What makes a study-abroad program successful

Despite growing interest among American college students in study-abroad programs, as few as 1.5% of students travel overseas to study every year, writes Wendy Williamson, director of study abroad at Eastern Illinois University, in The Chronicle of Higher Education. (A recent study reported that fewer than 3% of Canadian undergraduates study abroad.) It's just a matter of time before institutions that do not foster the international-learning experience find themselves at a huge disadvantage when recruiting undergraduates, Williamson writes, as a global higher education is becoming more of a crucial part of being competitive in today's job market. Williamson outlines 7 signs of a "study-abroad-friendly" university: support from both administration and faculty; variety of program options; preparation for risk; fair value; every department has options; students earn valuable credit; and a commitment to go green. The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access)