By Laken Franchetti, Editor-in-Chief
In an email sent to students on Feb. 12, the Center for Global Education (CGE) revealed changes that had been made to study abroad at Gettysburg College for subsequent academic years. These changes were made in an effort to develop a more sustainable and cost-effective global study portfolio.
Last semester, CGE worked with the Global Study Programs Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of CGE’s portfolio. This was completed in an effort to remain a premier global study institution while also remaining sustainable for the College’s long-term financial health.
“Given our strong commitment to deepening students’ intercultural fluency and preparing them for a global workforce, Gettysburg College has historically invested a greater percentage of its annual budget on study abroad than our peers. As costs continue to rise, however, it is important that we ensure we are being judicious with our resources,” the email stated.
After the committee’s review, the College decided to cut 18 study abroad programs from its global study portfolio. There will still be access to 60 programs in 39 countries for students.
“Among those discontinued, every program either proved to have significantly lower student participation (0% – 1.95% of total study abroad participants) or CGE already offers a high-quality alternative program in the region of interest,” the email shared.
Interim Director of CGE Jesse Phillips further explained why these decisions were made and the factor expenses played in considering what programs were cut.
“CGE ultimately discontinued programs that were over our average program cost unless they met a specific and important need that otherwise could not be met through other study abroad programs,” Phillips said. “For example, although our program in Vienna has a cost that is above our goal, it is the only location where our Conservatory students can reliably take courses in their major, so we remain affiliated with that program.”
João Branco Chaves ’25 is currently participating in the Temple University at Tokyo program, which is one of the programs that has been discontinued for future academic years.
“Whereas I acknowledge some sadness in the removal of my current study abroad program of Temple University Japan Campus in Tokyo for future Gettysburgians, at the same time, I do believe that the current CGE changes truly will benefit the studying abroad experience of Gettysburg students,” Branco Chaves shared.
Branco Chaves recognized that CGE would be partnering with the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), which provides students greater access to opportunities at local universities in other countries.
“At the end of the day, with programs such as the ISEP, there is an effort to make sure students have a more immersive and cultural experience rather than sending students to American-based institutions and programs,” Branco Chaves explained. “When I decided to come to Tokyo, the Temple University program was the only program available here. However, if there was a program with a local university, I would have enrolled in that one.”
At a faculty meeting on Feb. 16, 2024, six new international student exchange programs were approved: two offerings at Yonsei University (Seoul, Korea) and the remaining offerings at the University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan); the University of Ghana (Accra, Ghana); La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia) and the University of Salvador (Buenos Aires, Argentina).
In their email to students, CGE also revealed two new programs that would be available immediately: Intern Philly offered through Arcadia University and Trinidad & Tobago through Pacific Lutheran University.
Another change that arose following CGE’s portfolio review was the changing of certain programs, such as Gettysburg in England.
This program originally included three weeks spent in London prior to the move to Lancaster University in Lancaster, England. A faculty member from Gettysburg College would accompany the students in London and teach a seminar over the three weeks, yet this seminar and the Gettysburg in England program will no longer include the three-week stay in London.
Students participating in the London seminar portion of the Lancaster University study abroad program in fall 2023. (Photo Courtesy of Professor Felicia Else)
“The cost of staying in London for three weeks was not sustainable, especially since students were not always in London during their seminar. Faculty are still able to use their program budget to bring students to London,” Phillips explained. “We are excited about this change as it will give students more time to become familiar with Lancaster University and Lancaster City prior to the start of the semester. This location will also give students and the seminar easier access to Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the Lake District.”
During the fall of 2023, Professor of Art and Art History Felicia Else taught the London seminar of the Gettysburg in England program, and she commented on CGE’s decision to no longer offer the course in London.
Students participated in a mudlarking activity during the London seminar in fall 2023. (Photo Courtesy of Professor Felicia Else)
“I enjoyed one of the best teaching experiences of my career as part of this program,” Else shared. “The students did love the London experience as did I. However, I completely sympathize with CGE’s budget constraints and can confirm that London is very costly, even more so than when I had visited some years ago.”
Associate Professor of Biology Ryan Kerney taught the London seminar in the fall of 2022, and he shared his thoughts on the decision as well.
“It is an inexhaustible city,” Kerney said. “However, one thing I found in our seminar was that by the end of [the] three weeks, everyone was tired of London, or at least central London. There are only so many museums and grand palaces that can be absorbed before priceless artifacts and significant works of art begin to lose their luster.”
Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies Ian Isherwood is set to teach the seminar portion of the Gettysburg in England program this coming fall. He was informed that the London seminar had been cut from the program in a meeting with CGE staff in late October of 2023.
Isherwood was not involved in the discussion to cut the London seminar and had to rework the syllabus he had built, as it was created with the intention of being in London for those three weeks. However, Isherwood has arranged for the seminar to begin in London.
“My original seminar was entirely based in London, so I had to scramble and rewrite my syllabus in a tight timeline. I have kept the same overall theme of Britain and the World Wars. Students will get three touring days in London, in addition to field trips in the north,” Isherwood said. “I would have obviously preferred not to cut what has been a highly successful part of a program that has lasted for over 20 years, but I am grateful to still get to teach our students and to be the resident director of the program.”
This change now allows for the seminar to include a greater number of field trips, as the budget for housing in London for three weeks can be utilized for student experiences instead.
“I have restructured my course to include field trips to Manchester, Liverpool, and Edinburgh, so students will get to travel to those cities and see how different regions of the U.K. memorialize the two world wars,” Isherwood shared. “Students will get a more localized learning experience about wartime Britain and its impact on history, society, and culture.”
Another component of the review of CGE’s portfolio was the plan to introduce new faculty-led courses. In a faculty meeting on Sept. 21, 2023, Provost Jamila Bookwala shared that Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Jeanna Hamming had been working with CGE to explore holding more homegrown programs led by faculty.
Beginning in the 2024-25 academic year, CGE will introduce faculty-led courses that include a short-term travel component that takes place during breaks in the academic calendar. Faculty-led semester-length experiences will also be introduced.
“We anticipate these new offerings will not only diversify our suite of global study options, but also appeal to students who currently do not study abroad during their four years,” the email to students said.
Bookwala shared her thoughts on the decision to build short-term and semester-long programs led by Gettysburg College faculty members: “At present, we rely largely on third-party program providers for our students to study abroad and these programs come at a significant cost to the College. Our goal is to begin to build short-term and semester-long programs that are led by our Gettysburg faculty. These programs will offer a range of study abroad options that vary in length and are outstanding in quality, all while bringing down expenses.”
Phillips expressed that students were looking forward to these new options that CGE is bringing to Gettysburg College.
“Several of the students I’ve spoken with are excited about the start of faculty-led experiences, as well as the potential new programs, especially in Ghana, South Korea and Australia. Students have been asking about these locations for a few years, and we are delighted to be moving down a path to providing access to them,” Phillips said.
While some students may be excited about the changes, Phillips recognized that some will be disappointed.
“Naturally, a few students have been disappointed that the program they were considering is no longer available. CGE is committed to supporting these students and guiding them to appropriate alternative programs that will meet or even surpass their goals. I am confident of that,” Phillips stated. “We are committed to global study being accessible to every student, and every major, and will be using that as our touchstone as we continue to update our global study portfolio.”
This article originally appeared on pages 4 to 6 of the February 2024 edition of The Gettysburgian’s magazine.
