A Broader View

Image

Each year, University of Arizona students trade familiar hallways for far-flung horizons, joining a study abroad community that transforms curiosity into global understanding.

“Traveling gives you a chance to learn different perspectives — from other people, the nature of a place and the food of a region,” says Giselle Gomez, a pre-nursing undergrad and study abroad peer adviser. “People become more open-minded when they travel.”

Image

For Gomez, studying in Italy was a dream realized. “I was able to learn the language, immerse myself in Italian culture and make a lot of friends,” she says. The experience, she adds, expanded her worldview.

Now, the world of global travel is opening even wider for Wildcats. A $20 million gift from the Garcia Family Foundation is fueling a major expansion of the U of A’s Study Abroad program, bringing life-changing international experiences within reach for thousands more students.

For fellow peer adviser Mia Chavez, a criminal justice major, travel has long been a family tradition. Curious about Asian history, she studied in South Korea — an experience that pushed her beyond her comfort zone. Today, she feels more confident and at ease connecting with others. “Travel really helps you have an open mind and learn about different cultures,” she says.

With the new funding, the university plans to triple study abroad participation — from about 1,700 students annually to more than 5,000 by the end of the decade. That growth outpaces national trends: according to the Institute of International Education, nearly 300,000 U.S. students studied abroad in the 2023–24 academic year, a 6% increase from the year before.

The U of A offers more than 100 study abroad programs in over 39 countries along with 140 global tracks designed to align with specific degree requirements. Programs range from short-term, faculty-led experiences to semester-long immersions, all proven to support student success through higher GPAs, increased retention and stronger leadership skills.

Those outcomes align closely with the university’s strategic priorities, says Harmony DeFazio, executive director of Study Abroad. “One of our core imperatives is success for every student — helping them graduate in four years while having the most impactful experiences possible,” she says.

Learning while abroad extends well beyond the classroom, DeFazio adds. “As a holistic experience, study abroad deepens academic engagement and is a powerful retention tool because students are so transformed by it.”

Students are drawn to programs for many reasons — tracing heritage, pursuing specialized academic interests or seeking cultural immersion. Once a destination is chosen, a robust support system helps students plan logistics, align coursework and stay on track for graduation.

Affordability remains a key barrier, however. “Finances have always been a challenge,” DeFazio says. Many programs allow students to pay standard U of A tuition and remain eligible for financial aid, but for some, even that is not enough.

That is where the Garcia Family Foundation gift is transformative. The need-based scholarships — up to $7,000 per student — can determine whether participation is possible at all. “It’s helping us move the needle in making study abroad accessible,” DeFazio says.

For thousands more Wildcats, the world is no longer out of reach — it is waiting.