Study Abroad Prepares Students for Life

CEDAR CITY, Utah — According to a report from the Institute of International
Education (IIE), study abroad does more than boost your resume. IIE President Dr. Allan
Goodman believes the world and the workforce are becoming more globalized every day.
In his opinion students need to gain an international experience which he believes to be
vital for career success and mutual understanding.
For that very reason Southern Utah University is working to increase study abroad
opportunities for students and make it financially attainable. SUU awarded $86,750 in
study abroad scholarships in the 2016-17 academic school year alone.
The SUU study abroad program, which is organized through the Office of Learning
Abroad, took more than 350 students abroad for a total of 2,280 days to 20 different
countries from India to Peru.
Andria Burdick, a junior criminal justice and chemistry major from Loveland, Colorado,
traveled to Nicaragua to learn about landscape and animal life. She surprised herself by
how adventurous she was during her trip. She hiked, kayaked, visited wildlife reserves,
hunted insects and tried traditional food.
“College is a time for growth and self-discovery,” said Burdick. “There is no better way
to measure that growth than to immerse yourself in a foreign country.”
Ammon Treasure traveled to India to expand his anthropological studies. He is a senior
anthropology major from southern Utah who enjoys travel and experiencing the world’s
incredible diversity. He believes every student should go on a study abroad.
“Regardless of one’s area of study there is a study abroad opportunity out there that is the
perfect fit,” explained Treasure. “It might be as simple as taking a bus down to Mexico
for the weekend or a lengthy stay halfway around the world. Investing in travel is the gift
of a lifetime of memories.”
Taylor Morgan is a junior psychology major from Irvine, California. She just returned

from a study abroad to Spain where she visited historical sites, watched bull fighting and
learned valuable lessons from another culture.
“I learned to adopt a beginner’s mind while in Spain,” said Morgan. “In other words, I
learned to observe and process another culture with an open mind and try to experience
things from their point of view. It’s important to be culturally aware and respectful.”
Studying abroad provides the opportunity to take education out of the classroom and into
the world. Students are able to learn from different cultures, find new interests, serve,
improve language skills, make lifelong friends and become more prepared to help solve
future global challenges.
To learn more about the SUU study abroad program, visit the SUU Office of Learning
Abroad.

About Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University (1897) evolved from a teacher training institution to Utah's
designated masters university, offering over 140 undergraduate and 19 graduate
programs. With world class project based learning, unique undergraduate research
opportunities, and a personalized learning environment (18:1) students lead projects
mentored by professors. True to the University's core vision, SUU faculty, staff and
administrators enable students to honor thought in all its finest forms, achieve excellence
in their chosen field, and create positive change in the world.