High marks for study abroad

It has been said that the only sure things in life are death and taxes.

But another sure fact is the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University showing up on the annual Open Doors report.

CSB and SJU are ranked among the top national baccalaureate schools for U.S. students studying abroad, as well as for international students studying abroad in Open Doors 2015, the annual report on international education published by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

The 2015 report, which was released on Monday, Nov. 16, found:

• CSB and SJU are ranked No. 3 among baccalaureate schools with 349 students who studied abroad in mid-length study abroad programs during 2013-14, the most recent data measured by the IIE. The IIE defines mid-length study abroad programs as lasting one semester or one or two quarters (CSB and SJU operate under the semester system). Only one Minnesota private college was ranked higher in this category - Carleton College at No. 1 (363 students).
• CSB and SJU are ranked No. 5 among baccalaureate schools with a total of 515 students who studied abroad during the 2013-14 school year. CSB and SJU have been ranked among the top six schools nationally in this category for the past 11 years. Only one Minnesota private college was ranked higher in this category - St. Olaf College at No. 1 (684 students).
• Open Doors 2015 also reported that CSB and SJU are ranked No. 30 among baccalaureate schools hosting international students, with 235 international students studying at CSB and SJU during the 2014-15 school year. Macalester College was the only Minnesota private college ranked higher in this category, at No. 14 (298 students).

CSB and SJU remain strong in signature programs

Before graduating, 56 percent of all CSB and SJU students will participate in a study abroad program. Annually, CSB and SJU administer study abroad programs in more than 20 countries, offering students 19 semester-long programs, 15 of which are faculty-led. CSB and SJU also conduct more than 20 short-term programs.

"We are pleased to see that we remain a leader among national liberal arts colleges in terms of the number of students studying abroad," said Joe Rogers, director of the Center for Global Education at CSB and SJU. "These numbers tell an important story of who we are as a globally engaged community.

"Equally important, however, is the fact that we send the vast majority of our students abroad on faculty-led, semester-long programs. These often involve working with our global partners like Southwest University in China, with whom we just celebrated 30 years of collaborative partnership," Rogers said.

The Open Doors report found that 304,467 Americans studied abroad for academic credit from their colleges and universities in 2013-14. That represented an increase of five percent over 2012-13, and is the highest rate of growth in study abroad in five years. The leading destinations for U.S. students are the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain.

International students show huge growth in U.S.

International students made up 4.5 percent of the overall student population and 3.7 percent of the new entering class in 2014-15 at CSB and SJU. One year later, international students made up 4.4 percent of the overall CSB and SJU student population, representing 27 countries.

"International students on campus remind us that there's a reciprocity that needs to be taken into consideration in regards to how we think about and interact with them," said Brandyn Woodard, director of Intercultural and International Student Services at CSB and SJU. "They're not here just to teach American students about their countries and cultures.

"I think we're moving in the right direction by appreciating and honoring them for who they are rather than solely thinking about what they can bring to our community. I'm hopeful that the increased numbers of international students also correlates with increased understanding and meaningful and authentic relationships, and a more vibrant and inclusive community for all," Woodard said.

International students studying at U.S. colleges and universities had the highest rate of growth in 35 years, increasing by 10 percent to a record high of 974,926 students in the 2014-15 school year. The top origin countries for students coming to the U.S. are China, India and South Korea.

The release of the Open Doors report comes during the celebration of International Education Week, a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the U.S.