Study Abroad Programs
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences supports the Study Abroad
Office to aid students who plan to study at approved foreign institutions
or in programs of their choice other than those offered by departments
within the college itself. The option is open not only to students
in LAS, but also to students in other colleges within the University.
A student's program for study abroad must have prior approval from
the major department, the student's college, and the Study Abroad
Office. Final determination of appropriate credit is made upon the
student's completion of the work after returning to campus. LAS students
are encouraged to consult with an Assistant Dean in the LAS Student
Affairs Office (270 Lincoln Hall) before undertaking programs abroad
to ensure their work overseas will be in conformity with University
of Illinois courses.
Students register in LAS 299 and may earn a maximum of 18 hours
in a semester, 8 hours in a summer session, 36 semester hours for
the academic year, or 44 hours for the calendar year.
Four LAS language units sponsor programs abroad that are not restricted
to language majors: the Department of French (one semester or academic
year study in the Illinois Program in Paris); Department of Germanic
Languages and Literatures (one semester or academic year in Vienna,
Austria); Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese (an academic
year at the University of Barcelona); and the Department of East
Asian Languages and Cultures (an academic year at Konan University
in Kobe, Japan). In addition, the LAS College sponsors a limited
number of summer session I courses at overseas sites for advanced
work in majors and languages each May.
Interested students should contact the appropriate department
early in the fall semester prior to the year in which the overseas
study is planned to receive details of course prerequisites, GPA
requirements and costs.
Transition Program
Established in 1986, the Transition Program is a campus sponsored
academic support program designed to provide assistance to a group
of 100 students admitted to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
who have the potential to succeed at the University. Many factors
are considered. Placement is based on the strength of an applicants
high school background, including the degree of difficulty of courses
selected, the record of academic achievement, special or unique accomplishments
both in and out of the classroom.
These bright and talented students are admitted to the University
through the Educational Opportunities Program and placed into the
Transition Program that is housed in the College of Liberal Arts
and Sciences (LAS) where they will receive developmental academic
support for two years. After students have successfully completed
four semesters in the Transition Program, they have an admission
space reserved in the College and/or curriculum of their choice
if they are in good academic standing ("C" average and
better) and have completed the required core courses for admission
to that College and/or curriculum.
The Transition Program is divided into two major components: the Summer
Bridge component and an academic year component. Both components provide
the students with:
- Intensive academic and career counseling.
- Extensive academic and personal support services plus opportunities
to enroll in support-based sections of existing courses.
- Comprehensive developmental skills enhancement and enrichment
activities.
Selection of Students and Placement in the Transition Program
Only those students who officially apply to the University in the
prescribed manner and who meet established campus and program deadlines
for application will be considered for admission through the Educational
Opportunities Program (EOP) and placement into the Transition Program.
Admission decisions are the joint responsibility of the Director of
the Office of Admissions and Records and the Director of the Transition
Program, acting on behalf of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
General Criteria for Placement in the Transition Program
Comprehensive review of all information in the students application
including both academic and personal achievement is required to determine
his/her eligibility for the program. An interview with Transition
Program staff is required before an admission decision can be reached.
Bridge Placement
Students who meet Summer Bridge criteria will be required to complete
Program designed placement tests followed by a personal interview
with Transition Program staff before an admission decision can be
reached. Eligibility of Summer Bridge participants to continue Fall
enrollment is contingent upon acceptable academic performance in the
Summer Program and recommendation by the Director(s) of the Transition
Program.
Other applicants may be invited or required to participate in
the Transition Program or the Summer Bridge Component if, in the
judgment of the Director of Admissions and the Director(s) of the
Transition Program, such participation is necessary for the applicant's
success at the University.
Summer Bridge Component
Each summer, 50 of the 100 selected for placement into the Transition
Program are required to participate in a six-week residential summer
session on the Illinois campus sponsored by the College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences which engages these students in intensive course
work in mathematics, composition, and basic skills development. In
addition, Summer Bridge participants are provided with a variety of
cultural enrichment activities and orientation to University resources,
support services, and campus living.
The Summer Bridge experience is provided at no cost to the students.
Each participant receives institutional financial assistance to
cover the cost of tuition, room, board, and books. In addition,
with the exception of students who will participate in intercollegiate
athletics and who are not eligible for such added financial assistance
under National Collegiate Athletic Association regulations, each
participant will receive a stipend of a modest weekly allowance
and a lump-sum payment at the end of the summer session.
The Value of the Summer Bridge Experience
Each Bridge participant must successfully complete all course work
("C" or better) before gaining admission for the fall semester.
The Bridge experience offers students an invaluable opportunity to
get a head start on their undergraduate education and to make important
adjustments to the multiple demands of college life. Those students
who have completed the Summer Bridge experience affectionately refer
to this as "Boot Camp." Indeed, the demands are rigorous,
but each student learns the difference between getting by and getting
ahead. At the end of Summer Bridge, each student fully understands
the relationship between hard work and success in the college classroom.
The Summer experience makes a difference - a significant difference.
Academic Year Component
Each fall, the successful Summer Bridge participants join the newly
admitted 50 Transition freshmen, along with 100 returning sophomores
to make-up the Transition Program population. Immediately, each of
the 200 Transition students is assigned a Graduate Advisor who is
a graduate or professional student at the University. Each Graduate
Advisor is responsible for providing academic, career, and personal
counseling to a group of twenty students; each student is required
to meet with his or her Graduate Advisor at least once a week. The
Graduate Advisors, along with the Director and Assistant Director
of the Program, carefully monitor the academic progress of the students
daily to ensure their success.
In cooperation with various departments and colleges on campus,
the Transition Program sponsors special sections of existing courses
that are tailored to meet the students' individual needs. These
courses are small and allow for extensive teacher/student interaction;
in addition, the instructors for Transition sponsored courses meet
regularly with the Program staff and submit weekly reports on the
progress of the students. At no cost to the students, additional
academic support is provided by the Office of Minority Student Affairs
(OMSA).
Additional Information
Contact the office of the director of the Transition Program, College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 270 Lincoln Hall, 702 South Wright Street,
Urbana, IL 61801, (217) 244-1588 or 1-800-TOP BEST (867-2378).
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