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SUNY Plattsburgh Recognized for Meeting Generation Study Abroad Goals


SUNY Plattsburgh was one of 12 campuses nationwide to be recognized by the Institute of International Education for already exceeding a 2020 goal to increase the number and diversity of American college students who study abroad.

The IIE launched its Generation Study Abroad initiative two years ago to boost study abroad participation with more than 700 college and universities signing on. SUNY Plattsburgh among the first to meet or exceed the goals, four years ahead of schedule. 

The college, along with 11 others including SUNY Oswego, were recognized for their achievement at the IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad Oct. 23-25 in Washington, D.C.

“The diversity of the 12 higher education institutions that have met or exceeded their goals early demonstrate how all institutional types — community colleges, art schools, private liberal arts colleges and public research universities alike — can incorporate study abroad into the American undergraduate experience,”  said Allan Goodman, institute president.

According to the IIE, evidence indicates that students who study abroad have better grades, experience less attrition and graduate from college at higher rates than students who do not study abroad and have a competitive edge on the job market.

The 2016 IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad convened more than 600 education, government and business leaders and journalists to engage in hands-on learning and thinking outside the box by exploring innovative action plans, exchanging effective tools and experimenting with new approaches, said Shana Childs, media relations specialist with the institute.

“SUNY Plattsburgh is proud to be recognized and would not have been successful without the support of campus administration, faculty, and staff,” said Jamie Winters, associate director of the Global Education Office. “We look forward to continuing our efforts to send students abroad and further participating in the important goals set forth by the Generation Study Abroad commitment.”

“Studying abroad is one of the best ways to prepare to enter and succeed in the interconnected, globalized workforce, yet 90 percent of American college students do not study or intern outside of the United States,” Goodman said. “We owe it to the next generation of Americans to explain why study abroad is more crucial than ever and to find ways to make it more accessible to a wider range of students.” 

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