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Vision, Program Activities, and Other Elements
Because of LaGuardia’s status as a relative neophyte in the ambit of study abroad, the College’s
proposal may lack some of the specificity on topics such as program evaluation and follow-on
that more experienced study abroad programs could provide. As stated previously, the first year
of the grant period will be used by Professors Hernandez and Sternbach to investigate successful
study abroad programs and script detailed plans for their study tours to Chile. Indeed, it is
envisioned that the two faculty leaders – working in a wiki-like manner – will use Year #1 to
compile an electronic resource book that gathers general information and resource material on
operating a study abroad program, as well as both a collection of reference sources on art and
culture in Chile and pragmatic entries on negotiating daily life in Santiago and San Pedro de
Atacama.
A critical area of research will relate to the issues of sustainability. Unless LaGuardia students
are subsidized, most will not be able to avail themselves of study abroad opportunities. Thus, an
important assignment for Professors Hernandez and Sternbach will be to delve into possible
funding for study abroad. At this early stage, six possibilities appear promising. First, we need
to confer with the financial and experts on campus and beyond to understand the manner in
which Pell grants can be used for off-campus study. Second, we need to understand STOCS
(Study/Travel Opportunities for CUNY Students), a CUNY program offering $1,000 to $1,650
scholarships to undergraduate students participating in CUNY short-term study abroad programs.
Third, we need to develop expertise in the State Department’s Benjamin A. Gilman International
Scholarship Program because of its emphasis on assisting low-income students, community
college students, and students interested in traveling to less traditional destinations. Fourth, we
need to learn the particulars of the scholarship program at the Borough of Manhattan Community
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