Feature: MSU Study Abroad and the Mexico Connection

Spearheaded by President McPherson, the expansion of MSU's Study Abroad features model programs in Mexico. I recently attended a meeting in which one of my colleagues commented that President McPherson wont be happy until every undergraduate is involved in a study abroad program. While this is undoubtedly something of an overstatement, my colleagues remark is only a slight exaggeration. Drawing from his own experience, President M. Peter McPherson believes that the ability to work in and with other cultures is essential in an increasingly global world. Students also learn more about themselves and their own culture when they study abroad. So it is not surprising that the President has made increasing the availability of study abroad an important priority.

Luckily, President McPhersons efforts have been made considerably easier by the existence of an already well-developed international study program. Two major barriers still existed: curriculum and cost. In the area of curriculum, Study Abroad has increased curricular offerings in each program so overseas work fits easily into student majors without slowing graduation. Financially, an infusion of new university funds and better use of faculty time has helped to reach an important goal of study abroad--to keep the cost overseas at the same price as a term in East Lansing.

Today, MSUs Study Abroad program (http://study-abroad.msu.edu), under the leadership of Dr. Michael Vande Berg, sends more students abroad than any other single-campus school in the nation. MSU offers 95 programs on six continents (nothing in Antarctica--as yet). Virtually every major has a program, and more and more students are taking advantage of them. Last year, that number rose 25 percent to 1,300 students. When freshmen enter MSU now, advisors discuss Study Abroad possibilities as a regular part of the MSU offering. More and more the question is, 'Where are you planning to go?' rather than 'Are you planning to go?'

One area that particularly stands out in Study Abroad opportunities is Latin America and within that context, Mexico. This has been made possible by MSUs strong internationalist orientation, particularly as regards Mexico. Indeed, International Studies and Programs, under the deanship of John Hudzik, is recognized nationally as one of the top international studies programs in the nation.

Supporting this assertion is the fact that MSU is tenth nationally in the number of United States Dept. of Education-funded 'Title VI' centers. This designation is earned through a competitive process and includes a significant financial stipend, which, for 1997, totalled more than $1.5 million. MSU has Title VI centers in African Studies, Business, International Development, Foreign Language Study, and Latin American Studies. It was the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) that paved the way for MSUs study abroad opportunities and other projects in Latin America. Directed by professor Scott Whiteford, the Center coordinates and funds student and faculty projects. As a result of the Centers efforts, MSU has a significant and very well developed program in Mexico. Typical of MSUs Mexico connection is the new Study Abroad offering in Merida, Mexico. 

Developed by CLACS and the Office of Study Abroad, in conjunction with the University of Yucatan, 36 MSU students spent last Spring semester in Merida studying Spanish, under the direction of Robert Fiore, social science, under the direction of Manuel Chavez, and business, under the direction of Paulette Stenzel. Designed to facilitate 'active learning,' one of the university's guiding principles, the academic offerings featured small classes taught by MSU professors and frequent guest lecturers from the faculty of the University of Yucatan.

The faculty guided students on field trips to various ruins, such as Uxmal and Chichen Itza, but students also visited Henequen haciendas, Mayan villages, national bio reserves and maquiladores. To aid in the acquisition of Spanish and to gain a better cultural understanding, students lived with Mexican host families. One of the participants, Julianne Robinson, a social science junior from Lansing, said it was the 'absolute highlight' of her time at State. 'Staying the whole semester in Mexico meant that I was really able to appreciate and understand Mexican culture,' she explains. 'I got to know the family I stayed with very well, and they helped me understand what I was observing.' She notes that her family arranged for her to spend a weekend in a Mayan village where she saw a different Mexico.

Julianne says her language ability improved enormously and she is now 'relatively comfortable' in Spanish. Professor Fiore, who supervised the language portion of the program, indicated that Julieannes experience was not unusual. Languages must be practiced, and immersion is one of the best ways to do it. As a result of her experience, Julieanne is now taking courses to earn the undergraduate specialization certificate in Latin American studies offered by the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. 

The Merida program will be offered again this year, but the business component is being combined with engineering and moved to the Instituto Tecnologico Y De Estudios Superiores de Monterreys (ITESM) Queretaro campus. Both the ITESM and MSU recognize that students today need to have an appreciation for international operations. Both the business and engineering students will study intensive Spanish during the semester. The business majors will also study Mexican culture and enroll in a three-credit course (GBL 490) entitled, 'Doing Business in Mexico.'

Besides teaching the particulars of conducting business in Mexico, this class will also meet the College of Business requirement for course work in international business issues. As part of this class, students will visit manufacturing plants, meet Mexican managers, and generally gain an appreciation of the Mexican business scene. Besides studying Spanish, the engineering students will take regular engineering classes. Moreover, under the auspices of the College of Engineerings Institute for Global Engineering Education, the students will also participate in a course analyzing the effects of culture on product usage and design.

As currently planned, in the academic year 1998-99, ITESM students will enroll at MSU in business and engineering courses as part of a continuing exchange. Two colleges other are also joining together for a program based at the University of Guanajuato. Nursing and Veterinary Medicine will jointly sponsor an initial month of intensive Spanish and Mexican culture studies before sending students to other campuses for various classes and practicums. Nursing students will travel to the University of Guanjuatos Celaya campus; veterinary students will study in Leon through the University of the Bajio.

Besides the program in Merida with the College of Social Science, the College of Arts and Letters has a long-running program studying film in Mexico. A three week program, this study abroad opportunity offers students the chance to both study Mexican cinema and to make documentary films of their own that examine the diverse ethnographic nature of Mexican society. The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the College of Social Science also will be running a program in Mexico. The first is a short program which takes students to Mexico as well as Guatemala and Belize. MSU classes will focus on development, environment, and land-use policies and examine how various cultures use land differently. Besides traditional study abroad programs, MSU also has exchange relationships. For example, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources offer.