Students, faculty and staff agree – participating in study-abroad programs through the College of Agriculture broadens perspectives, looks good on resumes and is fun.

However, students may hesitate to study abroad for several reasons, including cost, timing, fear and lack of information about available opportunities.

“It broadens your horizons so much,” said Jacqueline Venner, senior in horticulture, who has traveled to Ukraine, England and Greece.

Despite the numerous benefits study abroad can provide, some summer agriculture travel courses are suffering from low enrollment and registration deadlines are approaching quickly, said Venner, an employee of the Agriculture Study Abroad Office.

Sherrie Nystrom, secretary for the Agriculture Study Abroad Office, said the low enrollment in some courses “kind of becomes a cost-prohibitive factor.”

When fewer students enroll in courses, the cost may rise due to being unable to meet requirements to receive “group rates” for activities and lodging, she said.

“Financing trips is definitely a concern,” Venner said. “We have some answers to that.”

Scholarships are available through their office, the College of Agriculture and the Study Abroad Center, Nystrom said. Some trips also may qualify for partial tuition reimbursement, she said.

Elvin Hasselman, agronomy teaching lab coordinator, is a co-leader of an Australia summer travel course. He encouraged students to participate in study abroad opportunities and said students will “never be able to go to Australia for $3,400 again.”

Summer agriculture travel courses, which range from 12 days to one month in length, are among the most popular choices for students, Venner said.

However, these trips can occur at a bad time for students trying to secure summer employment.

“Some people have a conflict with the time of year,” Venner said. “But it can also be a good time.”

International experiences can appeal to potential employers, Hasselman said.

“Now is the time to do it, before you get tied down,” he said. “It’s either now or wait 25 years and try it again.”

Agriculture study-abroad opportunities range from spending a semester studying or interning abroad to participating in a travel course.

The idea of an entire semester abroad is “a little bit much” for some students, Nystrom said. Travel courses offer students a good way “to get their feet wet,” Venner said.

These courses allow students to get credit for a class and also visit a country to see the subjects they studied being practiced, Hasselman said.

“There is no way you can teach in a classroom what they see on site,” he said.

Summer 2002 agriculture travel courses are offered in a variety of subjects and areas including France, Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Scotland and Turkey.

The France travel course includes an optional internship after the conclusion of the course, Venner said.

“We can tailor-make a trip,” she said. “We can find something that will fit an individual.”

The events of Sept. 11 scared off some students as well as parents from traveling overseas, Nystrom said.

But now, an understanding from an international perspective is especially important, Venner said.

“Getting this understanding is essential,” she said.

The Agriculture Study Abroad Office, 111 Curtiss Hall, has a variety of resources for students who want more information about agricultural opportunities abroad.

Information about study opportunities, internships and travel courses is available as well as scholarship information and trip planning assistance for faculty.

“We’re a mecca of information,” Venner said.