Melissa Stone is a Program Manager in ISA’s Custom Programs [CP] division and a contributor to ISA Today as part of an occasional series called ‘CP in Focus.’
Some universities have developed their own study centers abroad. Florida State University and Texas A&M University are great examples, and Aggies and Seminoles have the opportunity to study abroad at a branch of their home campus in another country. However, our experience in Custom Programs suggests that not all U.S. universities and colleges have the resources to support such robust investments in international infrastructure. To many universities, a solution has been to tap into ISA’s existing infrastructure and tailor an already-established program to fit a university’s particular curricular needs.
Case Study
Rollins College has established a program through a partnership with ISA in Buenos Aires. With a customized admissions process, ISA modifies the student forms and options for the Rollins program. For example, Rollins College wanted their students to have a maximum cultural immersion experience, so they required students on their program to live with host families, instead of ISA’s residencia and independent housing options.
In our experience, this particular Program Model has proven beneficial for both the student and the home university:
- The Student: Students get to study abroad with their home university and with the knowledge that their academic credits will apply exactly as they plan to their degrees. They receive the same, best-in-class academic and emergency support as a result of the experienced staff and infrastructure in place in all of our sites abroad, and they will arrive to a program with a network of international and local friends from their home university and from universities around the U.S. and the world.
- The Home University: You maintain control of what the student enrolls in, what options they see, what forms they complete, and any tuition, fees, and financial aid that may travel. Directing these components extends your overall reach as your students study abroad, without necessarily having to set a minimum number of students for enrollment or sending a faculty member.
