Overseas Study Receives Three-Year Grant

Bloomington, IN. The Indiana University Office of Overseas Study has received a $225,000 grant over the next three years from the Edward L. Hutton Foundation that will help fund new short-term study abroad programs, reducing program fees for students.

"Mr. Hutton’s grant will make it possible for us to make our newest programs more affordable for IU students who might not have been able to study abroad otherwise," said Kathleen Sideli, director of the Office of Overseas Study and associate dean of International Programs. "Given the current economy, the shrinking value of the dollar abroad and the pressure on the campus budget, his generous gesture is greatly appreciated by those of us who know the impact study abroad will have on students’ lives and careers."

This year, the grant will lower student fees by 10-15 percent for new summer programs in Dakar, Senegal, Amsterdam, Paris-Photography, London-Theatre and an intersession program in Oaxaca, Mexico in December/January. These programs, which will now be part of the Edward L. Hutton Expanding Horizons Programs, will be led by IU faculty members who will accompany the groups and supervise the academic programs. In subsequent years, the grant will enable the development of additional programs.

Hutton, currently Chairman of Roto-Rooter, Inc. and Omnicare, grew up in Bedford, IN and earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at IU. After completing his master’s, he served in the U.S. Army in Germany. When the war ended, he worked in Berlin and negotiated several trade agreements, helping to rebuild the German economy. This early experience in Europe inspired him to fund opportunities for IU students to study abroad.

In addition to the new $225,000 grant given to Overseas Study, Hutton also created the Edward L. Hutton International Experiences Program in 2000. Administered by the IU Honors College, the program has helped finance study abroad experiences for over 400 IU students. His support for such opportunities stems from his strong belief that students should be exposed to other cultures, broadening their global perspective.

The Office of Overseas Study is a leader among universities in students who study abroad with over 80 programs in 33 countries. Over 1,500 students study abroad each year, taking advantage of summer, semester and academic year programs all over the globe.

For more information about this funding, please contact Kathleen Sideli at (812) 855-1139. For more information about Overseas Study, contact the office at (812) 855-9304 or visit the Web site: www.indiana.edu/~overseas.