MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State University students are continuing to enroll in record numbers in the school’s study abroad programs.

During 1999-2000, 438 students traveled to nations on every continent for academic work leading to their degrees.

“This is 25 more than the record for 1998-99,” said Jim Coffin, director of Ball State’s Center for International Programs.

For that year, the Chronicle of Higher Education ranked Ball State eighth in the nation among doctoral institutions in the number of students earning academic credit in a foreign country.

Word-of-mouth is one of the reasons study abroad enrollment is increasing, Coffin said.

“I believe students are coming back and raving about their experiences and what they learned,” he said. “Also, our own marketing efforts are improving.”

The duration of the programs range from three weeks to a year. One exemplary program, said Coffin, was an around-the-world trip sponsored by the College or Architecture and Planning in which 41 participants traveled to Europe, Egypt, Southeast Asia, the Far East and Latin America. More information on that program can be found at www.bsu.edu/World2000.

Faculty who are interested in leading a study abroad program should contact Coffin or Yuki Kurosawa in the International Programs office at 285-5422.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Coffin by e-mail at jcoffin@bsu.edu or by phone at (765) 285-5422.)