Our History of Study Abroad
In the summer of 1948, Economics Professor Jack Wallace and his wife, Betty Jean, set sail from New York with 17 Arcadia students, hoping to study the economic effects of World War II and the post-war rebuilding efforts in Europe. They arrived in Southampton and purchased used Royal Air Force surplus bicycles. After traveling around England, they crossed the channel and continued biking through Belgium and France, ending their eight-week journey in Paris.
In the summer of 2008, Arcadia University President Jerry Greiner and his wife, Terry, traveled with Arcadia students and alumni to Paris to commemorate that historical study abroad journey with bicycle tours of Paris and Versailles and faculty lectures on art, literature and socioeconomics. Their trip culminated in a discussion with a Minister from the U.S. Embassy on students’ role as ambassadors to the world when they study abroad.
"We prepare students to be tomorrow’s leaders," says President Greiner. A cross-cultural Global Connections Experience, which can be study abroad or a domestic experience, is part of the Undergraduate Curriculum. Arcadia ranks #1 in the nation for its undergraduate study abroad rate in the 2007 Open Doors report. Greiner adds, "Study abroad is no longer just for the elite. We believe it should be accessible for all students."
