Thursday, September 20, 2001

New international education director plans to make fund raising a priority
By Kami Lewis
Staff Reporter

Luis Canales joined the International Education office at TCU as director in August, relocating from the University of Louisville in Kentucky, and says he would like to see 90 percent of all students take part in international education.

“Too many times we fail to envision what our experience is going to be abroad,” Canales said. “We need to motivate students, demonstrate to them it’s more than a vacation, it’s an opportunity to develop skills in the real world.”

The Institute of International Education ranked TCU as the sixth highest doctoral university in the nation for involvement in study abroad programs.

With 23.9 percent of students spending some time abroad before graduation, TCU had a higher percentage than both Baylor University and Southern Methodist University in 2000.

Canales said he sees international education as an important aspect of the university’s mission statement and as an experience that belongs to the TCU community, not just the study abroad program.

“We are working with all the international organizations available to create a global community right here on campus,” Canales said.

The coordinated effort was jump-started this year with a weekend retreat for representatives from a variety of offices, including the International Student Association and the Intensive English Program.

“The university wants to provide the opportunity for every student to experience the world, whether that happens here on campus at an ISA meeting, or at the TCU London Centre,” he said.

In an effort to improve the effectiveness of the office, Canales said he plans to create a directory of faculty and staff at TCU who have international experience and knowledge.

“Language ability, travel and work experience along with research in a foreign country are all resources that can be given back to the TCU community,” Canales said. “This would be a ‘Who’s Who’ for international education at TCU.”

Canales said he also plans to make fund-raising a priority by pursuing grants from the state and federal government which would give the office greater flexibility in developing additional programs.

With funding for study abroad traditionally coming from tuition costs, Canales said some students simply cannot afford the costs of an international experience.

Jennifer Revercomb, a senior nutrition major spent the 2001 spring semester at the TCU London Centre.

“Financially, it was a strain (to study abroad),” she said. “But it was definitely worth the cost.”

Tracy Rundstrom, the study abroad coordinator, said that about 20 percent of last summer’s study abroad students received financial aid. But, she said, there are outside funds that can be applied to help defray costs.

The TCU study abroad Web page noted that students should plan on spending an addition $2,000 to $3,000 per semester on top of normal tuition costs when studying abroad.

Canales said he also hopes that more degree programs will build international experiences into their curriculums to encourage more students to study abroad, and prompt greater interaction with international organizations on campus.

“There are some 500 international students on campus each year,” Canales said. “They are a cultural resource that many programs could draw on, but they are rarely utilized.”

Those who work with Canales are impressed with his goals in terms of organization and vision.

“I think we’re moving to become a more effective office, and we’re excited about reaching the next level in international education,” Rundstrom said.

The previous director, Delia Pitts, was hired as assistant dean for the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University said Tracy Rundstrom, Study Abroad Coordinator.

Kami Lewis
k.e.lewis@student.tcu.edu