Global Engagement for Academic Excellence
We strive to cultivate study abroad opportunities that enhance students’ academic and intellectual growth by engaging with global perspectives across disciplines. By integrating study abroad with Holy Cross’s liberal arts foundation, we ensure that students expand their academic core through rigorous, cross-disciplinary inquiry and immersive, real-world application of their field of study. These programs allow students to embrace complex global issues, strengthening their intellectual curiosity and fostering critical global awareness.
High-Impact, Inclusive Access
Study abroad is a hallmark of high-impact learning, and we recognize the need to ensure equitable access for all students. We are committed to removing financial and structural barriers to participation so that every Holy Cross student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to benefit from the transformational power of global experiences. By tailoring programs to diverse students’ needs and aspirations, we uphold our mission to provide life-changing academic opportunities for all.
Engaging Grand Challenges as Global Citizens
Holy Cross students who study abroad are uniquely positioned to encounter and address pressing global challenges—whether they concern sustainability, public health, ethics in technology or social justice. We will intentionally design programs that emphasize interdisciplinary learning, encourage critical engagement with global issues and challenge students to act as ethical stewards of the common good. By bringing the Holy Cross liberal arts model to an international stage, our students become active participants in tackling our shared challenges.
Transformative Learning Through Integration and Reflection
Study abroad offers students an unparalleled context for integrating academic knowledge with personal growth, cultural competency and lived experience. We commit to crafting immersive programs that integrate rigorous academic inquiry with meaningful cultural engagement, empowering students to develop the adaptability, agency and self-awareness necessary for lifelong learning. Reflecting the Jesuit principle of cura personalis (care for the whole person), we encourage students to reflect on their experiences abroad to gain insight into their responsibilities as global leaders.
Ethical Global Citizenship and Sustainability
Aligning with our commitment to holistic sustainability — including environmental stewardship, ethical engagement with host communities and respect for cultural heritage — we will guide students to approach their global education thoughtfully and responsibly. We emphasize a framework of mutual respect, reciprocity and accountability in all study abroad partnerships and seek to integrate sustainability principles into every aspect of study abroad, preparing our students to navigate an increasingly interconnected and fragile world with care.
Jesuit Identity at the Heart of Global Engagement
Inspired by the Jesuit values of faith, service, justice and the pursuit of knowledge, we commit to centering the Holy Cross mission in all our study abroad initiatives. Our programs promote ethical engagement with diverse communities, foster dialogue around difference and inclusion and prioritize compassionate service. Through study abroad, we instill in students a sense of purpose and hope, encouraging them to live as agents of justice, peace and transformative change across cultural and geographic boundaries.
