CHICAGO (ELCA) -- St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., leads the nation's colleges and universities in the percentage of students who engage in international or off-campus domestic studies, according to a news release issued by the Institute of International Education on Nov. 13. St. Olaf is one of 28 colleges and universities affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
One in five students at St. Olaf study abroad every year. About 90 percent of students have participated in an international or off-campus studies program by the time they graduate.
St. Olaf offers more than 115 interim, one-semester, five-month or full-year academic programs in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Oceania and South America.
"Global perspective is an essential part of the mission of St. Olaf College, and we believe it is important to offer this opportunity for students to study abroad," said Patrick Quade, director for international and off-campus studies, St. Olaf. "The commitment and support of our faculty is the single most important factor in the success of our off-campus study program."
Student enrollment at St. Olaf is 2,940 with a full-time faculty of about 256. In the 1998-1999 academic year, 632 students at the college studied abroad, with another 136 students involved in off-campus domestic programs. More than 65 percent of 1999 St. Olaf graduates took part in at least one international program during their four years at the college, and another 23 percent participated in at least one domestic program.
The number of U.S. college and university students studying abroad is up 14 percent from 1999, a record of 129,770, according to the Institute of International Education. This information is available in the Institute's annual "Open Doors" report, published with support by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs.
* Details provided by the Office of Public Relations and Marketing, St. Olaf.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
