CSB and SJU ranked No. 1 nationally in semester-long study abroad participation

11/12/2007

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University are ranked No. 1 nationally among baccalaureate institutions because of the high number of their students who take part in semester-long study abroad programs, according to the annual report on international education, Open Doors 2007, published by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and released Monday, Nov. 12.

The two schools had 393 students study abroad in what the report called “mid-term duration” programs during the 2005-06 school year, according to data released by the IIE. The colleges’ 16 study abroad programs are led by its faculty, very unusual among baccalaureate colleges like CSB and SJU.

The IIE defines mid-term duration as study abroad programs that take place during one semester, one quarter or two quarters. CSB and SJU operate on the semester system.

The report also found that CSB and SJU are ranked No. 4 nationally among baccalaureate institutions for total number of study abroad students with 515 students who studied abroad in 2005-06.

Fully 62 percent of CSB graduates and 55 percent of SJU graduates study abroad. Over the past 25 years, CSB and SJU have developed and together operate 16 semester-long and faculty-led study abroad programs in 13 countries. In addition, the colleges mount dozens of short-term and service learning overseas trips.

Saint Benedict and Saint John’s have been among the top four undergraduate liberal arts colleges nationally in the number of students participating in international study programs for each of  the past four years, according to IIE.

The complete Open Doors 2007 report is available at www.opendoors.iienetwork.org.