The SMCCCD Study Abroad Program, housed at Skyline College, participated in the Northern California Study Abroad Consortium (NCSAC) to send a total of 15 students to Barcelona, Spain, of which three students were from Cañada College, seven students from College of San Mateo and five students from Skyline College. The total cohort of 97 students in the NCSAC departs for Spain on September 12, 2015 for a semester-long study abroad program and returns back stateside December 11, 2015.
Skyline College Instructor Ilana Crispi from the Social Sciences/Creative Arts Division will teach four courses in Barcelona – History of Western Art II, Drawing I, Drawing II and Life and Culture of the Local Area – Spain. Crispi’s History of Western Art II course was the most popular and reached maximum enrollment from students across the four community college districts that participate in the NCSAC. A total of 81 students out of the 97 are enrolled in one or more of the Skyline College courses offered in Barcelona.
Other participating districts in the NCSAC include Contra Costa Community College District, Los Rios Community College District and Sonoma County Community College District. The program is offered in partnership with service provider American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS). San Mateo County Community College District has participated in the consortium since 1986.
A pre-departure orientation was held for all students and had over 100 students and their families in attendance on August 15, 2015 at Diablo Valley College. We also want to congratulate two students: Ariana Finato and Yareli Torres. They are both from the College of San Mateo and were selected to receive $1,000 from AIFS and $500 from SMCCCD Foundation Study Abroad Scholarship. As part of their scholarship, they will blog about their experiences in Barcelona on a weekly basis to be shared on the Study Abroad Program’s Facebook page. Skyline College community members interested in the study abroad experience can follow their experiences on the SMCCD Study Abroad Facebook page. For more information on the Study Abroad Program, please contact Zaid Ghori at ghoriz@smccd.edu.
Article and Photo by Zaid Ghori
