University Suspends Ampersand Program Funding for International Travel: Impact on Student Life and Opportunities

This year, the University has decided to cut funding for the Ampersand Program’s international travel. Many professors and students feel that travel is a key part of the Ampersand experience. While some courses may still secure funding through departmental resources or outside grants, many trips have had to be canceled altogether.

The Ampersand Program offers multi-semester seminars and experiential learning for first-year students. It covers topics across various fields, combining coursework, research, and field trips, some of which include international travel.

Erin McGlothlin, the Vice Dean of Undergraduate Affairs, emphasized that travel is just one part of what the Ampersand Program offers. “We still have high-impact learning planned for the fall and spring,” she mentioned. Programs now focus on community engagement and research alongside experiential learning.

Many students agree that travel enhances their learning. Kathryn Wilson, director of the Democracy and Myth in Ancient Greece program, highlighted how crucial these trips are. “The trip really ties together what students learn during the year,” she said.

Chris Erdman, who runs the Rome: The Eternal City? program, added that being at historical sites makes the material feel real. “It’s one thing to read about Roman democracy; it’s another to stand in the forum where it all happened,” he explained. He noted that it’s hard to replicate that experience in any other way.

Students also feel the pinch from these budget cuts. First-year student Caroline Goldstein mentioned that some classmates considered dropping their Ampersand class when the Morocco trip was canceled. “It was a big deal for them,” she said. The situation forced professors to rethink how they would engage students without international travel. Some programs, like the Literary Culture of Modern Ireland, shifted to domestic travel instead. First-year Paulina Reznikova was optimistic, saying, “Chicago can teach us about modern Irish American culture too.”

Ampersand programs have historically provided first-time travel opportunities for many students. For students from low-income households, these experiences can be life-changing. Nivek Witt, a sophomore in the Democracy and Myth program last year, described his trip to Greece as a unique opportunity that would have been financially impossible otherwise.

Junior Ava Giere reflected fondly on her time in Ireland, recalling specific locations and experiences that enriched her studies. “The trip was the highlight of my freshman year,” she shared. For her, it made the coursework exciting.

While some trips are being canceled, there are still calls for transparency. Reznikova pointed out inconsistencies in funding, questioning why some programs still receive support while others do not. “What’s the rationale?” she asked.

The cut in funding remains a hot topic. Although University officials did not provide specifics, there seems to be uncertainty about future travel plans. Erdman expressed hope that some trips could return in the coming years. “This isn’t just a vacation; it’s an educational experience,” Wilson said, emphasizing the importance of these trips in making learning more tangible.

Recent studies show that experiential learning can significantly enhance understanding and retention of material. A report by the National Survey of Student Engagement found that students who engage in experiential learning report higher satisfaction and academic performance. As these budget cuts unfold, the long-term effects on student engagement and satisfaction will be crucial to watch. For now, whether international trips will return remains uncertain, but the importance of these experiences is clear.

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