By: Sydney Mulvenon
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.- The 2020 Pandemic halted many things in our lives. The list is endless, but what was that one thing that really affected everyone? The answer is traveling and the pandemic kept people in one place with nowhere to go.
Many students dream to go study abroad and get out of their comfort zone, to see and experience something new. The University of Arkansas Study Abroad is that connection and resource for many students and professors.
Study Abroad’s motto is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and many students were ready for this new challenge. Study Abroad unlike other departments had to change their foundation and they themselves had to become comfortable in this uncomfortable situation.
The Director of Study Abroad Sarah Malloy says their focus was making sure students who were affected to not be discouraged about their time abroad coming to an end.
“It was a really hard concept to grasp. I think for us at the time it was making sure to focus on those students who were impacted at a devastating personal level. Their academic plans were disrupted and their dreams of study abroad were disrupted.”
One way that the program helped make a positive impact to these students was by making a call list with every student who came home.
Each week the staff in Study Abroad would call and check up on students and talk to them about how they were doing and the fun memories they made while overseas.
This fall semester Study Abroad has picked up where they left off before Covid-19.
The University hosted an International Education week where students could learn about all different cultures and education programs from around the world.
Study Abroad hosted drop-ins to connect with students again and regain and make many new connections after a year and half of staying put. Along that year and half the program would not let the pandemic silence them and affect the many years of relationships they had made.
Malloy says that it was thanks to technology that helped get them through this difficult time.
“Technology really created a bond between and strengthened our relationships with our partnerships from all over the world.”
Malloy and many others worked hard to call, text, and Facetime with their country counterparts who help make study abroad possible.
The connection that Malloy and the staff worked hard to stay in touch with paid off as almost all the programs they offered before the start of the pandemic are being offered again.
The time they spent throughout International Education was to reassure students that programs are being offered again and for the first time in months have a face to face talk about the opportunities of study abroad.
The week allowed students to see and experience many different cultures by looking at photographs and talking to people from these countries.
For study abroad the goal was that working during this week would inspire students to travel and not let the pandemic stop them from going after their dreams.
Phone Wallpaper Mockup Instagram Story Design by srmulven