"While I was sad my time in Italy was cut short, I am immensely grateful I went abroad when I did." Madeline Allen OU in Arezzo Spring Semester 2020
EDUCATION ABROAD: PANDEMIC STORIES The pandemic presented great challenges for
By spring 2021, there appeared to be a light at the
Education Abroad. In March 2020, EA was tasked
end of the tunnel, as EA successfully sent five OU
with bringing all study abroad students home amid
students to study in South Korea. Select summer
safety concerns, travel restrictions and lockdowns.
2021 programs have since been green-lit, and the
Study abroad programs for summer and fall 2020
future of OU study abroad looks bright.
were also eventually canceled due to the virus. But staff and students alike adjusted quickly to the
What follows in this section are stories from center
situation. Education Abroad hosted its first-ever
directors and students about a study abroad year
Virtual Study Abroad Fair and debuted the virtual
disrupted. In each of these stories, there is
versions of Italy Week and Mexico Week, two
disappointment and sadness, but there is also
popular biannual events that feature activities
gratitude, hope and the sense that these
related to OU's international study centers, OU in
experiences have taught us resilience and
Arezzo, Italy, and OU in Puebla, Mexico. Study
adaptability. The Education Abroad staff looks
Abroad advising also transitioned to a virtual
forward to serving more students both virtually and
system, and the EA staff developed an interactive
in-person in future semesters. We can't wait to see
chat feature for their website in order to improve
them thrive as they explore the world.
communications and recruitment.
WWW.OU.EDU/CIS • SPRING 2021 • COMPASS: PANDEMIC EDITION
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