The Center for International Education has recently unveiled a slate of new scholarships available to students interested in studying abroad. The scholarships are a part of a larger push by the Senior Leadership Team to boost student participation in experiential learning opportunities.

Experiential learning is defined in the university strategic plan as “opportunities for students to engage in various activities both inside and outside of the traditional classroom designed to enhance their understanding of curricular topics through practical application, self-reflection and exposure to varying and opposing perspectives.”

While studying abroad is only one part of experiential learning, it is a part of a push by the SLT to reach a goal of 50 percent of undergraduate students participating in experiential learning in one or another, said Camille Dickson, coordinator for study abroad and the Center for International Education.

Steven Shewmaker, director of the Center for International Education, said about 30 percent of undergraduate students study abroad during their time at ACU. Experiential learning, however, also involves internships and student-faculty research projects.

While some have already been claimed, the original scholarship offering, which applies to the program fee, includes:

• $5,000 for Leipzig in Fall 2018
• $2500 for Leipzig in Spring 2019
• $3500 for Oxford in Fall 2018
• $750 for Oxford in Spring 2019 (All scholarships claimed for this trip)
• $2,500 for Montevideo in Fall 2018 (All scholarships claimed for this trip)

Studying abroad is about more than just scholarships, however.

“Our true goal is to make sure that those who want to study abroad have the opportunity to do it, because as trite as it sounds, it is life-changing,” Dickson said.