Clare Duffy |
Sophomore Jacquie Nguyen had always wanted to travel through Europe, and UP’s extensive study abroad options were a main selling point for her.
But the possibility of the nursing major’s dreams becoming a reality did not present itself until the middle of last year.
“I was going to go to Australia because it’s connected to the nursing program,” Nguyen said. “But then Fr. Art mentioned Salzburg, and the chance to travel to Paris. I was like, ‘Alright, I’m sold.’"
This year, the Office of Study Abroad changed the structure of the Salzburg program, allowing some students to go to Salzburg for either fall or spring semester, with priority given to nursing and engineering students. This change, initially requested by the School of Engineering, is part of an experiment aimed at increasing study abroad options accessible to students with heavier or more structured course loads.
This year, 10 fall semester students have joined 27 full-year students. In the spring, these ten will depart and three new students will arrive to finish the year. With 37 students in the fall and 30 in spring, the program is smaller than its usual 40 members.
Director of Studies Abroad Fr. Art Wheeler attributed this smaller number to the economy. He expects the program to grow next year.
“UP has seen big changes in the distribution of enrollment, with surges of students in nursing and engineering,” Wheeler said in an email. “With recent changes, and with the summer programs, Salzburg is now accessible to students from every major.”
The Office of Studies Abroad received more than 100 applications for next year’s Salzburg programs, and is currently determining which students will make the cut.
Support for the program has also begun to arise amongst current and past Salzburgers, including senior Megan Lester, who studied there in the 2013-2014 school year.
“We all arrived in Salzburg as 40 strangers, and left as this strange, beautiful cult,” Lester said. “All of that said, Salzburg is what you make it. I had a wonderful time during my two semesters in Salzburg, and I’m sure others will have a wonderful time during one semester.”
Wheeler said the experiment is being watched carefully. For the staff in Salzburg, the change will mean the organization of a second student orientation.
However, the change will ultimately impact the workload of the Office of Studies Abroad very little, as the number of students participating in the program is small relative to the total number of UP students abroad.
René Horcicka, program director for Salzburg, is curious about the impacts this change will have on the program and the group dynamic at the Salzburg Center.
“Something that I have in my mind right now is that the full-year program is an established program, and is constructed in a way that it is a progress,” he said.
While Horcicka and the full-year students look forward to welcoming the incoming group of students, Nguyen is looking back on her experience.
“I wouldn’t change my experiences here for anything in the world,” Nguyen said. “Leaving is kind of sad, but I’m excited to go home and see all of my friends and family.”
Clare Duffy is a contributing writer studying in Salzburg this year. She can be reached at duffy17@up.edu.
