Director of Global Education
Roger Adkins, Ph.D.
207-859-4503
[email protected]
Grossman Hall 101
Global Education Opportunities (GEO)
Global Education Opportunities (GEO) facilitates the intentional selection of semester or academic year global learning experiences for Colby College students. GEO ensures that Colby students fully leverage the transformative, high-impact value of immersive, site-based learning experiences in their academic, professional, and personal lives. In collaboration with other units in DavisConnects, an array of partner organizations and institutions across the U.S. and around the world, and Colby’s own academic departments, centers, labs, and institutes, GEO prepares Colby students for a lifetime of critically informed professional and civic engagement with people of diverse nationalities and backgrounds.
GEO Precepts
Global learning experiences at Colby College should be:
- intentionally selected, rigorous, and integral segments of a Colby student’s overall academic journey
- immersive pathways to enhanced intercultural understanding, deep cultural learning and, in most cases, increased knowledge of a language other than English
- profoundly transformative experiences that may include various combinations of site-based academic study, civic engagement, internships, academic and/or applied research, projects undertaken for local organizations, field study, and other high-impact opportunities
- accessible to every eligible student – both academically and financially – through close partnership with academic departments, academic advisors, career design advisors, and Student Financial Services
Meet the GEO Team
We oversee a robust portfolio of credit-bearing programs, both international and domestic. Students planning to study away begin the advising and application process in our office at the start of their sophomore year. In collaboration with academic advisors, faculty liaisons, and career design advisors, we strive to provide students with thoughtful guidance and reliable support throughout the entire process.
Associate Director of Global Education and International Fellowship Opportunities
Allyson Hawkins, MA
207-859-4505
[email protected]
Grossman Hall 103
Administrative and Program Coordinator
Sue Forbes
207-859-4500
[email protected]
Grossman Hall 100
Our Collaborators
GEO works with offices across campus to make study abroad and study away experiences possible for our students.
- Access and Disability Services – accommodations during study away
- Pugh Center – supporting students of diverse backgrounds as they pursue opportunities to study abroad or away
- Registrar – course approvals, transcripts
- Student Financial Services – scholarships, grants, budget sheets
In addition, GEO collaborates with over 90 international colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations that support our students around the world during their semester or year off campus.
Colby Programs
Global Entry Semesters
Colby in Dijon
Colby in Salamanca
Colby at Bigelow Laboratory
All Approved Programs
Choose from over 270 programs in more than 70 countries worldwide.
Event Calendar
The key to having a successful global learning experience is to spend time researching possibilities, thinking about your goals, considering your plans, and talking to others. We encourage you to speak to returned study away participants, GEO advisors, your academic advisor(s), and your career advisor. The more people you speak with, the more research you do, and the more thought you invest in choosing your program – the better your ultimate choice will be. We begin working with students as sophomores to plan for an off-campus experience for their junior year or senior fall. We hold regular events and have an application cycle wherein students submit their proposed study abroad/away plans for approval.
Overview of Our Cycle
August:
- Global Entry Semester Orientation (on-campus)
September:
- GEO information sessions
- GEO Fair
November:
- Study Abroad Initial Plan due
February:
- Study Abroad Final Plan due
February – October:
- Students apply externally to study abroad opportunities and domestic programs
Other Global Opportunities
Internships
Internships, including volunteer opportunities, provide insight into an industry and career pathway of interest at an off-campus job site and are monitored by an onsite work supervisor affiliated with the organization. Students typically also work with a Colby College faculty member if seeking academic credit for the internship. Colby students complete in-person internships in the Waterville area during the academic terms (and in certain study abroad and study away programs during the semesters as well), but full-time engagement during JanPlan and summer break can take place anywhere in the world.
Independent Study or Research Projects
An independent study is an individual project in an area where you have demonstrated the interest and competence necessary for independent work. In most cases, only juniors and seniors (and/or those who have taken the appropriate coursework within their discipline) will be approved to undertake an independent study. Typically, an independent study course or independent research project will be overseen by a Colby faculty member, and you and the faculty member will develop the plan and the syllabus together. You can pursue independent study and/or independent research anywhere in the world. Start by contacting the faculty members with whom you would like to work.
Faculty-Led Jan Plan Courses
One of the options for Jan Plan is to join a faculty-led course that includes study-related travel to other parts of the United States or to one or more other locations around the world. Academic departments will be your first point of contact. Courses will be listed in early September and will include info session dates and contact information for faculty leaders.
Short-Term Study Abroad Programs (Providers and Universities)
As defined by Colby College, a “study abroad program” is an experience in which a non-Colby third party charges tuition or a fee to facilitate experiential learning or training. Funding through DavisConnects is reserved for short-term study abroad and language immersion programs (like those offered by CIEE, CET, or SIT). In addition, only seniors and rising seniors who have financial need (as determined by SFS) and have not been able to participate in a semester study abroad program will be considered for DavisConnects funding for a JanPlan or summer program. While we do not keep an official listing of JanPlan and summer study abroad programs, you might look at our semester program listing and then check the websites of our program partner organizations for offerings that fit your schedule.