Global opportunities have long been a part of the Pacific University experience, and they are on the rise.
The number of Pacific students studying abroad rebounded after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, students went go to Italy, Nepal, London, and Hawai'i, while Pacific hosted students from Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Japan, among other places.
The new Global Scholars program integrates global perspectives into the study of any major and provides a free or low-cost travel course for participating students. In January 2023, the group went to Tahiti.
President Jenny Coyle highlighted the role of global experiences in her March 2023 inaugural address, noting her dream of expanding cross-cultural experiences for Pacific Univeristy students. Her dream, she said, is that every student would have the opportunity for an — affordable — immersive experience.
In tandem, Pacific launched the President’s Global Education Fund, supporting opportunities for students to “experience other lands and cultures, practice language skills, and gain a wider perspective as global citizens” — just like these students and alumni.
"I remember being so nervous to meet my host family, especially since my language skills were a work in progress. But chocolate helps everything! As does being vulnerable and taking the first step to get to know someone. People can be so kind and wonderfully surprising — I'm thankful to my host family for showing me that every day."
"Looking back on my time in York, it was the happiest, most formative experience I could remember from being at Pacific. The relationships I gained and the sense of self and identity that came out of my time in York were pivotal for who I am today. The opportunity to study abroad is one I would take over and over if I had the chance. I got to be completely independent and search for my own adventures on my own time and in my own way. I learned how to be with myself and others in a way that was new to me and I highly encourage anyone to seek similar opportunities if they arise."