Going Beyond the Hill: Deepening Our Commitment to Off-Campus Study

Recognizing off-campus study as a formative aspect of a student’s educational and personal experience, we offer more than 200 programs in 60 countries that accommodate students’ academic goals and schedules. 

Currently, over half of Denison’s junior class engages in off-campus study. And with the popularity of recently-added majors like Global Commerce, in which off-campus study is a core component, we expect to garner even higher participation going forward. 

At Denison, the ultimate goal is to ensure that off-campus study is accessible to every student who desires it. Thanks to philanthropic support, students are not burdened with additional tuition costs when they study abroad. Longtime champions of this mission, Stephen Polk ’78, P’17, and Bobbi Polk P’17, have made a lasting impact through the Polk Family Endowed Fund for Study Abroad and the newly established Polk Director for Off-Campus Study.

“Because of generous donors like the Polk family, more students—regardless of financial background—are able to access the life-changing experiences that come with studying off campus,” says Katy Crossley-Frolick, Executive Director of the Center for Global Programs.

For the first time in our program’s history, a cohort of 14 QuestBridge scholars had access to this life-changing experience. The QuestBridge program connects high-achieving students from low- and-middle-income backgrounds with the nation’s most selective colleges and universities. In 2021 Denison became one of just 55 QuestBridge partner schools in the country.