Hudson Valley lets students travel the world

Setodzi Avoke
Copy Editor

Hudson Valley students have the opportunity to study abroad through the College Consortium for International Studies (CCIS) and SUNY international programs.

Universities located in Argentina, Jamaica, Israel and Switzerland are some of the options available for students to choose from through the CCSS and SUNY int’l programs for semester, summer or year stretches spent overseas.

According to campus’ Office of International Student Services, before the idea of studying abroad might cross a student’s mind, several myths and misunderstandings about such programs involving pricing, majors and academics can be debunked by looking at the college’s website: hvcc.edu/studyabroad/index.html.

“The best thing to do when students think about studying [abroad] is going onto the website and taking a look at that,” said Interim Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs David Clickner. “That’s probably more important than anything,” he said.

Clickner’s experience facilitating the study abroad ambitions of students have led him to note a pattern that the students interested and most likely to follow through with studying abroad are those willing to “navigate someplace other than [their immediately available information streams].”

Although happy to assist students and readily capable of advising them, students willing to look for information themselves are just the sort that study abroad should appeal to.

Additionally, to follow through with a study abroad program is a demand made to a student’s independence and subjective regard for what the experience might offer.

“Learning about the study abroad program from doing some independent work allows you to think through and be reflective,” said Clickner. “That’s the most important piece, that sense of independence,” he said.

Most programs through CCIS and SUNY Int’l include a minimum GPA requirement that ranges from 2.5 to 3.0. Although many programs have only an English requirement, some will also require fluency in a chosen country’s native language.

A common barrier to study abroad is pricing, but Associate for Academic Planning, Assessment, Research and Accreditation Amy Keegan stresses that the financial aid office and cashier’s office are partners in a student’s study abroad plans.

“It’s an effort—it takes a village to send a student abroad,” said Keegan.

“Part of what results from pursuing this kind of experience is that you’ve gotta navigate the costs associated with it,” said Clickner.

“It doesn’t mean that it’s not affordable or that a resourceful student can’t do it, but it certainly is likely going to be very different than the fees you would pay if you had not chosen to study abroad,” he said, as costs ultimately have to be found through research into the receiving school as well.

Although independence is a key aspect of the process, Clickner and Keegan are delighted to assist students.

“It’s my favorite thing. I want to make sure when the students come in that I’ve answered their questions and that they know all their options and they consider everything,” said Keegan.

“At the end of the day, we’re here for the students,” said Keegan. “That’s my favorite part of my job,” he said.

Students interested in pursuing a study abroad program should begin with these links:

http://www.hvcc.edu/studyabroad/links.html

http://ccisabroad.org/

https://www.suny.edu/studyabroad/