Salem State To Fund Latin America Study Abroad Program With Grant

SALEM, MA — Salem State will use a $34,800 federal grant to fund 16 to 20 health care study abroad opportunities in Latin America.

The U.S. State Department grant will also fund an international online learning component to five general education courses, a way to present material from a global perspective while looking to build interest in future study-abroad opportunities and to translate study-abroad information and outreach materials into Spanish and Portuguese to make their more accessible to students and their families.

Salem State said about 60 percent of its health care students identify as students of color and the study-abroad program will be designed to strengthen students' understanding of global health while increasing opportunities for students historically underrepresented in study-abroad programs.

"Research shows that study abroad programs are a high-impact practice and that Black and Latinx students are underrepresented in these often life-changing opportunities," said Salem State Assistant Provost for Global Engagement Julie Whitlow. "We are grateful to the State Department for seeing the need to increase inclusion among study abroad programs, and for seeing the potential our campus has to help reach that goal through virtual and study-travel opportunities.

"The grant we received will greatly improve our ability to create lasting study abroad opportunities that reach more students."

Salem State said nearly 40 percent of its overall student body is made up of students of color, with 35 percent first-generation college students in their family and 37 percent eligible for federal Pell grants bases on family income.

Salem State was one of 26 colleges and universities from across the country, selected from 132 applicants, to create, expand, and/or diversify American student mobility overseas in support of U.S. foreign policy goals.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)