Murry State University Engages First-Year Students in New Study Abroad Program

While not the first institution in the United States to send first-year students abroad, Murry State University has started a new program Study Abroad 101 that sent twenty-nine incoming first-year students and one transfer student to Costa Rica.  In the following video, Melanie McCallon, Associate Director of Education Abroad, describes the Study Abroad 101 program and plans to expand in the future including a new program in Panama in addition to returning to Costa Rica in summer 2011 with Germany and Iceland as potential destinations in the future.





I really like the idea of engaging first-year students in international opportunities.  I was an exchange student in Germany the summer between high school graduation and starting college and it was one of the best experiences of my life.  You can read more about the program here.  Following is another video about the program that is of interest.





What is your institution/organization doing to engage first-year students?