Conventional wisdom holds that we live in an increasingly interdependent world. But what does this mean? It means that economic decisions made in Ireland impact Vietnam, that grass-roots ideas sprouting in India alter ways of thinking in Ecuador, that challenges faced by policymakers in Sao Paulo and Santo Domingo are of growing relevance to their counterparts in London and New York. It means that we all have a stake in global issues. It means, moreover, that we can no longer satisfy ourselves with an isolated existence. Americans in increasing numbers are studying foreign languages and cultures, and traveling and living overseas. We do so because we must, in recognition of the fact that globalization makes us all citizens of the world.
Most students at Hobart and William Smith Colleges have an off‑campus/international learning experience in the course of their studies. Whether the experience is volunteering to teach English in Ecuadorean orphanages, studying Chinese language and culture in Beijing, or living with a French family, students at the Colleges understand the value of "breaking away" for a time to immerse themselves in another culture and to discover something about themselves and others that cannot be as easily discovered in Geneva.
Often these experiences change how we view ourselves and others, and through them we can expand our notions of who we are and what we can become. We can adopt new perspectives and appreciate another culture as we learn to identify with the people in that culture. Talking to anyone who has studied abroad about his/her experiences will confirm how powerful an off‑campus experience can be.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges encourage students to look for an off‑campus experience that is appropriate to their personal and academic interests. The Colleges provide opportunities for off‑campus study by sponsoring a variety of programs in different academic disciplines throughout the world.
This guide will provide you with the information you need in order to understand what is expected of you if you are interested in an off‑campus experience. Students are encouraged to visit the Center for Global Education to get more information.
An important part of Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ educational philosophy is to provide students with “worlds of experience”, with the aim of encouraging you to live “lives of consequence”. In support of this philosophy, the overarching mission of all Global Education programs at HWS is to help students become global citizens. Being a responsible, effective citizen of the world demands skills and values which enable individuals to assume an active, positive role in their own community and in the larger world. Global citizens appreciate and are guided by an understanding of the relationship between actions made locally and globally and a commitment to the betterment of people’s lives verywhere.
Global Citizens…
Ultimately…
Global Citizenship provides an imperative for the individual to become fully engaged in his own and/or the other culture in which he finds himself. Global Citizens feel compelled to work towards genuine understanding among peoples and actively work across lines of class, culture and nationality to solve pressing human issues.
The Center for Global Education strives to provide students with “worlds of experience” through our study abroad programs, and we encourage students to apply these experiences to living “lives of consequence”.
As you consider your off-campus options, you might want to start by asking yourself the following questions:
1. What do I to hope to gain from an off‑campus experience a) academically, b) culturally, and c) personally?
2. What considerations do I have with respect to time, foreign language ability, health, etc. that may restrict the range of Global Education options I can consider? How flexible am I in considering other options if I don’t meet the criteria for my first choice program?
3. What experience do I already have living away from home that might indicate how I would respond to being in a foreign country?
4. How do I respond to the cultural diversity that I am already exposed to? To what extent do I make the most of opportunities before me to interact with people from other cultures? Do other people see me as open-minded, tolerant, and sensitive to others?
5. To what extent am I willing to invest time preparing for an off‑campus experience (e.g.: studying the language, earning extra money to cover additional expenses, taking prerequisites, reading about the culture, completing applications, attending orientation meetings)?
These questions are posed only to get you started thinking about choosing the Global Education program that is most appropriate for you. We encourage you to seek advice from classmates who have studied off-campus, as well as family, faculty, and deans. Get as much information as you can before you make your final decision about the Global Education experience that is best for you.
The following guidelines apply to students at Hobart and William Smith Colleges who wish to study abroad, either on programs sponsored by the Colleges or those sponsored by another institution. They also apply to students interested in domestic programs sponsored by the Center for Global Education (CGE), including New York, Washington, and Los Angeles.
1. WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Sophomores, juniors and seniors in good standing, although some programs require junior status or higher.
2. GPA and OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Program participation is a privilege to be earned through solid academic achievement, demonstration of maturity, and strong motivation for program participation. Matriculation at the Colleges, in and of itself, does not guarantee the “right” to study off‑campus. Students who wish to participate in a Global Education program sponsored by the Colleges must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. In cases where a program attracts more applicants than available places, even students meeting the GPA requirements might not be selected. Students who wish to join another institution’s program or study independently at a foreign institution will be expected to have established a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better and be at junior or senior year standing by the beginning of the proposed program (NOTE: Approval to participate in these non-HWS programs is highly competitive, see #5 below.) All students must be in good academic and social standing in their college to be eligible for off-campus study. Some programs have prerequisites that must be fulfilled prior to participation.
3. ADMISSIONS DECISIONS
Admissions decisions are made jointly by the faculty director(s) of the program and the staff of the Center for Global Education in consultation with the Deans’ Offices. For affiliated programs, the final decision rests with the program administrator. Students are encouraged to speak with CGE staff or faculty directors prior to applying to learn more about program criteria.
