Jan Finn, associate dean of International Affairs, presented on student experience and expectations for study abroad at the annual Forum on Education Abroad national conference on March 22.

The presentation, entitled “Great Expectations: Theirs and Ours – How to Meet Students Somewhere Between Where They Are and Where We Want Them to Be,” was co-presented with Melissa Hardin of Ursinus College, Rebecca Bergren of Gettysburg College, and Margaret Wiedenhoeft of Kalamazoo College, and focused on assessment findings from liberal arts colleges about helping students make the most of their study abroad experience.

Finn, using Arcadia’s First Year Study Abroad Experience (FYSAE) and Preview as examples, discussed how to understand why students want to study abroad, what outcomes matter most to students and their universities, and how to better facilitate student reflection on their international experiences.

The Forum on Education Abroad is an international organization that aims to develop the best practices in the field of education abroad.