For those who have ever wanted to broaden their college experience by learning somewhere other than at the campus of UTM, the UTM Travel Study office might just be able to help.
This year, over 15 programs are available including trips to Japan, France, Germany, Washington D.C., Brazil and Guatemala.
“We have several travel studies, some of them domestic, some of them international, … depending on the academic interest of the student,” said Lorrie Jackson, the Travel Study Coordinator for UTM, who has been working for the department for the past 10 years.
Despite being limited to one’s major, there is a wide range of travel studies to choose from, whether it’s agriculture and engineering in Guatemala or fashion design and business in Kenya. Jackson said that going abroad overseas or even closer to home can greatly increase a student’s personal success.
“Experiential learning is a big buzz word, and travel study is actually the extension of the student’s education outside of the classroom,” Jackson said.
“The things that [students] learn from different cultures and places is invaluable, and it makes them more sought after in the business world.”
An average of 200 students go abroad every year, which has been steadily increasing since 2009. Some of the popular travel studies abroad include London, Ireland and even Japan. Jackson believes that the interest comes from the teacher’s ability to engage the student and want them to succeed.
“Ideally, that’s our goal, that there is a program at least every other year,” Jackson said.
To pay for a travel study, students can apply for the Student Government Association (SGA) Scholarship to help with some of the costs for going abroad. The basic qualifications for obtaining the SGA scholarship include having a good academic standing and being enrolled full time. Once accepted, students will receive $500 for domestic travel studies and $600 for travel studies abroad.
“If there are any extra funds left in our budget, we give those back to the students. … It’s usually every other year [when] we are able to pull those funds,” Jackson said.
The Travel Study Department also works with almost every other department on campus who supports them both administratively and financially to ensure the student’s needs are met.
“Most of the colleges understand that we’re in a global environment. They are looking for opportunities to engage the global world. I think that’s one of the things that sets us apart,” Jackson said.
For more information about possible travel studies, contact Lorrie Jackson, UTM Travel Study Coordinator, at 731-881-1023 or at ljackson@utm.edu.
