Promotion of the Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act

            Both traditional and nontraditional study abroad students are strongly encouraged to examine the late Senator Paul Simon’s 2008 Study Abroad Foundation Act.  The Study Abroad Foundation Act will affect all college students as it proposes a push for nearly one million US international study abroad students by the year 2020.   In 2008 this bill was endorsed by the majority of the House as it is also gained support by many college universities around the United States.   If the bill is signed into law and reaches its target number of students then it will become a societal norm in the US to study internationally, while proving to be a strategic advantage for those students who do choose to study in a foreign country.  According to Senator Paul Simons Website the goal of this act is to, “establish an innovative public-private partnership which would create a more globally informed American citizenry.”  The website later states that this partnership will be achieved by increasing the number of study abroad students, encouraging diversity in developed and developing countries, while making abroad study a societal norm in higher education.  The late Senator Paul Simon’s website also offers students various work and internship opportunities in which they can partake in while overseas.  This bill perfectly addresses the fact that students today are entering a more inter-connected world and must be prepared for the changes which loom right over the horizon. The Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act could prove to be a difference maker in US society, if passed, as students now should partake in the study abroad experience which could be enjoyed by a majority of college students in the very near future.