Each year, 25% of the student population, approximately 700 St. Olaf students, spend time studying off-campus in a foreign country or in another part of the United States. Compared with all other private liberal arts colleges in America, St. Olaf has the greatest participation rate in off-campus programs.

On September 14, the International and Off-Campus Studies office hosted an Interim Abroad/Off-Campus Open House for students interested in leaving St. Olaf during January 2001. There was information about thirty programs as diverse as the Manhattan Art Interim and Aboriginal Cultures in Australia. It is impossible to distinguish one program as the most popular, but Theater in London, Classical Studies in Greece, and the new Great Conversation program in Italy rank very high on the list, according to Kathy Tuma, Assistant Director of International and Off-Campus Studies.

Because enrollment in the interim programs is increasing and because registration for the 2001 programs began last spring, several of them are already filled. But there are still many to choose from if students wish to travel during the month of January. For those that missed the Open House, information about the 2001 abroad interims can be found at the International and Off-Campus Studies office located in Manitou Cottage. The deadline for applications is October 11.