Despite Tough Economic Times, Diverse and Underrepresented Students in IES Abroad Study Programs Continue Strong Growth

CHICAGO, April 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a result of the IES Abroad Diversity Initiative, students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups attending IES Abroad study abroad programs grew by 9.4% for the Fall 2009 term and 13.5% for the Spring 2010 term. Currently, diverse and underrepresented students are roughly 19% of IES Abroad's total student body.

IES Abroad, which offers academic programming at more than 32 locations worldwide to students from U.S. colleges and universities, defines diverse or underrepresented students as members of a racial or ethnic minority, a low-income student, a first-generation-to-college student, and/or someone who has demonstrated a history of overcoming adversity.

IES Abroad had record-setting numbers of underrepresented students attending its programs during the current year -- 385 in the Fall 2009 term (out of a total 1,861 students) and 370 in the Spring 2010 term (out of a total of 2,141 students).  

"We are extremely pleased with the increasing numbers of underrepresented students in our programs, particularly during a period of great financial challenge for students and their families. IES Abroad continues to look for new ways to introduce more underrepresented students to the life-changing experience of studying abroad," said Dr. Mary Dwyer, president and CEO of IES Abroad. "Our goal is simple -- to make studying abroad possible for every student at all our partner schools."

As part of its diversity initiative, IES Abroad employs a full-time diversity coordinator, the only study abroad provider to do so. IES Abroad also publishes its Global IDEA Series (Initiative to Diversify Education Abroad) brochures for underrepresented students and their parents.  Brochures include: "International Education: A Path to Your Career"; "A Parent's Guide to Study Abroad" -- available in English and Spanish; and "A Student's Guide to Study Abroad".

Brochures and information about financial aid and other resources for diverse students can be found at: https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/Diversity/diversity.html.

IES Abroad, which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2010, is a global, not-for-profit academic consortium offering study abroad programs to more than 5,000 U.S. college students each year who participate 92 programs at 32 international locations. IES Abroad offers programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand and South America. www.iesabroad.org

SOURCE IES Abroad