Diversity in international education might seem inherent, but it’s low among study abroad participants in the U.S., prompting the University of Colorado Boulder to create Global Opportunity Scholars, or GO Scholars.
The program -- launched this fall as the second of its kind in the country -- awards $2,000 for summer-term study abroad and $4,000 for semester-term study abroad to high-achieving first-generation, low-income and other underrepresented students. First-generation students are those who are the first in their families to attend a four-year college.
The recipients may use the scholarship for an approved study abroad program at any point during their careers at CU-Boulder.
“We find that many of our students have fewer opportunities and are participating at lower rates than they should in global experiences,” said David Aragon, executive director for student success at CU-Boulder’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement.
The benefits of international education are widespread, Aragon said. Students who studied abroad during their time at CU-Boulder graduated within a six-year period at a rate that was 10 percentage points higher than those who didn’t, according to a study of students who were juniors and seniors in fall 2010 conducted by the Office of Planning, Budget and Analysis.
The GO Scholars are nominated by faculty and administrators in the CU-LEAD Alliance -- a set of learning communities that promotes student success through cohort activities, academic enrichment and community building. Most of the communities offer summer bridge programs before the fall semester begins, which allows the GO Scholars nominations and award commitments to happen early.
“Our objective is to capture students before the official start of the school year,” said Liza Hensleigh, coordinator for diversity and access in CU-Boulder’s Office of International Education. “From there we’re able to work with them regularly to help them research, plan and prepare with plenty of time.”
In addition to offering funding so studying abroad is no more expensive than attending CU-Boulder for the GO Scholars -- who also can use any financial aid they have and may be offered matching funding through program providers -- the program addresses other common concerns like fitting study abroad into one’s academic schedule and helping students’ families feel comfortable with the prospect. During regular meetings and events, the GO Scholars hear from study abroad alumni and receive help budgeting, writing scholarship essays, applying for passports and more.
One student in the first GO Scholars cohort of 24 is Hernan Lopez, a CU-Boulder freshman majoring in engineering from Greeley, Colorado. He has three younger siblings and already considers his college experience a big deal.
“I think it’s a legacy,” said Lopez. “When people look back, they’ll be able to mention me as the first in my family to graduate from high school and even to attend a university in the United States. I hope the legacy continues to grow in my family.”
Lopez, a soccer fanatic, is considering focusing on architectural engineering within his major. He doesn’t yet know where he’ll study abroad, but would welcome the chance to tour a soccer stadium in another country or see a soccer match if the opportunity arises.
His overarching priority, however, is to bring honor to his family.
“Everything I do is for them,” said Lopez. “I want to show my parents that their sacrifices are paying off and that I’m taking every opportunity I can because they were not so lucky to have as much. Also, I want to show my siblings that anything is possible as long as you have the mentality and put in hard work.”
Another cohort of about 25 GO Scholars will be selected next summer. CU-Boulder currently uses existing scholarship funding to provide the awards and hopes to interest donors to support the program in the future.
The Institute of International Education this week, which is International Education Week, released its annual Open Doors Report including data on the ethnic and racial profile of U.S. study abroad participants in 2012-13. For the report visit http://www.iie.org/Research-and-Publications/Open-Doors/Data.
