TFC Study Abroad Program Seeks Future Trips
If you have been a student at Toccoa Falls College in the last two years, you are probably aware of the study abroad program. Typically, students are offered the opportunity to participate in a study abroad trip to gain both college credit and an experience you can only get as a student while traveling to a different country.
In the past, TFC has offered short study abroad trips to different European or Middle Eastern countries that span only about two and a half weeks. There is typically a trip to Israel scheduled for the Winterim period and a trip to Europe which occurs at the end of the Spring semester, specifically in the last weeks of May and the first weeks of June.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, the study abroad programs have undergone a hiatus since April 2020. Both professors and students have been wanting to know the future of the study abroad programs since returning to campus after a period of digital learning in the spring of 2020. Since Spring 2021, the professors involved in the past study abroad programs, such as Dr. Curt Wanner, have been trying to reinstate the programs. “The question isn’t ‘if’ but ‘when,’” Wanner said.
Non-Residential Opportunities
The study abroad program, while more popular amongst current residential students, is open to more than just the traditional student. In fact, online students have gone on a study abroad trip in the past. Wanner expressed great interest in making sure the study abroad information will be available to online students.
The area of most concern lies in opportunities for dual-enrolled students. There is still much discussion surrounding whether a dual-enrolled student can attend due to age concerns. “It is easier to bring a 20-year-old student over a 16/17-year-old student,'' Wanner said. Many dual-enrolled students are below the legal adult age of 18, so it is difficult for professors to make this decision in regard to the TFC student body as a whole. This does not mean that they would be turned away if interested, but it is a developing question for those leading future study abroad trips.
Alumni are also offered the opportunity to attend. Although it is often difficult for alumni to become aware of future opportunities in time to make the trip, they are allowed to come.
Upcoming Study Abroad Opportunities
While it is sad that the future of the study abroad program is still uncertain, there is an upcoming trip to Israel planned for the Winterim semester of 2023! This trip is open to anyone who is in search of Bible/Theology credits, including OTE, NTE, THE, as well as HIS, REL, or PAM courses. For more information, contact Dr. Burris at kburris@tfce.edu.
Humanities Study Abroad Update
As you may know from an article published in The Talon last fall, the Humanities department planned a trip to western Europe in 2020 but it had to be postponed due to COVID-19 lockdowns. There was discussion that it might take place this upcoming summer, but that is no longer an option. COVID-19 is still a concern, Russia and Ukraine are currently at war, and the professors involved are unable to make the trip. However, this program is still a priority for the department, and each semester that passes gets us closer to the date we can finally go back to Europe again.
What will a trip to Europe look like? The Humanities trip will target three major cities in Western Europe such as London, Rome, Paris, Munich, Copenhagen, Dublin, or Belfast. The participants will spend a few days in each location with the trip prioritizing a stop at one natural wonder, such as the Alps or the coastal region in Italy. The classes offered will include Western Thought & Culture, a communication elective, a literature or history elective, and other courses in the Humanities discipline. More information will be coming in the Fall 2023 semester. If you have any further questions, contact Dr. Wanner at cwanner@tfc.edu.