Ferris is bringing back their faculty-run study abroad programs for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Office of International Education ended the short-term faculty-run programs due to the pandemic.
Executive Director of the Office of International Education, Tara Braun, is excited about the return of these programs and how they will improve in the following years.
Braun stated that Ferris decided to suspend these trips altogether for a short duration of time, but now that they are getting the support that they need, they will be returning.
“When other schools were relaunching their faculty short-term programs, there was kind of a stage of reviewing them and making sure that the relaunch of the programs was done in a slightly different way,” Braun said. “There will be many improvements and what’s being relaunched is really the overall initiatives for study abroad in general and for the faculty-led programs.”
Braun explained how the relaunch includes extra precaution and safety measures with a new faculty handbook that has been revised and “beefed up.” Both safety and health concerns have been enhanced in the revision of the program.
Professor Eric Warner is no stranger to study abroad programs. As a language professor, these programs are an integral part of their programs, but Warner has also participated in many programs in his undergraduate years as a student.
Warner led faculty-run programs before they were shut down and is excited to be coming back for the new and improved ones.
“I am really excited that the students have the opportunity to travel again,” Warner said. “COVID, in my mind, was very detrimental to international education. Students are craving just to get out of their homes and their home communities and to experience something different. They see lots of other people’s experiences on the Internet of them living life and going places, so this is an exciting opportunity to bring more students.”
Warner explains how the goal of the programs is to bring as many students as they can at a low cost so that as many students as possible can experience studying abroad.
Warner also encourages anyone who is considering studying abroad to do it.
“It is possible for everybody. As long as you are creative at fundraising and finding funding sources, you can do it,” Warner said. “ Also, no one has ever regretted going on a study abroad program. It is so helpful for you professionally and personally, and it is something that I see all of my alumni reflect on and view as one of the really important key things that they did during undergrad.”
Ferris will have five programs available for next summer, including Turkey, France, Italy, Costa Rica and Little Haiti Florida. For more information on these programs and how to sign up, visit the Ferris Study Abroad website under the faculty short-term programs.