MSU President M. Peter McPherson was appointed Monday to head a national study abroad commission that will grant scholarships and aim to increase participation in study abroad programs at universities across the country.
McPherson said the appointment, which was bipartisanly supported by members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, will give him a chance to expand students' opportunities to learn outside the United States.
"I am a huge advocate of very large study abroad programs in universities throughout the country," he said. "The portion of students going abroad should be much larger."
McPherson's appointment to the 17-member Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program Commission will allow him to increase participation in programs he has advocated during his presidency, said Kathleen Fairfax, director of the Office of Study Abroad.
"He's made study abroad one of the hallmarks of MSU," Fairfax said. "He's known and respected around the nation for his efforts. His appointment raises MSU's stature among colleges across the country in terms of our level of expertise."
During his presidency, McPherson has participated in congressional committees and public forums outside of MSU to increase awareness and participation in study abroad, Fairfax said. Because of his efforts, the MSU program has grown 192 percent since the beginning of his stay at the university, she added.
McPherson's efforts at MSU are now acknowledged nationally, said Howard Gobstein, associate vice president for governmental affairs.
"It's a recognition of the leadership MSU has had in study abroad and a recognition of President McPherson's leadership on our campus," he said of the president's appointment. "He has been very much involved in the national association of study abroad and helping to develop ideas for scholarships for study abroad programs."
On the commission, McPherson will give many more students the chance to study abroad while granting scholarships to individuals and university programs, Fairfax said. The commission will have a budget between $500,000 and $1 million, McPherson said.
McPherson said he is looking forward to the part-time position on the commission, even though he has yet to decide his future plans. McPherson will step down from the presidency on Jan. 1, 2005.
"This is something I am happy to be able to do regardless of my function in the future," McPherson said. "We will have hearings around the country and hope to engage the academic community broadly in this program."
