AU will have Study Abroad and Away Fair on campus Wednesday

Posters and signs around campus have been promoting the fair. (photo by Rakiyah Lenon)

By Aaron Smith | Staff writer

The Augusta University Study Abroad and Away Fair will be held in the JSAC ballroom on Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Filled with snacks, trivia activities and t-shirts for the first 100 students, this event gives students the opportunity to learn more about AU’s domestic and international program offerings. Faculty and staff will be on hand to discuss scholarships, payment information and everything else the AU Study Abroad department has to offer.

Katherine Grego, who is the director of study abroad since 2021 after being a study abroad graduate assistant at Columbus State University, said that it is really beneficial to have an event like this for students at AU.

“This annual event is perfect for students wanting to learn about what it means to study abroad and explore programs they can sign up for,” she said. “This is one of the only times you can meet various faculty teaching on the programs and connect with other departments like Career Services and Financial Aid, so it’s great to have all of this in one spot.”

Although studying abroad is an extension of on-campus learning, it also provides students with both transformative and informative experiences that are not just learned in a classroom.

Grego said there are several advantages to studying abroad for students at AU.

“Not only are you investing in yourself, but you also have the opportunity to see things that you’ve only read about in class,” she said. “Studies have shown that those who participate in high-impact practices (like studying abroad) actually have higher grades, graduate quicker and have higher starting salaries compared to other students, so I think that studying abroad is something that many students should consider in the future.”

With the upcoming Study Abroad and Away fair, this may be students’ first time learning about Study Abroad or Away programs.

Grego said that she hopes this event will keep students more informed on what study abroad has to offer, while also creating a positive environment.

“I hope students will walk away feeling excited about the possibility of studying abroad/away,” she said. “I believe that there is a program out there for students of various backgrounds, majors and interests. It may take some additional work to explore options, but I’m confident that the experience will be worthwhile for them.”

Contact Aaron Smith at madsmith@augusta.edu.