Like many events recently, COVID-19 led to the cancellation of Milligan University’s study abroad program for this semester.
The Los Angeles Film Studies Center (LAFSC) program was one of the study abroad trips cancelled. LAFSC is run through BestSemester, an organization affiliated with the Council of Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU). Amanda Lorch, senior film student here at Milligan, was in the middle of her preparations for moving when BestSemester canceled her semester in Los Angeles, CA at the end of June.
“In the midst of this summer’s chaos, I had hung onto it as the light at the end of the tunnel for my senior year,” Lorch said. “However, after this summer’s quarantine and months away from my friends, I am glad I get to spend the semester back in a familiar place.”
Emily Messner made the personal decision not to attend her study abroad program, in Oxford, United Kingdom, a few days before the program as a whole was cancelled.
“Honestly, I was very disappointed about deciding not to go, but I was also relieved. I didn’t want to be in a foreign country, far away from family and friends, if a second wave of COVID-19 would hit Europe,” says Messner. “Instead, I hope to go next fall, and BestSemester has already told me that they are saving me a spot if I choose to take it.”
Not including the faculty-led Humanities Tour, an average of 5-6 students every year decides to take a semester abroad. All full-time students at Milligan who meet the grade requirements of a 2.5 GPA and have been enrolled for at least one semester can apply for a semester abroad.
For all students who are not graduating yet, there is a chance to reapply for their lost semester abroad. The students who were already abroad when their semesters got canceled were able to finish their course work virtually.
According to Allysha Martin, director of the Study Abroad Program at Milligan with a doctorate in Modern Languages and Literatures, 100% of students who study abroad see an improvement in their GPA, and 93% of students studying abroad are hired within six months of graduation.If you’re interested in studying abroad, join the Virtual Study Abroad Fair in October hosted by the Study Abroad Program at Milligan, or click here.
Headline photo: The announcement from BestSemester about the program changes due to COVID-19.