Contreras1

Vanessa Contreras
George McCollum
English 150
04 May 2016
Choose Your Adventure: Study Abroad
Studying abroad while in college gives one the opportunity to explore the world and earn
college credit all at the same time. And luckily, Iowa State University has a fantastic Study
Abroad Center where one can learn more about making new experiences one step at a time.
Studying abroad has opened many doors for students by making them stand out from a pool of
applicants for jobs they are to apply to after their graduate studies. It also provides them with a
wide range of experiences and personal growth. As a student at Iowa State, it is important to
know its history including how it became a land-grant institution, how the Study Abroad
Centers vision and mission connects with Iowa States mission, and why one should make an
effort to study abroad to enhance their job opportunities in the future.
Iowa State Universitys mission statement, refer to figure 1, not
only includes its purpose, but also the land-grant acts visions. The mission
statement is centered on providing the students of Iowa State University a
well-rounded education and also teaching about the importance of
practicing sustainable ways in the development of food, energy, and other
needed materials. Iowa States mission statement highlights that it will
actively function on the land-grant mission and will be used it to address
Figure 1

Contreras2
challenges in the future.
Iowa State University is a well-known for being the first land-grant institution in the
United States. It is also a renowned institution for its academics, majors of study, and student
programs and organizations. A land-grant university is one that meets the visions of the Morrill
Act of 1862, which includes teaching practical subjects such as agriculture, home economics,
and engineering at the university level. It also mandated Iowa State to accept students of color,
women, working class and anyone else that was interested in pursuing higher to receive the
grant. Iowa States mission is to prepare its students to be the best leaders they can be for the
future, to provide social and cultural learning opportunities, and to develop a variety of
sustainable ways to produce and carry out food, energy, water, and other materials. Iowa States
vision and the study abroad center helps to achieve that purpose.
The Study Abroad Centers vision and mission go hand in hand with the mission of Iowa
State University. The Study Abroad Centers vision is to provide international competence for
the greater good of society according to the Iowa State study abroad website. The students are
exposed to different cultures and experiences through studying abroad in hopes of developing
insight on other parts of the world. The
Study Abroad Centers mission, refer to
figure 2, is also focused on the
development of the student through their
Figure 2

involvement with studying abroad. It relates to Iowa States mission of preparing students to
become knowledgeable of the world around them and to cultivate leaders through this process.

Contreras3
One of the most popular programs at Iowa
State is studying abroad. The study abroad
center has been giving students the
opportunity to students traveled at the
Figure 3

start of the program; however, numbers

have skyrocketed since then! According to Iowa States Study Abroad website, Over 1,600 ISU
students studied abroad last year on programs lasting from a week to a full academic year. The
purpose of the Study Abroad Center is to help students develop safe international adventures,
have successful international learning, make trips affordable, and ensure high quality programs
and services. In figure 3, one can see a picture of students from Iowa State participating in a
service learning trip during Spring Break to Belize.
The Study Abroad Center ties in with Iowa States mission in many ways. One reason is
Iowa State has given the opportunity for students from all different types of backgrounds to
pursue higher education. With that being said the Study Abroad Center also allows for students
of all backgrounds and ethnicities to travel abroad to experience other cultures and s how they
function as a society. A second reason is Iowa State values its educational programs and the
Study Abroad center does a phenomenal job at providing students with information about other
programs around the globe that are equally as great, if not better!
Studying abroad can be very affordable. There are many scholarships for first time
students wanting to study abroad. Financial aid and/or scholarship information can also be found
at studyabroad.iastate.edu under the Student tab and selecting the Outgoing Students option.
Some of the scholarships that can be found are: Altrusa Service Scholarship, Ashley Soul
Conroy Foundation, and George J. Mitchell Post-graduate Scholarship for Study in Ireland. The

Contreras4
deadlines for most scholarships vary and some are specifically for a certain trip, therefore, it is
imperative to pay close attention to be considered for those scholarships.
It is imperative to understand the history of Iowa State, its mission and how it ties with
the Study abroad Center because studying abroad is such a great experience for students. There
are many benefits to studying abroad. These include: ability to explore another country, higher
graduation rate, helps stay focused on career goals, allows one to interact with other cultures and
helps one stand out when applying for a job as they are seen as adventurous, risk-taking and
more (studyabroad.iastate.edu). The Study Abroad Centers vision and mission goes hand in
hand with that of Iowa State University and are all for the diverse education students receive to
become successful and knowledgeable members of society.

Contreras5
Works Cited
"About Iowa State." Iowa State University. University Relations, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2016.
"Enrollment Statistics." Enrollment Statistics. Office of the Registrar, Iowa State University, n.d.
Web. 07 Apr. 2016.
"Iowa State University." Iowa State University. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2016.
"Mission and Vision." Mission and Vision. Iowa State University, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2016.
"Strategic Plans." Office of the President. Iowa State University, n.d. Web. 01 May 2016.
"Study Abroad." Study Abroad. Iowa State University, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2016.