Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

Direct Connection to Policy Area 5 of The Illinois Commitment
Study Abroad Initiative, “Where will you go?”
Eastern Illinois University
What issue or need is addressed by the effective practice?
The need to prepare graduates with cross-cultural skill and language proficiency critical to national security,
public diplomacy, and an increasingly global employment market.
Description of the effective practice:
By establishing an Office of Study Abroad and hiring the very first Director, the University was able to overhaul
and reorganize study abroad practices and programs to more effectively reach faculty and students. This
reorganization included a new personnel support system; a mission statement and new website; improved
processes, policies, and procedures; an enrollment management and tracking system; the development of various
programs in new destinations; an online study abroad course database to verify and track course approvals for
all EIU programs; a university-wide marketing theme and plan known as “Where will you go?”; and a unique
advising system which incorporates the use of “Peer Advisors” (students who have already gone abroad).
How does this practice achieve sustainability?
As part of the reorganization, a funding model was proposed to financially support the Office of the Study
Abroad. This model includes both appropriated funds and administrative fees to cover personnel and operational
expenses of the Office, and therefore encourages sustainability and growth. Appropriated funds will cover the
salary of the Director of Study Abroad and operational expenses. An administrative fee (charged to each student
who studies abroad) will cover other personnel, which currently consists of a Coordinator of Study Abroad and
five student workers. This funding model truly provides for a solid foundation and lateral mobility. As the
number of students who study abroad increases, so will the available funding for more personnel and support.
What are the results/measurable outcomes?
Over the past year, the time period in which the Effective Practice was being initiated, we’ve experienced a 50%
growth rate in students going on independent study abroad programs (from 59 in AY 2004-2005 to 89 in AY
2005-2006). Within this 50% growth rate, the number of minority students has increased by 433% (from 3 in
AY 2004-2005 to 16 in AY 2005-2006). We hope to see even more favorable outcomes now that most of the
reorganization has been completed and efforts can be focused more diligently on daily operations which include
marketing, recruiting, advising, and assessment. While it is too early at this point in time to link supporting
evidence to these positive outcomes, research suggests that the changes implemented in the reorganization will
provide greater awareness, appreciation, and participation in study abroad.
Contact Information
Name: Dr. Robert Augustine
Email: rmaugustine@eiu.edu
Phone: (217) 581-2220
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