Jan. 29, 2008

Pellissippi State makes summer study abroad affordable

Instant messaging. It allows users of the networking technology to communicate in real time by typing text back and forth.

Thanks to IM, friendships can flourish between people at far ends of the world—between, say, a student at Pellissippi State Technical Community College in Knoxville and a student in South Africa. IM makes conversation as “real” as having all your friends or classmates in the same room. Well, almost.

The one gap that neither instant messaging, nor Facebook, nor the cell phone has managed to bridge is face-to-face, personal interaction. That is still available only by sitting down to a shared meal, learning in a traditional classroom, walking down the street together.

Now, Pellissippi State, through the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies, is giving students an affordable chance to experience that one-on-one connection with people from other countries—and at the same time earn college credits.

TnCIS, which is headquartered at Pellissippi State, is offering 11 different study abroad trips for summer semester. Brazil, England, France, Greece, Ireland, Mexico (three sessions), South Africa, Scotland and Spain are all on the list of destinations for May, June and July.

“We’re giving students a unique opportunity to experience the world,” said Milton Grimes, executive director of TnCIS. “They’ll walk the beaches of Fortaleza and the streets of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. They’ll learn the history and culture of South Africa firsthand. They’ll get to know the students of Tipperary Institute and the locals of Thurles in Ireland.”

And they’ll do it all affordably.

“We don’t want students to let the price keep them from applying,” said Theresa Castillo, TnCIS program coordinator. “Trip scholarships, as well as financial aid, student loans, Tennessee HOPE Lottery Scholarships and academic scholarships the students already have in place, will help defray the costs.”

Countries, dates and costs are as follows:

Brazil May 29-July 6 $3,875

England July 8-July 29 $3,980

France May 3-May 23 $3,390

Greece May 3-May 21 $3,590

Ireland May 3-May 23 $3,170

Mexico (Session 1) May 3-May 23 $1,995

Mexico (Session 2) May 24-June 13 $1,995

Mexico (Session 3) May 3-June 13 $3,015

Scotland June 14-July 14 $4,290

South Africa May 3-May 24 $3,550

Spain May 3-May 23 $2,940

Prices include tuition, airfare and lodging.

The deadline to apply for summer study abroad is Feb. 28.

Scholarship applications are available at www.pstcc.edu/departments/financial_aid/

scholarships.htm. They must be returned to Room 103, Alexander Building, on the Pellissippi Campus on Hardin Valley Road by Feb. 15 for early notification of acceptance.

TnCIS’ study abroad programs are open to all students in the Tennessee Board of Regents system. Others who are interested must be admitted to Pellissippi State or another TBR school.

TnCIS was founded in 2006 with the purpose of making international education and cultural understanding a central goal of higher education throughout Tennessee. Currently, the consortium consists of the 19 colleges and universities in the TBR system.

To apply or learn more, visit www.tncis.org or contact the TnCIS office at (865) 539-7279.

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