August 3, 2005
Incoming freshmen to study abroad in Quebec
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Nearly 40 incoming Purdue University freshmen will travel to Quebec City, Canada, as part of a pilot program designed to develop a lifelong interest in other cultures and worldviews.
The 38 students, among 75 members of Purdue's University Honors Program, will travel by bus to Laval University in Quebec – a primarily French-speaking province of Canada – for the Aug. 6-12 study tour.
Riall Nolan, dean of International Programs at Purdue, said this experience is different from programs offered by other universities.
"This program is unique because we are reaching these students before they get to class," he said. "I'm not aware of any other university in the United States that is doing this kind of thing."
Nolan said most of the students who signed up for the study tour have limited experience in traveling abroad, and he hopes this program will open them up to more such opportunities.
"We want to stimulate in them a real interest in overseas travel and clear up the misperception that it is dangerous and hard to understand," Nolan said. "We chose Canada because it is fairly close, and there are a lot of similarities to our culture, but when you scratch the surface, there are a lot of differences."
The students will be living in residence halls on the campus and attending seminars taught by Laval faculty. They will take tours of a museum and the Citadel of Quebec and visit Parliament. On the way back, they will tour the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel. Officials at the Canada Border Services Agency have never before given a tour of the tunnel to an educational group, said Catharine Patrone, assistant director of the University Honors Program.
On the tour, students will learn about the measures taken by Canada, in partnership with the United States, to assure the secure, smooth flow of people and goods across international borders.
Patrone said before the trip, the students were broken into study groups – each assigned a topic to research – so they will be prepared for seminar discussions led by Laval faculty members. The students will examine issues such as Social Security reform, the U.S. health-care system, United States-Canada relations and the pros and cons of the American Electoral College.
For their efforts, the honors students will receive one hour of class credit at the completion of the study tour, Patrone said.
Nolan said Quebec was chosen because it is different linguistically and culturally from the rest of Canada, so it would provide more of a learning experience for the students.
"Quebec's history is very different," Nolan said. "In fact, it used to be called New France. They have always considered themselves to be very distinct, somewhat embattled, but also very proud. And they have a much different attitude about language than the United States does. All of their citizens are expected to be bilingual."
Nolan said this immersion in the French language will be beneficial to students.
"An experience like this can get students interested in learning another language," he said. "If they have a motivation, it makes it easier."
Brian Harley, director of Purdue Programs for Study Abroad, said the students will be forever changed by this opportunity.
"After an experience like this, a transformation does begin to take place," he said. "The students start to feel more flexible, more comfortable with such things as making a phone call overseas or watching foreign films, as they build their international competencies. That's why we want them to have this experience early, so it will benefit them throughout their years at Purdue, as well as the rest of their lives."
Nolan wants students to come away from the visit to Laval not only with a lot of personal memories, but also with a fresh way of looking at current problems.
"Through this experience, the Purdue students will not only teach the Canadians how we deal with issues such as health-care policy or Social Security, but we will gain the knowledge and appreciation that our way is not the only way of doing things," Nolan said. "Hopefully, this program will teach them it's not only what you know that's important, but what questions you ask."
The Office of the Provost is paying the entire cost of the first trip. If the pilot program is successful, Nolan hopes to make the visit to Laval an annual event, start an exchange-student program with the Canadian university and possibly expand the program to include other countries.
Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Sources: Riall Nolan, (765) 494-9399, rwnolan@purdue.edu
Brian Harley, (765) 494-2383, bharley@purdue.edu
Catharine Patrone, (765) 464-2906, cpatrone@purdue.edu
Dennis Moore, public affairs officer for Consulate General of Canada, (313) 446-7039, dennis.moore@international.gc.ca
Bob Genereux, supervisor of Canadian Border Services Agency/Citizenship and Immigration, Canada, (519) 257-6464, bob.genereux@cic.gc.ca
Terrie Romano, vice consul of immigration for the Consulate General of Canada-Detroit, (313) 446-4732, terrie.romano @international.gc.ca
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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