May 18, 2008

SAS Quarterly e-Newsletter

Come see us at the NAFSA Conference

Semester at Sea Launches C.Y. Tung Program in Sino-U.S. Relations

The Semester at Sea C.Y. Tung Program in Sino-U.S. Relations is a timely and integrated study of Chinese and U.S. relations to begin with the spring 2010 voyage. The program will be led by distinguished faculty in residence from the University of Virginia, Fudan University in Shanghai, China, and Yale University. Students, scholars, and prominent figures will explore together the history and cultures of China and the United States, while considering how to ensure productive relationships between the two in the future. The curriculum will include rigorous courses on Chinese and American relations, history, culture, economics and diplomacy; visits from distinguished Chinese and American lecturers; excursions to educational and cultural sites in China; and scholarships for Chinese and American students.

The program is in honor of C.Y. Tung, a founder of the Institute for Shipboard Education and Chinese shipping magnate who believed “ships should carry ideas as well as cargo.”

Semester at Sea Announces a "Greening" of the Ship Sustainability Initiative

To further its commitment to green practices and to reduce the impact of the MV Explorer on the global environment, Semester at Sea has announced the launch of a “Pathway to a Green Ship” sustainability initiative. The goals of the initiative are to decrease energy consumption, to lessen environmental impact, and to create a culture of environmental learning and sustainability for Semester at Sea participants. With the support, commitment, and leadership of alumni and other interested donors, the greening initiative will entail technical upgrades, operational improvements, integration of curricular activities, sustainability awareness programs, the exploration of innovative renewable energy technologies, and the establishment of a carbon offset program.

Under the leadership of Mark White, an associate professor of commerce at the University of
Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce who will serve as the Spring 2010 academic dean, the ship
will become a living laboratory for the exploration of global sustainability and environmental issues as
integral components of the curriculum.

2009-2010 Financial Aid and Scholarship Information

Semester at Sea and the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) provide $3.25 million in aid to students each year. Awards range from $500-$10,000 (including over 50 work grants) in order to assist as many students as possible for each voyage. Approximately 40 percent of Semester at Sea participants receive ISE scholarships or work grants each year. Semester at Sea offers need-based, merit and diversity scholarships. These awards can be stacked and each student’s application is measured against the applicant pool, not federal guidelines or Pell eligibility. Other aid sources include Federal Stafford Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Perkins Loan, Parent PLUS Loan, and alternative loans. For details, visit www.semesteratsea.org/affordability.

Semester at Sea Announces SAS/Diversity Abroad Scholarship Recipients

Diversity Abroad is the leading global education organization serving underrepresented students pursuing international education opportunities. Recently, Semester at Sea partnered with Diversity Abroad to offer new scholarships to students wishing to study abroad with Semester at Sea. Candidates were asked to submit video essays to YouTube addressing the question: "Why is it important to study abroad with students from diverse backgrounds?" The Summer 2009 recipients of the Semester at Sea/Diversity Abroad scholarships have been announced on our website, where you can also click to see many of the video applications. Click here to see the Summer 2009 Diversity Abroad Scholarship Recipients.