wfn.org | ELCA's St. Olaf College Leads Nation in International Studies

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 28, 2000

ELCA'S ST. OLAF COLLEGE LEADS NATION IN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
00-291-MR*

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., leads the
nation's colleges and universities in the percentage of students who
engage in international or off-campus domestic studies, according to a
news release issued by the Institute of International Education on Nov.
13.  St. Olaf is one of 28 colleges and universities affiliated with the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
     One in five students at St. Olaf study abroad every year.  About
90 percent of students have participated in an international or off-campus 
studies program by the time they graduate.
     St. Olaf offers more than 115 interim, one-semester, five-month or
full-year academic programs in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe,
the Middle East, North America, Oceania and South America.
     "Global perspective is an essential part of the mission of St.
Olaf College, and we believe it is important to offer this opportunity
for students to study abroad," said Patrick Quade, director for
international and off-campus studies, St. Olaf.   "The commitment and
support of our faculty is the single most important factor in the
success of our off-campus study program."
     Student enrollment at St. Olaf is 2,940 with a full-time faculty
of about 256.  In the 1998-1999 academic year, 632 students at the
college studied abroad, with another 136 students involved in off-campus
domestic programs.  More than 65 percent of 1999 St. Olaf graduates took
part in at least one international program during their four years at
the college, and another 23 percent participated in at least one
domestic program.
     The number of U.S. college and university students studying abroad
is up 14 percent from 1999, a record of 129,770, according to the
Institute of International Education.  This information is available in
the Institute's annual "Open Doors" report, published with support by
the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs.
     * Details provided by the Office of Public Relations and
Marketing, St. Olaf.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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