Studying abroad is often called the most life-changing opportunity for an undergraduate student and I’m sure that you share our desire to have more CSI students study abroad. While all of our students can take advantage of the wonderful opportunities we offer through the College, faculty and staff encouragement is the key to motivating our students to take the initiative to study abroad. Our students need your help and we need your help.
In addition to your encouragement, classroom presentations with a study abroad advisor from the Center for International Service are an excellent way to get the word out. To schedule a class visit of ten to 15 minutes this fall, please send an email to Russell Davis, Study Abroad Advisor, at russell.davis@csi.cuny.edu. Please include your name, phone number(s), the course title(s), and number(s), along with the scheduled time and place, approximate class size, and preferred date for the class visit. We will get back to you to confirm the details of the visit. If you have any questions, please call Russell at 718.982.2098.
Our advisors can talk to your students about the wide array of affordable study abroad programs, from Australia to Spain, that offer CSI credit and engage students in learning about the world on a first-hand basis. While you might already know that most financial aid applies and significant scholarships are available, you might not have heard that CSI students won more than $100,000 in scholarships to study abroad each year over the past two years. CSI students can also receive grants for many programs, including semester awards of up to $8,000 from our program partner in Florence, Italy. To see more about our students’ experiences abroad, we invite you to check out student photos and testimonials at our CSI Study Abroad Blog.
Lastly, as you may already know, I am the new Executive Director for the Center for International Service at the College of Staten Island as of this past August. I am delighted to be at CSI and am excited to be working with you to help internationalize the academic life of our campus community and to help foster an awareness of the interdependence of nations, the value of diversity, and the importance of global-international understanding. I have been working in international education since 1989 and have a long history of working with students and faculty going abroad. I look forward to contributing toward our joint effort to better internationalize our campus and better benefit all students, faculty, and staff. If there is anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thank you for your support and I look forward to meeting many of you this semester and to working together in the future.
