by Paul Caccamise
Daily Lobo
UNM senior Greg Luther said after studying abroad in Granada, Spain, he returned to campus with much more drive and determination.
"My grades are substantially better," he said. "I'm more motivated. I don't know if I could put a finger on it. Studying abroad is a lot of fun but a challenge. When you come back you keep pushing yourself in the same way that was required abroad."
Luther works as a study abroad assistant in the International Studies Program. He's hopeful the Regents International Study Grant will provide more opportunities for UNM students to study abroad.
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The regents gave the program a grant worth $40,000 for the spring and summer semesters. Next year, the program will receive $100,000.
The grant funds a merit-based scholarship given through the International Studies Program.
"The grant provides scholarships for good students that can't do it financially," Luther said.
Ken Carpenter, associate director of the International Studies Program at UNM, said this is the first time UNM has received major scholarship funding for the students hoping to study abroad.
"It happened because UNM students organized and went to the regents for the funding," he said.
Carpenter and his department have been working on the presentation for the regents for years, he said.
"It was pretty easy once the students talked about their experiences abroad," Carpenter said. "The regents seemed pretty impressed."
The regents approved the grant unanimously. But student regent Rosalyn Nguyen said the board can't assure the renewal of the grant after next year.
"The UNM budget is tight," she said. "But we love to support these students and programs. We try and do whatever we can."
Carpenter says one of the department's study abroad programs allows students to attend school out of the country with standard UNM tuition. The student must be responsible for transportation and cost of living. The scholarship can help cover these costs.
For the summer and short-term programs, students can receive $350 to $1000 in scholarships each. The International Studies Program committee, made up of faculty, staff and students, designate the amount of money students receive.
"They receive applications and they decided how much money a student will receive," Carpenter said. "It all depends on how many applications we receive, how long they'll stay abroad and the student's financial need. Where they go also matters. A student going to Argentina or Australia would receive more than a student going to Mexico since there is a higher cost of living."
Patricia Gradoville, a study abroad assistant, said studying in Burnaby, British Columbia, was an adventure. She said academics and culture are intertwined.
"Culture is so much a part of academics. American texts use American research," she said. "Canadians research things most Canadians already know about."
Upon returning to the United States, Gradoville said she experienced reverse culture shock.
"You get used to being in a different country," she said. "You get used to what it's like being there. Sometimes in class I raise my hand and people have no idea what I'm talking about because it's foreign to them. But professors are appreciative of the different knowledge. They definitely see it as a benefit."
Applications for the fall study abroad program are due April 3.
