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Learn about the benefits, challenges, and successful strategies of building a partnership between financial aid and study abroad offices at UW-Madison.
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Collaborative Partnership Building between Financial Aid & Study Abroad Offices April 4, 2019
Heidi Johnson Katie Robinson UW-Madison
Overview • Why focus on campus partners? • Study Abroad at the University of Wisconsin-Madison • Financial Aid for Study Abroad at the University of Wisconsin-Madison • How we developed our partnership at the University of Wisconsin-Madison • Bringing it Back
Why Focus on Campus Partnerships? • Accuracy of Information • Timeliness • Data Collection and Feedback • Proactive vs. Reactive Problem-Solving • Effective and Efficient Communication • Identify Bottlenecks
Challenges to Building Campus Partnerships • Resources • Lack of Interest • Competition
Study Abroad at UW-Madison • Definition of Study Abroad • Program types • Classroom learning • Internships • Research, fieldwork, service learning • Programs for students of all academic levels • Summer, winter, semester and year programs
Benefits for students • Continued enrollment at UW-Madison • Receive in-residence credits to fulfil graduation requirements • Can graduate abroad • Able to use financial aid
Benefits for students • Continued enrollment at UW-Madison • Receive in-residence credits to fulfil graduation requirements • Can graduate abroad • Able to use financial aid
Development of Partnership at UW-Madison Study Abroad (International Academic Programs (IAP)) and the Office of Student Financial Aid (OFSA) • Challenges and successes of building relationship • Overall benefits of strengthened partnership
Development of Partnership at UW-Madison • Office Liaisons established • Identified liaisons for IAP and OSFA offices • OFSA staff liaison given access to participant information in IAP database • Program site visit by OFSA staff with IAP staff
Development of Partnership at UW-Madison • Shared resources and messaging for students • Satellite office hours at IAP location for financial aid drop-in advising • Involvement of OFSA at Study Abroad Fair • IAP and OFSA developed funding information session
Development of Partnership at UW-Madison • Shared resources and messaging for students • Satellite office hours at IAP location for financial aid drop-in advising • Involvement of OFSA at Study Abroad Fair • IAP and OFSA developed funding information session
Development of Partnership at UW-Madison • Advancements in technology through the database • OFSA implemented auto-building of semester budgets in student database
Unique funding Model: Global Gateway • 4-week summer study abroad cohort • China, Brazil, India, Botswana • Faculty led • First and second year students • Students must have high financial need • Give-back and engagement post-study abroad
Global Gateway 2017 participant snapshot • 40% had never traveled outside North America • 27% were first-generation college students • 73% were non-white students • 60% were Wisconsin residents • 16 majors represented • 47% reported an Expected Family Contribution of less than $12,000
Impact of Global Gateway • 74% of participants say the Global Gateway experience impacted their decision to major in their current field. • 48% of Global Gateway participants have studied abroad again, after their Gateway experience. • 85% of students say Global Gateway encouraged them to enroll in further courses with an international focu • 89% of participants say Global Gateway had an impact on their career choice or preparedness.
Impact of Global Gateway • “As the first cohort in the Global Gateway program and a low-income first generation college student, I was able to participate in studying abroad; something that I thought would not have been possible due to my financial limitations. There are many students who I know are in the same position that I am in so I have always been promoting Global Gateway to them since I first went to China in 2014.”
Development of Partnership at UW-Madison • New Challenges • Continuing to create and foster study abroad opportunities for underrepresented students • Continuing discussions on the need to increase the number of low income students studying abroad • Implementing auto-build for summer study abroad budgets • Building partnerships with additional campus partners
Bringing it Back • Stories/Examples • Sharing of Best Practices