Guest Blog Series about Study Abroad (Part 1)

Posted July 20, 2016 by Katie Olivo

We have a special guest blog post this week by current SLIS student, Hanna Soltys.

Hanna Soltys is beginning her second year in SLIS with a focus on archives management. Since moving to Boston, she’s learned to like seafood and loves games at Fenway despite being an STL Cards fan. She believes tea, laughter, and a good book can cure any ailment.

From A to Z: Finding a SLIS Study Abroad Program

Guest Blogger: Hanna Soltys

Every start of the semester when learning about other students in the class, it’s inevitable. It’s the one thing tying a vast majority of us students together:

We all love to travel.

Yet, I was shocked to learn most of my classmates weren’t aware they could study abroad as LIS students, even if they weren’t interested in the programs Simmons offered. After looking through a couple options at SLIS, I didn’t find one that spoke to me, and met with my advisor (Prof. Bastian) to see what my options were (if any). She introduced me to a SLIS Study Abroad rep where I was told to find a program from another ALA-accredited school and petition for credit.

Made a beeline for the ALA site and began clicking through schools to see what programs they offered. A few sounded interesting: one in Prague, one in Paris…yet something was missing to make me draft an email and begin my program inquiry.

And then it happened when I got down to the “W” section with the very last school listed (as of October 2015). It was on this last click that I found a match with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and their “In the UK Archive” program – a 2-week intensive study in Scotland gaining firsthand experience at education and governmental archival institutions.

I immediately contacted the organizers to see what course materials I could receive to help with my petition for credit. A past syllabus, program write-up (from their website), and email correspondence sufficed when I met with Asst. Dean Em Claire Knowles to gain approval. This was extremely beneficial to make sure you don’t apply to the program and pay the application fee only to learn the credit won’t transfer to Simmons. I also worked with the Simmons Study Abroad Office to see which parts of the application I was still responsible for as an external study abroad applicant, and I will be responsible for submitting my transcripts from the University of Wisconsin.

Finding a program was much easier than I originally thought when I went off the Simmons grid and the process was quite invigorating to see all the types of LIS-based international opportunities. And speaking of going off the Simmons grid, I’ll share my Scottish adventures upon my return, including my time with a Whisky Archivist in the famous Scottish Highlands.

Note: The author understands study abroad is a costly endeavor for some and places barriers to participate. This post explores how to begin finding programs and working with Simmons Study Abroad.