Come work with us!

The Office for Study Abroad will be hiring 2 outreach assistants to help us during the upcoming year. Primary tasks include giving talks and presentations to student groups, managing our Facebook page and our student blogs, and helping us with our photo and essay contests.

We will also be hiring 2 peer assistants, whose duties include providing help to UI students who visit our resource room looking for a good study abroad program, and also working on projects for study abroad advisors.

The current rate of pay is $8.75 per hour, and most of our assistants work 10-15 hours per week. Applications are available in the Returnees section of our website.

Want to be a Global Buddy?

 The Global Buddies program run by the Office for Study Abroad matches returned study abroad students with international exchange students who come to Iowa City from our partner universities abroad.  

There are lots of group activities planned, including weekly gatherings at a local coffee shop, and short trips to places of interest (last year we went to the Kalona Fall Festival, to Dubuque for the Mississippi River Museum and skiing, and to Maquoketa Caves for a picnic, for example). Becoming a Global Buddy is a way to lend a hand to a new international student on campus next year, and have lots of fun. Please consider applying (you'll find the application on our website). 

New course this fall

A new class of particular interest to returning study abroad students is 008:163 The Pleasure and Pain of Travel, taught by Professor Marie Kruger. Here's a brief overview: 

"In the 21st century everybody travels. Backpacking in Nepal, studying abroad in London or spring break in Cancun are some of the many forms of travel that have become routine in our lives. But not all of us travel with the same light luggage. Journeys across geographical and cultural boundaries take on many different shapes: from the leisure activity of travel to the movements of people escaping from war and poverty and the violent displacement of Africans during slavery."

If you're interested, go to ISIS for a complete course description. 

Returnee reunion!

The Office for Study Abroad offers a re-entry reunion at the beginning of every semester to welcome back returning study abroad students and give information about keeping international experiences alive back on campus as well as advice about cultural adjustment back to life in Iowa.

We will send you an email announcement about the event in mid-August, at about the time the fall semester begins. All students returning from a study abroad experience are encouraged to attend.

You also may want to check out our web pages for returnees from abroad. 

Program evaluation time

You can help the Office for Study Abroad improve its programs and services for students by completing a program evaluation when your study abroad program has ended. It only takes a few minutes, and you will be doing us - and future study abroad students - a favor. Thanks!

UI Abroad Facebook page

Here's a way to connect with other UI students overseas and again when you are back on campus. Please have a look at our page and join us, or search Facebook for "University of Iowa Study Abroad".

Back on the Farm:
Local and National News

Euforquestra in concert

Iowa City Area News

 Economic gloom. Whirlpool Corporation announced plans to lay off 350 employees at its refrigerator plant in the Amanas. The same day, Roberts Dairy announced plans to close its Iowa City milk production facility. About 50 employees will be affected.

Hoops heartbreak. Junior College All-American Anthony Hubbard, who transferred to Iowa this summer and was expected to play an important rôle in rebuilding the UI basketball team, has left the Hawkeyes, explaining he wants to be "closer to home."