The Office of Undergraduate Academics located on the first floor of the Edwin A. Stevens building is never quiet. Students in all disciplines, in all grades, with very different needs will most likely stop in EAS 119 before their time at Stevens comes to a close. Situated in one of the corner offices is Susan Rachouh, the first director of the Office of International Programs here at Stevens.
Although she has only been at Stevens for 18 months, Ms. Rachouh and her sole graduate student assistant have made significant improvements to the study abroad program. Prior to her arrival and the creation of the Office of International Programs, students interested in study abroad or exchange programs had to go through Dean Berkley, Dean of Special Programs and Director of the STEP Program in the Howe Center. “[Dean Berkley] already had a full time position when she was asked to take on Study Abroad and Exchange,” said Rachouh. “She did a great job, but the program wasn’t able to expand because of the lack of staffing and budgetary support.” Increasing interest in the student body eventually impelled Stevens to set up an office dedicated specifically for study abroad, student exchange programs, and international education.
One of the office’s greatest achievements so far has been the creation of the Study Abroad Portal. Students who participated in international programs prior to the office’s creation had to go through a tedious paper process. “I decided that I wanted to move to an online enrollment management system where we could keep all of the student’s documents in one place,” said Rachouh. The Portal is a free service owned by Global Semesters, with whom Stevens was already a partner when Rachouh arrived. Students interested in an international excursion can search for options available by scrolling over a map of the earth. Countries highlighted indicate that options are available, and by hovering over a specific country, students can see how many options exist in that specific country.
The portal also allows for the storage of important documents, including passport copies, medical information, and flight information. The long, tedious paper process has thus migrated to an easy, stress-free portal with a genuinely user-friendly interface.
According to Rachouh, between 5-12 students were studying abroad each semester prior to her arrival. “The number [of students studying abroad] was increasing under Dean Berkley. Where we’ve seen the most growth has been in the summer abroad programs,’” said Rachouh.
Rachouh’s office does not just deal with study abroad options. Students have the opportunities to study abroad through a study abroad provider or university partner, conduct research, engage in faculty-led programs, volunteer in other countries, or even complete a co-op semester abroad.
“11 students are studying abroad with around 19 committed to pursuing an international program in the spring,” said Rachouh. It is suggested that students start preparing a year in advance, but it is possible to complete the paperwork as late as three months before the program’s start date. “I’ve had students come in this week and say, ‘I want to study abroad next semester!’” said Rachouh. “My response is ‘Great!’ but it’s important to get moving as deadlines come up anywhere between early October and early November.” Students who are concerned that going away for a semester will not work within inflexible engineering curriculums can also pursue summer or intersession international programs.
The price of study abroad programs varies on specific factors, including type of program, duration, country, location in the country, and host institution. For exchange programs, students pay the Stevens tuition price and fees and can apply all institutional aid. Unfortunately, for Study Abroad programs students pay either the provider or the host university directly; no Stevens institutional aid or scholarship money applies. However, in most cases, federal financial aid and alternative loans can be utilized. Rachouh suggests Budapest University of Technology and Economics, as it is both centrally located in Europe and is relatively inexpensive for students pursuing a study abroad option.
The Office of International Programs is looking to encourage all students to consider a program abroad, regardless of his or her discipline. “One of the primary goals is to make sure that every student understands how a study abroad experience can fit into his or her academic goals,” said Rachouh. Students who have even the slightest interest should visit Ms. Rachouh in the Office of Undergraduate Academics in EAS 119. She holds information sessions on Wednesday afternoons. The next info-session will be held on Wednesday, October 7th at 1PM in EAS 230; Global Semesters, a study abroad provider, will be there to discuss their options in Cyprus and other destinations.
Engineering, science, business and CAL students alike can all reap benefits from the Office of International Programs. With proper planning and great expertise from Rachouh’s office, students can leave the standard educational experience for one that is filled with excitement and culture.
