Pellissippi State Community College ranks first in the nation among community colleges for its number of students who study abroad.
According to the 2023 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, released today, Pellissippi State sent 116 students to study abroad in academic year 2021-2022. That’s 23 more students than the next highest community college on the list, City College of San Francisco.
“This was the first year of sending students abroad after a two-year shutdown due to COVID-19,” said Tracey C. Bradley, executive director of the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies, which serves all community colleges under TBR – The College System of Tennessee. “We knew we could send programs out with all the necessary precautions to keep students and faculty safe and healthy while still providing the high-quality programming TnCIS is known for.”
Pellissippi State has a long history of ranking in the top five community colleges for student abroad participation. Pellissippi State sent 188 students abroad and ranked second in the nation in the last Open Doors Report issued prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The college has seen its study abroad numbers begin to rise, Bradley said, having sent a total of 150 Pellissippi State students – and 386 community college students statewide – on 22 study abroad programs during 2023. Another 35 programs are preapproved for 2024.
The U.S. State Department’s Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students Program recently recognized and awarded Pellissippi State’s expertise with a $35,000 grant that will allow TnCIS to train and mentor other community college systems in creating their own study abroad opportunities. Bradley said she looks forward to assisting other colleges in their efforts.
“We know what we’re doing is working,” Bradley said. “We know that what we have created with the consortium is attractive and affordable to community college students.
“I am especially proud of the TnCIS staff and faculty who worked together to make this happen,” she said.
For more information on study abroad opportunities at Tennessee community colleges, visit www.tncis.org or call 865.539.7279.
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