Looking forward to 2021- 2022 Study Abroad by Cole Kuczek Hamilton’s study abroad program is a capstone of many students’ educational endeavors throughout their four years on the Hill. Hamilton offers hundreds of programs for off-campus study, both domestic and international, including DC, Spain, China, and others affiliated with the college. Every semester, the Office of Off-Campus Study (OFSA) has hundreds of students walk through their doors, seeking to explore an education away from Hamilton’s campus.
Unfortunately, this semester’s programs were indefinitely affected by the pandemic. More than 200 students normally go abroad each semester, and the OFSA saw that number dwindled down to just five students. This past semester these students studied abroad in Iceland, Senegal, and through the Arcadia program. The most heartbreaking, a DIS program, was cancelled just a week before the group was about to leave due to stricter border control from the pandemic. In sum, this semester was plagued by serial uncertainty for abroad student hopefuls.
But the OFSA is looking hopefully toward future semesters. The OFSA admits that there will still be much uncertainty for next semester, but by the Spring 2022 programs should be all set to go. With many Hamilton students and many individuals globally getting vaccinated, there is hope that students will be able to travel abroad next fall.
