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Study abroad programs
provide world experience
for Texas A&M students
BY BRIAN FLEMING
The Battalion
C ollege should be an experience that offers an
endless number of opportunities for students
to cultivate their minds. This is the philosophy
that the Study Abroad program at Texas A&M has
operated under for the past 19 years. 1
Through the program, students have the oppor
tunity to study a variety of subjects in countries all
over the world.
Cathy Schutt, program coordinator, said there are
a variety of study programs offered.
“We have the program in Italy which is basically
open to all majors, a program in Dominica for trop
ical biology, and we also have a program in Mexico
City for journalism,” Schutt said.
“There is also a language program we have at the
University de la Americas in Puebla, [Mexico] that
goes on every summer.”
As for the experience itself, it can be valuable in
many ways. For one, it gives students a true advan
tage after graduation.
“If you talk to any CEO of a corporation and ask
them what it is they are looking for in students, one
of the first things they will say is an international ex
perience,” Schutt said.
“That is the important part — the future of our
A&M students and their job opportunities. It makes
them more marketable.”
Suzanne Droleskey, executive director of interna
tional programs for students, said she thinks all
types of international experiences are valuable to
students.
“It is important for our students to recognize that
more and more, as they move through the process
of wanting to be successful once they graduate, we
have an obligation to prepare them for the types of
opportunities and successes they will need to have
in the workplace.”
Droleskey also said she thinks there are both tan
gible and intangible benefits to a study abroad ex
perience.
“The intangible benefits are those that the stu
dents bring back with them to the University after
being out of the United States,” Droleskey said. “I
believe most of them would tell you that there lives
have been changed significantly. It is a maturing,
growing experience.
“The tangible side is that there is a growing in
terest among Texas business and industry to ensure
that we are a growing leader in the United States in
many ways.
“As this continues, Texas businessmen, industry
leaders and government officials are very interested
in our Texas students having international compe
tencies and an appreciation for things internation
al.”
The advantages of studying abroad become most
clear when described by a student who participated
in one.
Kelley Cassell, a junior biology major, participat
ed in a program last spring at the Santa Chiara Study
Abroad Center in the Thscany region of Italy.
“It is the best decision I ever made,” she said. “I
know for a fact that I am a different person because
of it.”
Cassell said her experience abroad was also key
to her understanding of other cultures.
“Being in Europe really opens your eyes to the
world,” Cassell said. “It teaches you to appreciate
diversity. ”
The Santa Chiara Center in Italy offers a large
amount of study abroad opportunities for A&M stu
dents. It has operated under the A&M System for
nearly a decade.
Dr. Clint Machann, professor of English, taught
two courses last spring at the center. He said he
would encourage anyone interested to participate in
a study abroad.
“There is really no one I would not recommend
this experience to,” Machann said.
While in Italy, Machann taught courses in both
world literature and liberal arts. These included stud
ies of such figures as Keats, Virgil, Homer and Dante.
Studying many of these authors and poets while
in Europe is valuable to the student, Machann said.
“In teaching the world literature course, we
stressed the heritage of ancient Rome, which, of
course, was all around us,” Machann said.
“Also, you have the medieval times, which in
cluded Dante and, of course, the Renaissance, which
is exciting because of all of the paintings and the fact
that many of the great masters emerged from that
part of the world.”
Machann said there are geographical advantages
to studying in this area as well.
“For both professors and students, the high point
is really getting to know Thscany,” he said. “There
are frequent field trips. I don’t think there is any lo
cation in the world that would be equal to it.”
Every year, roughly 475 students participate in
these various programs.
The various opportunities for A&M students to
travel and study abroad are enumerable. Most im
portantly, they provide opportunities for Aggies to
learn about culture, language and themselves.
Counterclockwise from top left: The Arc de Triomph in Paris, France greets visitors;
One of the many cathedrals in northern Europe gives the area a historic feel; Har-
rod’s department store provides some of the UK's most famous celebrities with
clothing; Tower Bridge gives London one of its most recognizable landmarks.
PHOTOS BY RILEY LAGRONE