Global Education Post-Pandemic
When one considers key experiences of an undergraduate’s career, studying abroad often comes to mind. “Sarah Lawrence has been sending students abroad since the College started,” says Prema Samuel, associate dean of international programs. But COVID-19 halted many things, including transformational semesters in foreign lands. “Pre-COVID, about 45%-48% of our students studied abroad,” Samuel says, “but in spring of 2021, we had basically no students doing so.”
Global Education administers five programs and partners with other institutions for six. Students who participate in these programs are able to utilize their complete financial aid package to attend, and all coursework carries over. There are also many non-SLC programs that Global Education has vetted and approved. Frances Kenney ’24 attended the Dublin Writers Workshop, an approved, non-SLC program, in spring 2023. “Chris Olson in Global Education walked me through the cost and how much my Sarah Lawrence aid would cover. And he reviewed the courses, so I knew what would count toward my degree. He helped me understand and feel confident about all the logistics.”
Post-pandemic, students expressed concern about their health and safety while abroad. “I was concerned about COVID, but I wanted to explore Irish myths and legends,” Kenney says. “I couldn’t do that in Bronxville, and the folks in Global Education helped me find a program where I could, one where I felt safe and supported.”
“We work really hard to ensure there are proper services for our students when they’re away,” says Samuel. “They usually have a private room, and we stay in frequent contact to ensure they are getting the support they need.” This emphasis on communication and collaboration, which includes frequent post-abroad meetings and correspondence, exemplifies Sarah Lawrence values, as does the importance of academic rigor while abroad. “The most important thing is how the study abroad experience intersects with the student’s academic interests,” Samuel says. “We want their time abroad to build on their previous coursework.”
Sophia Baldassari ’24 knew she wanted to attend Sarah Lawrence’s Oxford program before she started. “It was one of the draws of Sarah Lawrence when I applied,” she says. “I wanted a taste of studying at a big university without losing the personal connections of a liberal arts college.” Baldassari also consulted Chris Olson in Global Education often, starting her freshman year, to ensure she was on track for a year in the oldest English language university in the world.
And a year abroad is what Sarah Lawrence recommends to its students, unlike most colleges. “By the time they get settled, the semester is over,” says Samuel. Baldassari echoes this sentiment. “Being there the whole year allowed me to get my feet under me; it helped deepen connections.”
Both Baldassari and Kenney noted the importance for genuine social connections. “Oxford had so many clubs,” Baldassari says, “and the emphasis was on getting to know each other. I met so many friends from different places thanks to those clubs. And I was able to share my love of film with people.”
“In New York, if a stranger starts a conversation, you’re wary,” says Kenney. “But in Dublin, people would talk to me all the time, just for the pleasure of conversation. It felt so welcoming.”
Responding to adversity—whether that’s COVID or a hurricane or a transportation strike—is part of the study abroad experience. “What we look for with returning students is the joy,” says Samuel. “And joy is earned by stepping up to challenging experiences, by letting the unknown transform you.”