Peer Advising

Study Abroad Peer Advisor Program (SAPAP)

This program aims to foster study abroad at Wilkes by creating opportunities for students who have studied abroad to share their experiences with their peers who have not had similar experiences. SAPAP also has as an additional goal to provide an outlet for returning students to share their study abroad experiences with the entire campus, including their peers who have been on similar trips and our international students, especially those from the countries they just visited. Such sharing ensures that the returning students will have the opportunity to further reflect on their overseas experiences in ways that expand those experiences, even after they return. Many study abroad specialists also suggest that such airing of experiences also helps to ease the returning students back into their normal routines, especially if the discussions involve analyses of what it means to be an American and a global citizen in the context of the students’ recent experiences overseas.

Specifically, Study Abroad Peer Advisors (SAPAs) will work with the Director of the Center for Global Education and Diversity to:

·       Develop and implement strategies for informing the Wilkes University Community about study abroad,

·      Be available to prospective study abroad students to facilitate the study abroad application process for them and to provide them with useful information that would make their trips more educationally enriching,

·      Host study abroad events such as the spring and fall study abroad fairs, study abroad information sessions and manage the study abroad table on Club Days,

·      Share study abroad stories/experiences with prospective Wilkes students during Open houses,

·      Organize speaker forums that bring together students and faculty with international backgrounds and/or interests to discuss various topics on global issues,

·      Help maintain a study abroad blog for Wilkes students who are currently overseas, and

·      Maintain a list and an electronic discussion forum for all students who have studied abroad, including interested alumni.

If you are interested in serving as a SAPA or you are interested in studying abroad and wish to meet with a SAPA, contact:

Dr. Godlove Fonjweng, Director Center for Global Education and Diversity

Room 200 Max Roth Center

Phone: 570-408-2065            Email: godlove.fonjweng@wilkes.edu