proposal---rough draft

Executive summary: It seems as if everyone these days is encouraging students to study abroad, especially Clemson. Studying in an unfamiliar place has great benefits for a student. He or she gets to see the world and immerse himself in a new culture while continuing to study. Clemson University offers multiple options for a student to study abroad. Taking advantage of such opportunities can be confusing, however, considering the seemingly endless amount of information. I hope to make the process of considering a study abroad program to be a less daunting task. By making the information more accessible and less complex, I can help more students take advantage of Clemson's study abroad program. As  a student considering the study abroad option at Clemson, I personally have an investment in the success of my proposal.

Introduction: If a university goes to the trouble of formulating a program for its students to participate in, would it not want the students to take advantage of it? Clemson provides many opportunities in many different locations for students to learn in a new environment. Nearly every adult I have spoken with declares that he/she thinks all students should at least spend some amount of time overseas. Students also have voiced their opinion about how important spending a semester studying abroad can be. With the complexity and somewhat time-consuming task of planning to spend a semester abroad, many students feel as though they have neither the time nor energy to experience it. I have heard multiple complaints about the the difficulty in navigating the Study Abroad website, as well as unanswered questions regarding the whole process. By interviewing both employees of the study abroad office as well as students who have participated in the program, I will do my best to answer some of the issues perplexing prospective study abroad participants. By researching the various programs and brochures, I will also provide the information in a more easily understood format.

Body: After visiting the study abroad fair, I found myself to be more than a little overwhelmed. There are so many available programs and different locations, deciding where and when to go is a difficult question to answer. My fellow students have complained of how the study abroad office is not very helpful, and that their website is hard to navigate. Many students have questions as to how a semester abroad would affect their major, as well as if their financial aid will carry over to studying abroad. There are various scholarships available to those who wish to study abroad, but how to go about getting them is confusing. I have several friends who have participated in the study abroad program, and I am considering the program myself, making me a credible source for making this proposal. I plan on interviewing both students who have participated in the program, as well as those considering it in order to get a good idea of the types of questions students have.  I also plan on talking to the employees of Clemson who specialize in the study abroad program. Talking with academic advisors is also key as to answer questions of how majors will be affected. After researching some of the programs and getting questions answered by reliable sources, I plan on condensing this information in an easy to access format, such as a pamphlet or a webpage.

Conclusion: If Clemson wants students to participate in its Study abroad program, there needs to be better ways to access information, as well as having the said information easier to understand. Through my investigation, I hope to make the study abroad program something within every student's reach if they wish to take the opportunity to experience something new in an entirely different environment.