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KALAMAZOO—Applications are being accepted for scholarships that offer awards of up to $2,500 to offset the cost of Western ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ University students participating in a select group of short-term study abroad programs this spring and summer.

The Haenicke Institute for Global Education Study Abroad Scholarship provides support to enroll in 20 short-term programs that will be taught by WMU faculty members late in the spring semester or during the summer I and II sessions.

The scholarship allows students at the University to apply for need-based awards of up to $1,500. In addition, those with a 3.0 grade point average also may apply for merit-based awards worth $1,000.

All programs offer rolling admissions, with a priority deadline of Thursday, Jan. 31. Enrollment is limited, so students are encouraged to apply early. A series of information sessions explaining some of the programs starts Wednesday, Jan. 16.

Short-term study abroad programs run from two to eight weeks, offer varying levels of undergraduate and graduate academic credit, and are eligible for financial aid funding from the Kalamazoo Promise, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ Education Trust and other non-WMU sources.

Students who participate in these programs travel with WMU professors to study a wide range of subjects, such as classical roots of Western design in Greece, engineering in Spain, or courses from a variety of disciplines in Turkey.

Such programs are popular with many students because they require a shorter time commitment, and the costs for some are similar to what it would cost to earn the same number of academic-credit hours on campus.

Program information sessions

Informational meetings that provide a comprehensive overview of specific WMU short-term study abroad programs will be hosted by their faculty directors throughout January. Keep checking the page online, as additional sessions will be added in early January. At present, five such programs are scheduled:

Wednesday, Jan. 16

• Focus on Health Care—1 to 2 p.m., Room 4267, Health and Human Services Building, with Dr. Mary Lagerwey, professor of nursing
• Exploring Engineering Science and Culture in Spain—4 to 5 p.m., Room B-211, Engineering and Applied Sciences Building, with Dr. Said AbuBakr, chair of chemical and paper engineering

Thursday, Jan. 17

• Book Arts in Venice—5:30 to 7 p.m., Room 1004, Richmond Center for Visual Arts, with Jeffrey Abshear, adjunct faculty member in art

Tuesday, Jan. 22

• Summer in Istanbul—6 p.m., Room 3301, Friedmann Hall, with Dr. Jim Butterfield, professor of political science

Wednesday, Jan. 30

• Aventuras en Español: Spanish study abroad programs—noon to 1 p.m., Room 3025, Brown Hall, with Dr. Irma Lopez, chair of Spanish

Scholarship information and application

Detailed information about the  is posted on the Study Abroad website and includes a link to the  as well as a list of the short-term programs eligible for 2013 scholarship funding.

Program brochures for all WMU-offered study abroad programs, including short-term programs, are available online through the . The brochures for each program include minimum eligibility requirements as well as an overview and details about itinerary, cost, housing and other topics.

Questions about studying or working abroad should be directed to the Study Abroad office at @email or (269) 387-5890. Those interested also may visit the office, which is located at Ellsworth Hall in the .