Karen Harrington, French professor and director of the French study abroad program, announced last week that this summer is the 19th and last that ETSU will spend in Paris.
The conversion rate of the dollar to the Euro is the ultimate demise of this program.
A Euro is currently worth $1.4489. Harrington said that the conversion rate was making “summers abroad more difficult and expensive every year.”
For many students, a summer abroad in Paris sounds something like strolling down the Champs Elysees or eating a baguette under the Eiffel Tower. However, in the Parisian program, students will take an art class at the Louvre museum and a daily walking tour of Paris.
To complete the nine credit hours of schoolwork, they must also attend a French class.
The program is scheduled to run from May 25 to June 28. The program is not all work and no play. The students will have afternoons and nights off to explore the city of Paris.
This year, according to the school’s Web site, ETSU will be partnering with Accent, a study abroad assist program. The program assists in finding housing for the students, and in planning their outings.
According to Accent’s Web site, it is “an international education organization that works with over 50 American colleges and universities to provide high quality study abroad programs.”
The cost of the program is $4,750, not including travel expenses, food, gifts or books. Although this might sound very daunting to students on a budgeted income, there is hope.
The ETSU International Education Scholarship provides for every ETSU student who would like to study abroad. The cash rewards value from $500 to $2,500 or half of the program cost.
To download and print copies of the scholarship forms go to www.etsu.edu/honors/international/exchange/scholarships.asp
The deadline to apply for the French study abroad trip is Feb. 17.
At this point only nine students are signed up to go, and the school needs at least ten to make this opportunity of a lifetime become a reality.
To pick up an application for the trip please see Harrington at 218B in Gilbreath Hall or email harringk@etsu.edu.

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