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Families

Dear Parents and Family Members,

Thank you for supporting an academic endeavor that many students in the College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts rank among the most significant and rewarding experiences of their time at the University of Michigan.

Study abroad is an opportunity to experience other cultures, languages, lifestyles, and ways of looking at the world. It is a chance for students to earn academic credit and make progress toward their major, distinguish their resumes, build meaningful connections with people around the world, and learn about themselves in different and potentially challenging contexts.

The Center for Global and Intercultural Study, known around campus simply as "CGIS," offers a wide range of programs to address the diverse academic and personal needs of students. As part of UM’s commitment to provide equal access to all programs for underrepresented students, CGIS partners with a variety of units in LSA and across the UM system to enhance support for underrepresented students. This includes students with financial concerns, students with physical disabilities, students of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and students who identify as part of the LGBTQ community.

CGIS works with faculty, staff, and departments across the College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts to ensure the academic excellence of our programs. Participating in a CGIS program guarantees LSA students that the credits they earn abroad will count as in-residence credit, just as if they had taken their courses here in Ann Arbor. Participating in a CGIS program is also the only way to access the funds available through LSA's Global Experience Scholarship, which distributes over $1 million annually to LSA undergraduates studying abroad.

CGIS staff here at the University and our on-site partners around the globe are professionals in the field of international education who care deeply about your student and work tirelessly to address their individual needs and concerns before, during, and after their learning abroad experience. Whatever program your student has chosen, we hope the information on this site helps you understand their experience and helps you provide the support they need to succeed in this experience.

If you or your student have questions about our programs, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,
Dr. Michael S. Jordan, Director
Center for Global and Intercultural Study