Give


    faculty-led trip challenge page header

    Day 5: Faculty-Led Trip Challenge
    December 5, 2025
    faculty led trips

    24 Donors toward a 50-donor goal!

    The Washington College experience offers a number of opportunities for short-term faculty-led travel for credit. Students leave these courses deeply impacted for the better. For many, it is their first time traveling without family, and for some it may be their first time on a plane or leaving the country. These experiences have a deep and lasting impact in creating the global citizens and leaders celebrated by the mission of Washington College.
    • More than 1000 students have participated in these and similar programs over the past 20 years.
    • Students engaged in faculty-led study abroad are retained at a rate above 96%, more than 10 points higher than the average retention rate.
    • These students double-major at a rate about 5 points higher than the average student.
    • Once graduated, these alumni give back to WC at a rate 20 points higher than the average graduate.
    Each of these courses cost an additional fee on top of standard tuition at the college. For some students, the cost is entirely inhibitory and the students who can benefit the most from these experiences are often “priced out” of participating.

    The Faculty-Led Trip Fund is a new resource that provides stipends to students to support their participation in courses like these:
     
    Cuba Music and Culture
    Tropical Ecology of Costa Rica
    The Bermuda Environment
    Environmental Studies in Ecuador
    International Business Experience (various locations)
    International Languages and Cultures, East Asia

    Each trip is detailed in the tabs below and the photos above offer glimpses of what the participants experience. As part of December Do Good days, we are working towards a goal of 50 donors for this new fund. When we hit that number, we unlock $3000 in additional support from a generous couple, Drew ’76 and Carol Gruenburg. Drew and Carol went on the alumni version of the Cuba trip earlier this year and very nearly signed up to go again this January. It was a life changing experience for them and they are aiming to pay it forward. Join them and help unlock this vital support.
    Loading...