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Dean's scholarships support summer study abroad

Dec. 21, 2010

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University is accepting applications for both merit- and need-based scholarships that offer awards of up to $2,500 to offset the cost for WMU students to participate in a select group of short-term study abroad programs.

Photo of the Great Wall of China.The Dean's Scholarship for Summer Study Abroad provides support to enroll in 23 short-term programs that will be taught by WMU faculty members late in the spring semester or during the summer I and II sessions.

The 2010-11 Dean's Scholarships, which are administered by the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, allow WMU students to apply for need-based awards of up to $1,500. In addition, those with a 3.0 grade point average also may apply for merit-based awards worth $1,000.

Feb. 15 is the deadline to apply for most of the eligible overseas programs, some of which have spots open for WMU employees and members of the public.

Program participants travel with WMU professors to study a wide range of subjects, such as geology in Egypt, engineering in the Czech Republic, and the economies of Latin America in Uruguay. Summer study abroad programs are popular with many students because they require a shorter time commitment and the costs for some programs are similar to what it would cost to earn the same number of academic-credit hours on campus.

Maia Hausler, a junior majoring in environmental studies from Lansing, Mich., participated in the Japanese Religion and Culture program held in Tokyo and led by Dr. Stephen Covell, Mary Meader Professor of Comparative Religion and chair of WMU's comparative religion department.

"My experience abroad studying Japanese Religion and Culture in Tokyo not only helped me gain credit toward my major in environmental studies, but spending time in a country of such a vastly different culture opened my eyes to how similar humans are, even if on the surface we may seem so different," said Hausler, a 2004 graduate of Grand Ledge High School.

"The personal growth I gained from my studies in Japan has greatly increased my self-confidence and given me the courage to pursue my goal of going to graduate school. I am working on environmental projects now that I would not have thought possible before I studied abroad."

Summer study abroad programs run from two to eight weeks, offer varying levels of undergraduate and graduate academic credit, and are eligible for financial aid funding from the Kalamazoo Promise, Michigan Education Trust and other non-WMU sources.

Application and contact information

Visit the WMU study abroad office for a Dean's Scholarship for Summer Study Abroad application as well as profiles of the 23 programs that the scholarship may be used for and the minimum eligibility requirements to apply to them. The profile for each program includes an overview and details about itinerary, cost, housing and other topics.

For more information about studying or working abroad, contact WMU Study Abroad at study-abroad@wmich.edu or (269) 387-5890. Those interested also may visit that office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is located on the second floor of Ellsworth Hall in the Haenicke Institute.

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Media contact: Jeanne Baron, (269) 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu

WMU News
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Western Michigan University
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