4. FINANCES
Students participating in CGE programs retain financial aid on the same basis as previously awarded (with the exception of work/study) as determined by merit and/or demonstrable financial need. The Financial Aid Office should be consulted to determine the exact details of aid to be awarded. Tuition is charged at the same rate as on the HWS campus, plus an administrative fee of $500. Room and board charges may vary. Consult the informational brochures or the program descriptions on the CGE web page for further details.
The followingare descriptions and links to scholarship opportunities.
5. NON-HWS PROGRAMS
Receiving approval to transfer credit from a non-HWS program to fulfill HWS degree requirements is highly competitive. A limited number of places on these programs will be approved annually. Some non-HWS programs are ineligible for consideration of transfer credit (for example, the Semester‑at‑Sea and NOLS programs). Therefore, a student who wishes to participate in a program sponsored by another institution should check first with the Center for Global Education to ensure that the program is accredited and that credit transfer is allowed. No student may receive credit for work done in a non‑Colleges off‑campus semester in a location in which the Colleges offer a substantially comparable semester within the given academic year if space is available in that program. Exceptions can be made if the student can justify the greater academic relevance of such a choice to his or her particular program of study. The student should present his or her case in writing as follows:
a. The student submits an application stating the academic justification for the program, a supporting recommendation from his or her advisor, and a full description of the program he or she wants to apply for to the Center for Global Education no later than Monday October 8, 2007 for Fall 2008 and full year 08-09 programs and no later than Friday, March 7, 2008 for Spring 2009 programs. Green Non-HWS Program Application forms are available from the Center for Global Education.
b. The student's application is reviewed by the Committee on Global Education and a representative of both Deans' offices.
c. If an application is accepted, the student goes to the appropriate departmental chair to request preliminary approval of courses, providing ample evidence of the substance of each course (course description, syllabus, reading list). Upon return the student must present an official transcript for the program. As with all transfer credit, a course in which a grade below C is earned will not be accepted. Departments will decide if and how many credits from a non‑HWS program may count toward the major or minor.
d. A student on a non‑HWS program will pay an administrative fee of $500 billed directly by the Business Office after he/she submits a transcript and requests a credit transfer. Students will pay all other fees directly to the non-HWS program. Note that HWS-based aid cannot be applied to such programs. State and Federal aid is transferable, however.
A student wishing to participate in any Global Education program sponsored by the Colleges is required to complete an application form (blue form for all programs except France, which is a yellow form) which can be obtained from the Center for Global Education. Please note that some programs require additional application forms that will be handed out at your program’s informational meeting if this applies to you.
A student seeking permission to participate in an off-campus program sponsored by another institution (non-HWS program) is required to complete the “Application for Approval to Participate in Another Institution’s Off-Campus Program” (green form) which can also be obtained from the CGE office. Transfer credit will not be awarded for students who have not completed this process and received written approval in advance.
Application forms and program brochures are available on the CGE web page: www.hws.edu/academics/enrichment/studyabroad/
Upon submission of all required application materials, your candidacy will be reviewed by the appropriate faculty and the Center for Global Education. Due to the selective nature of many of the programs and the limited number of spaces available in any one program it is not possible to accept all applicants. Therefore some applicants will be placed on a waitlist. Students are encouraged to apply to multiple programs that pertain to their academic interests. Separate applications are required.
Accepted students are given a date by which they are required to place a $350.00 non-refundable deposit with the Business Office and hand in an acceptance form to the Center for Global Education to secure their place in a program. If you do not confirm your participation by the stated date and there is a waitlist, you will forfeit your place. Students who have been accepted to participate in an HWS Global Education program must contact the Registrar’s office to complete registration procedures. This is very important!
If you have been placed on a waitlist you do not need to take further action. If/when a place opens you will be contacted by the staff of the Center for Global Education. Many students who are initially waitlisted do receive an acceptance offer, but this cannot be guaranteed. Note that students who are on a waitlist must fulfill all program prerequisites in order to be accepted into a program if space becomes available.
Admissions Priotities
Priority will be given to applicants on the basis of academic achievement (i.e. GPA), quality of study abroad essay, the “fit” of the student to the program curriculum, and class standing. Factors that might impact an admission decision include social/disciplinary record and previous participation in an off-campus study program.
If you have any questions with respect to the application process, please contact either the faculty director of a program or the staff of the Center for Global Education.
Application Essay Tips
Your essay is a very important part of your application. We encourage you to start writing early, so that you’ll have enough time to rewrite and revise. Be sure to read the essay question carefully and respond specifically to each part of the question. Although you are welcome to include examples of your previous personal experiences or describe why a particular program is your “ideal”, the most successful applicants describe a strong academic motivation for the program(s) of interest. Be sure to include information about how the particular program will help strengthen your major or minor or otherwise support your long-term academic or career goals. If writing is not your strongest point, we encourage you to take your essay to the Center for Teaching and Learning in Harris House for assistance.
Students who wish to study abroad during Spring 2009 must submit their applications by Friday, March 7, 2008.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. on the date listed above.
Applications received after 5 p.m. will be automatically waitlisted.
Return all application materials to:
Center for Global Education
Trinity Hall, Third Floor