Study abroad information session

Broadening Horizons is a program run by the Study Abroad Programs office at GSU. It is focused on recruiting students and spreading information about trips, financial concerns, and benefits of studying abroad. A particular interest of the program is to make this information readily available to anyone interested in studying abroad, especially to GSU students who have not typically been on trips in the past.

Broadening Horizons is an initiative that was started to help the study abroad population reflect the Georgia State population, said Assistant Director Dawn Foster.The program began in 2007 as an effort to vary the types of students that participate in trips. Typically, those who take part have largely been white females over the past years. We are actively trying to make sure that everyone knows about us, she said, especially minorities and males.Intern Kate Godwin, who also runs the Globe-Trekker seminars, is in charge of the mentor program within Broadening Horizons. The mentor program connects future study abroad students with those that have been on trips, and can provide direct information based on personal experience. Students are connected based on their travel interest. This includes their desired location, type of program, and length of study.

Students may wish to have a mentor for a variety of reasons. Sometimes a student will have one concern, Godwin said, Sometimes it’s I'm afraid to fly, I want to talk to someone who went on that flight. If this is the case, a student might meet with their mentor only once.Some students, however, want to have someone to personally help them with the steps along the way, and mentors are available for this purpose as well. “Other students really want somebody who can mentor them through the whole process of paperwork, how to pay for it, how to book a flight, and where to go while they’re there.Mentors are students who have previously been abroad before. To become a mentor, a student may respond to an invitation sent out by the Study Abroad office, or apply by filling out the form available in the Study Abroad office. Other avenues to become a mentor are through applying on the Study Abroad website, at a Globe-Trekker seminar, or during individual advising.

Broadening Horizons holds two events each year. One event is a formal panel during which experienced students answer predetermined questions. The other is an informal meet and greet. The latter is being held this year on April 21 in the Lanier Suite in The Student Center. This is a casual way for students looking for information to meet with those willing to share it. There will be several tables led by mentors, who will be joined by their mentees and anyone else seeking study abroad information. Food will also be served.