Cuts to OIE

Champlain's campuses in Dublin and Montreal offer study abroad programs to students looking for international internships and service-learning opportunities. Champlain's study abroad program is extremely popular, reporting 60% of the junior class attended in the past year. An exchange program exists allowing students to study in Morocco, France, and the Netherlands.

In the wake of a global pandemic, recent budget and staff cuts have been made to OIE. What do these cuts mean to the future of Champlain’s study abroad program? How will students be impacted by these budget cuts?

The interim Dean of International Education David Mills said that OIE is planning to rebuild its international education operations. They are currently recruiting students for the Fall 2021 programs in Montreal and Dublin as well as helping students find third-party and exchange semester abroad programs. A decision still needs to be made by May on whether or not to run the study abroad programs.

Mills said while fall numbers are expected to be lower, OIE hopes that numbers will return to normal by fall 2022. Regarding the short staffing in the International education department, Mills stated restaffing in both Montreal and Dublin will occur as students arrive at those sites. Restaffing will also occur in Burlington as well. One full-time employee was slated back into study abroad support work after she shifted to Enrollment Management work in December.

Source: https://www.champlain.edu/academics/champlain-abroad/international-education/about-oie

By Davin Pettingill

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