Michigan State University, which has its own study abroad office, experienced a 100 percent increase during the past four years, said Cindy Chalou, the office's assistant director. MSU President M. Peter McPherson made international education one of the focal points of the university's undergraduate education, Chalou said. McPherson, a former Peace Corps volunteer, set a goal to send 40 percent of the school's undergraduate population abroad by 2006, she said. About 23 percent of undergraduates at MSU studied abroad this year, she added. Not every study abroad program, however, experienced an increase in enrollment.
Women are more likely to break from their comfort zone and venture abroad.
Although St. Olaf experienced a 11 percen t increase over the past three years since the 1996-1997 school year, enrollment dropped 9 percent last year, she said. But this year it's down. We are, however, seeing a slight increase over the past several years. Women are more likely to break from their comfort zone and venture abroad, he added. Courses offered by SU also reflect this trend, with the majority of DIPA courses geared toward women.