Group's study ranks IU's overseas program No. 9 nationally

Senior Stacy Fogel is readjusting to the cold and snowy winter weather in Bloomington after spending the last holiday season studying at American InterContinental University in London. Fogel was among 1,379 IUB students who received academic credit for studying abroad last school year. \n"It was unforgettable," said Fogel, who took courses ranging from abnormal psychology to the survey of British museums.\nIU was named No. 9 as a leader for study abroad programs among research institutions for the 2002-03 academic year -- three spots up from the previous year, according to the annual report "Open Doors 2004" released by the Institute of International Education, a nonprofit organization that provides data and resources on behalf of universities across the country.\nSusan Carty, associate director of the Office of Overseas Study, said IU's ranking illustrates the strong quality of its study abroad programs.\n"Certainly being among the top 10 or so in the country was expected," Carty said. "We've maintained a position in and among the top 10 for many years."\nCarty said the results of the report also show an 11 percent increase in the number of IUB students studying abroad from the previous year's total of 1,245 students. \nIU is one of four Big Ten schools represented in the "Open Doors" report. Michigan State University ranked No. 2 with 1,864 students studying abroad; the University of Wisconsin was No. 6 with 1,441 students; and the University of Illinois sent 1,377 students overseas and ranked No. 18 in the report.\nThe report also revealed the number of college students receiving credit for studying abroad increased by 8.5 percent from the previous year, reaching a record total of 174,629 students.\nCarty said the Office of Overseas Study gives students the option of enrolling in a study abroad program through IU or at other American or foreign institutions.\nAbout 25 percent of students choose to go through programs at other universities, Carty said.\nAccording to the Office of Overseas Study's Web site, IU offers more than 80 overseas study programs in 35 countries.\nCarty said IU's most popular destinations -- Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom -- are consistent with national trends.\n"In the last couple of years, we have seen a lot of expansion in the numbers of programs available and in the destinations available," Carty said. "In particular, we have some new programs that IU faculty have designed that are running for the first time this coming summer."\nSenior Cassandra Cogswell spent the spring semester of her junior year studying at Lorendo de Medici School for International Students in Florence, Italy. Cogswell, who traveled with a Connecticut state school, said she was surprised to see the high number of American students studying in Italy.\n"I expected to be one student in a handful of foreign students," Cogswell said. "It was nice to meet people from both other countries and other states."\nCarty said she anticipates the numbers for IU students studying abroad will be even higher next year, though she is unsure of where IU will fall in the big picture.\nPatricia Harrison, the State Department's Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, said she is pleased more students are studying abroad than ever before.\n"By encouraging more students to participate in educational opportunities abroad, U.S. colleges and universities ... help expand our citizens' awareness of global issues and lay the groundwork for the kind of mutual understanding that builds a better future for all of us," Harrison said in a statement.\n-- Contact campus editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.