program – and she’s been very busy.

This year alone, there are nine class trips scheduled, Fulton said. Of those, three traveled over spring break to London, Paris and Belize. Shortly after spring break, another class went to New York (see stories on pages 4, 5 and 6).

The Study away program is one of four forms of hands-on experience for students that define Western’s hallmark Applied Learning aspect, said Jeanne Daffron, dean of professional studies and vice-president of student and academic affairs (see story page 7).

The advantage to students who study away is the opportunity to combine classroom learning with a trip away in order to enrich the learning experience. Fulton said that studying away is not a new concept at Western.

“Individual trips have existed quite a while,” she said. “There has been a group travel to Mexico for the past 25-26 years.”

However, with the newly organized Study Away Program, the mission is to have more one, two and three week trips, as well as to send students for full semesters, Fulton said.

“All separate trips will be brought together in a unified fashion with similar rules,” she said.

A veteran at study away, biology professor David Ashley has taken five groups, including one over spring break, to Belize. But with new organization comes new requirements.

“There were more specific logistics requirements for this trip than earlier trips, yet they were not overwhelming,” Ashley said. “I understand the rationale for the procedures, and I admire Karen Fulton being willing to step up and make this a much bigger program.”

Study Away classes meet on campus for the entire semester and enroll a maximum of 15 students. If the instructor has the assistance of another faculty member during the trip, enrollment could exceed 15. Fulton said that that so far, all students who have wanted to study away have been able to go.

Students are responsible for paying registration fees associated with the number of credit hours that a particular course meets, books that may be required materials and fees to cover travel costs, which vary depending on the destination.

Students register for their class through Western and pay fees according to Western’s fee schedule; however, their expense for the semester remains hefty at nearly $6,200 for the least expensive location. However, students are encouraged to apply for scholarships and grants that can help pay with these costs.

To travel, a valid U.S. passport is required. Fulton said that students receive information on how to obtain their passport through the U.S. Post Office and are encouraged to do so as soon as possible after registering for their class.

Students are also required to have proof of health insurance in order to travel. If students do not have private health insurance, there is special insurance available to them for a fee through the Student Services Office to cover them should they become ill or injured while away from home.