About CCC SOAR
The Center for Global Education at California State University, Dominguez Hills, in collaboration with California Colleges for International Education was awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Education, Title VI, International Research and Studies Program, for the California Community College Student Outcomes Abroad Research (CCC SOAR) Project. This project builds upon recent research that confirms a significant impact from study abroad on student international learning as well as overall retention and progress towards degree completion at four year colleges and universities. Since more than half of all U.S. higher education students attend community colleges, this is a population needing additional focus in study abroad research. CCC SOAR will survey study abroad students at a variety of community colleges in California before, during, and after their study abroad experience.
CCC SOAR will provide comprehensive research on international learning outcomes at California community colleges, which represent half of all students who study abroad at the community college level in the U.S. The overall goal of the CCC SOAR project is to identify whether students in community colleges who participate in study abroad programs achieve higher learning outcomes than those who do not. CCC SOAR findings will provide answers to the questions: "Does study abroad result in international learning and how does that impact community colleges and their students” with findings supported by research on student international learning outcomes from study abroad participation for students in California community colleges. In turn, this will impact all community college stakeholders and their support for study abroad.
Resources for Faculty & Staff
Along with the research on the impact of study abroad on California Community College students the CCC SOAR Project will also be collecting content that will assist faculty and staff implementing study abroad programs at their community college. This includes information about Program Development and Implementation, Sample Forms, and Study Abroad Office Information.
We have listed all California Community College study abroad homepages in addition to some study abroad organizations who support community college study abroad so you can explore the variety of programs currently in use. In addition to these resources two organizations that are of particular importance are the California Colleges for International Education and the California Community Colleges Student Outcomes Abroad Research (CCC SOAR) project which examines the relationship between study abroad at the community college level and learning outcomes, retention, and success with a special focus on students from diverse backgrounds. More information on CCC SOAR can be found at http://globaled.us/cccsoar/ We invite you to search for information and use the resources found in the menu on the left.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Questions or requests for additional information about the CCC SOAR Project can be sent to:
Dr. Gary Rhodes, Director
Center for Global Education
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH)
College of Extended Education and International Education
1000 East Victoria Street.
Carson, CA. 90747
Telephone: (310) 980-6971
Email: grhodes@globaled.us
If you are interested in sharing information and resources on program development and administration at the community college level, please contact us.
About CGE
The Center for Global Education promotes international education to foster cross-cultural awareness, cooperation, and understanding. Living and working effectively in a global society requires learning with an international perspective.
We promote this type of learning by collaborating with colleges, universities, and other organizations around the world to:
- create new and enhance existing study abroad programs
- integrate an international and intercultural perspective into the US educational system
- increase the ethnic diversity of participants in study abroad and provide special resources to support their participation;
- provide information to better prepare students and other travelers for their experience abroad; and
- encourage research in the field of international education.
