SSU Students Prepare to Study Abroad

August 2, 2012

The Center for International Programs and Activities offers students a Study Abroad program where the student can go to one of six sister universities in Chile, two in China, Germany, Morocco and Spain.

Four students are preparing to study abroad. Chad Mitchell, of West Portsmouth, business administration major, will be going to Bangkok, Thailand, under the ISEP-Direct program for two semesters. He was in the U.S. Navy stationed in Thailand, so he is familiar with the country and wanted to go to school there.

ISEP (International Student Exchange Program) is a network of more than 300 colleges and universities in 50 countries cooperating to provide affordable access to international education for a diverse student population. This is the first year of the program at SSU.

Mitchell will be in Thailand through the next two semesters. He has been there several times and has a place within walking distance of the university. The university has a uniform he will have to wear while attending.

Brittany Marquardt, of Greenwich, Ohio, biology major, and Jeffrey Martin, of Mt. Sterling, Ohio, also a biology major, are going to a sister university, Universitat Jaume (James I University) in Castellon, Spain.

"I'm really excited to go," Marquardt said.

She is planning to travel to several countries in Europe while she is there.

Rita Haider, CIPA director, has influenced several students to study abroad.

"She convinced me to go and I'm excited too," Martin said.

Emily Nickell, of Piketon, international relations major, will be going to Ifrane, Morocco to Al Akhawayn University.

"My parents are very supportive but a little sad because I will miss Christmas and Thanksgiving," Nickell said. "I chose Morocco because I thought it would be good to go somewhere completely different."

Shawnee State offers a direct exchange with our sister universities. Students who participate in an exchange program typically spend one semester or one year at the sister university. Participating in an exchange program is often the most convenient option for students. Shawnee State students pay SSU tuition for the duration of the exchange.

Students can participate in an exchange program with one of SSU's sister universities, pioneer an individual Study Abroad experience with ISEP-Direct in more than 70 locations throughout the world, or sign up to participate in a short-term Study Abroad experience.