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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 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 February 28.
Scholarship applications are available at www.pstcc.edu/departments/financial_aid/
scholarships.htm. They must be returned to Room 103, Alexander
Building, February 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 539-7279.
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