STUDY ABROAD FOR THE 99%: HOW DO WE CREATE

EQUAL ACCESS?

Heather Barclay Hamir, Ph.D.The University of Texas at Austin

Changing US Demographics

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, Tables P1 and P2.

Higher Education in Texas

Hispanic students are projected to be the largest college-going population in Texas by 2040 (50.9%)

H.B. 588 (“The Top 10% Law”) shapes university admissions

Current political debates: Affordability of higher education Faculty productivity (research v. teaching) Four-year graduation rates

The University of Texas at Austin 51,000 students; 39,000 undergraduates

Admitted first majority-minority entering cohort in 2010

Demand for admission to UT led to restructuring of Top 10% Law in 2010

Four-year graduation rate: 51% (80% in six years)

Study Abroad at UT Austin

5th largest study abroad program in the US (2,284 abroad in 2009-2010)

Goal: equal access to study abroad for UT students

Underrepresented Groups

On-campus Abroad

Science majors 25% 8%

First-generation-in-college

23% 9%

Racial/ethnic minorities 48% 39%

Men 48% 42%

First-Gen Student Characteristics “First-gen” refers to students whose

parents have not graduated from college (federal definition)

First-gen student characteristics at UT: Racially/ethnically diverse population Lower average socio-economic background Lower persistence and graduation rates

(35.7% graduate in 4 years)

Study Abroad & Degree Completion 7,845 students in the first-time-in-

college (FTIC) cohort of 2002 13.6% of cohort studied abroad,

representing 21% of graduatesGraduated in:

Participants Average: 4.11

years

Non-Participants Average: 4.16

years

4 years or less

59.8% 45.0%

5 years or less

82.4% 69.9%

6 years or less

95.7% 75.0%

Predicted Probability of Graduating Study abroad participation did not predict:

time-to-degree graduation in 4 years

Study abroad participation did predict: graduation in 5 years (46% more likely to graduate) graduation in 6 years (185% more likely to graduate) graduation in 8 years (712% more likely to graduate)

Effect increased as GPA decreased

Yes, but….

Study abroad students: have higher GPAs (true) have higher standardized test scores (true) are more motivated, organized, etc. (maybe)

When applicants were compared to non-participants, no differences existed in predicted time-to-degree or likelihood of graduating from UT

The First Abroad Initiative

Three components: scholarships, partnerships, outreach/mentoring

Goals: Increase access to study abroad for a

diverse and underrepresented population Enable seamless integration of study

abroad into degree progress Contribute to student retention and success

at UT

First Abroad: Scholarships

1. Scholarships: address the financial barrier early = increased opportunities + better academic planning

250 scholarships over 5 years for first-gen students with financial need:

Hutchison International Scholars: scholarships awarded at admission, no application

First Abroad Scholarships: apply in first/second year of attendance, 2 academic years to use funds

First Abroad: Partnerships, Outreach2. Partnerships: collaboration to promote

early outreach to students, academic integration, and reduce financial barriers

Collaboration with UT retention programs, increased partnerships with academic departments

Funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation Add-on awards from study abroad program partners

3. Outreach and mentoring: staff and peer advisors