By: Lizzy Lankford
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark — After all in-person study abroad programs were cancelled due to the rise of COVID numbers across the world, the University of Arkansas Office of Study abroad was forced to get creative with their programs.
For the 2020 fall semester, students have the chance to Study Abroad virtually through numerous online programs. Assistant Director of Study Abroad, Veronica Mobley, said that there’s a virtual program for any student to fit any major and budget.
“We have a couple dozen different virtual program options for students” Mobley said “There’s virtual study abroad programs, there’s virtual internships, there’s virtual faculty led programs, there’s a wide opportunity of different options.”
The University of Arkansas Office of Study Abroad will be offering a Virtual Study Abroad Fair tomorrow from 10 to three p.m., students will have the opportunity to drop-in on over 30 virtual sessions.
For students who are unable to make it to the fair, there are numerous resources for students to gain more information regarding study abroad programs, including study abroad advisors for each college on campus.
“studyabroad.uark.edu is just a plethora of resources” Mobley said “there’s an IM chat that we have going on eight to five everyday where students can just drop in and as us questions… we have a one o’clock [info] session every Monday through Friday.”
Students can earn up to three credit hours depending on the college they’re in and the program they choose. The programs also encourage students to grow their job experience while building their intercultural communication and competency skills.
Students can also use the scholarships and financial aid that they already have for these virtual programs and there are specific scholarships for virtual international internships.
“what we really are proud of is that, after the semester on a virtual international internship, a student can walk away and say ‘I didn’t just sit back during a pandemic’” Mobley said.
Mobley said that the return of in-person programs are dependent on an assessment of the study abroad location, CDC and US State Department guidelines and the accessibility of healthcare within the country.
The Office of Study Abroad hopes to have in-person study abroad programs as early as the Spring 2021 semester.