In preparation for the first students studying abroad next fall under the University of Denver’s Cherrington Global Scholars initiative, there are at present 29 agreements (including five exchanges) covering 40 sites. Most of these are bilateral agreements with foreign universities or, in a few cases, with intermediary universities or international education agencies that offer support services deemed helpful (in some instances, essential) for the particular university or location. Eleven of these agreements, covering 20 sites worldwide, were finalized in the 2002-2003 academic year. Two more were concluded this fall, with several still pending. Additional proposals have been approved by the CGS Faculty Board and are in various stages of development. The University also maintains membership in the multilateral exchange organizations ISEP and MICEFA, which provide exchange opportunities at more than a hundred universities in 36 countries.
In addition to the London and Bologna programs, a new program offered in conjunction with the University of Granada and International Studies Abroad operated last fall. A spring quarter version of the program at the University of Denver/University of Bologna Center for Civic Engagement was offered this past spring with the support of the Center’s University of Bologna co-director and the Center’s staff coordinator. This pattern will continue in spring quarters, while fall quarters will continue to feature a University of Denver faculty resident director leading ten to fourteen students.
Throughout the year, Cherrington Global Scholars development has emphasized the formulation of policies and procedures essential to implementing the program. A great deal of this has been done in conjunction with the Cherrington Global Scholars Faculty Board and the Study Abroad Office. The CGS Board, which includes George Boyd and Carol Fairweather as ex officio members, has worked with issues of student eligibility, assessment, pre-departure preparation (orientation, and possible departmental or divisional courses), re-entry, program approval, and has produced various informational, advising and promotional materials for faculty, students, prospective students, and parents. The Board’s special concerns are overseeing academic aspects of the Cherrington program and working with academic departments and units to facilitate maximal integration of the Cherrington study and the student overall degree program and progress.
At the same time, this office has been addressing policies and procedures of a more administrative and technical nature with the Associate Provost for Planning and Budget and other administrative offices. These issues involve financial aid, housing, billing, registration and credit, insurance, security and other areas. Implementation of the “no additional cost” principle and the university’s aspiration to make Cherrington as “seamless” as possible for the student in some ways challenge us to “reinvent” study abroad.
Full Cherrington program details are now on the University of Denver website at: http://www.du.edu/globalscholars

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