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• All Whitman study abroad participants are required to complete an evaluation of their program(s) and experiences abroad upon their return from studying abroad, via the study abroad Program Evaluation.
• The Program Evaluation is a vital tool in Whitman’s ability to monitor the quality of academic programs abroad and to obtain feedback from students about the value of their experiences away.
• Students will receive the form from the Office of Global Programs by email around the time that their program concludes.
• Students must complete the Program Evaluation by the stated deadline. Your study abroad program credits will not be transferred to your Whitman academic record until the evaluation is received.
• With student consent, Program Evaluations will be made available to other students who are exploring their options for study abroad.

Where should my OCS transcript be sent when my program is complete?

Official OCS transcripts should be sent directly from your program to Whitman in one of the following ways:

Emailed to: offcampusstudies@whitman.edu

Mailed to:
Office of Global Programs, Mem 205
345 Boyer Ave.
Walla Walla, WA  99362 USA

Why might a program transcript be delayed?

Delay for Whitman to receive an study abroad program transcript is usually due to one of the following reasons:

• The study abroad program is waiting for grades for some of your grades to be submitted by the foreign faculty or foreign university. 
• The student owes money to the program for an outstanding bill or fine (eg library fine, lost key, room damage). Programs will not release student transcripts until payment for all outstanding bills has been received.
• Whitman students are required to complete their Program Evaluation form prior to study abroad credits being transferred to Whitman.

How long does it take for Whitman to post OCS credits on the Whitman record once a transcript has been received? 

Once Whitman receives a transcript from your study abroad program, processing typically takes 2–4 weeks, depending on the workload of Global Programs and the Registrar. 

Whitman students returning from study abroad are encouraged to enroll in INDS210: Global Returns: Critical Engagements After Study Abroad, a 2-credit mini course specifically designed for study abroad students to reflect upon and process their experiences abroad the semester that they return to campus.

Related Global Curriculum at Whitman: Global Studies Concentration

Whitman students returning from study abroad are encouraged to consider sharing about their experiences away via one or more of the following opportunities:

• Apply to be a student worker intern in the Office of Global Programs. Responsibilities include assisting with the Study Abroad Fair, presenting about study abroad at various events, creating digital global stories, and assisting Global Programs staff with special projects. Inquiries should be directed to offcampusstudies@whitman.edu.
• Volunteer with the local community for activities related to your study abroad experience such as tutoring non-native speakers of English or sharing about your study abroad experiences in the public schools.

Numerous fellowships and grants are available for undergraduates after graduation. According to the Fellowships and Grants team in the Career and Community Engagement Center, students who have studied abroad have an advantage in applying for national and global fellowships that send graduating seniors and alumni abroad—including the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, Watson Fellowship, Marshall Scholarship, Mitchell Scholarship, Rhodes Scholarship and Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Scholarship.

• The most important thing students can do in preparation for these opportunities is to work closely with faculty and the internship or volunteer supervisors in their study abroad country, and to discuss with them projects or research areas the student might want to pursue, were they to return on a fellowship.
• A Fulbright applicant pursuing graduate study or a creative project can significantly enhance their application by supplementing it with a letter of institutional affiliation. This is a letter from a contact abroad who is interested in working with a student at their institution, should they return on a Fulbright grant.
• We strongly suggest that students interested in post-graduate experiences abroad be sure to keep detailed contact information (full name, email, telephone, mailing address) of all contacts abroad who might be able to support your plans for returning to the host country, or be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you.
• Students interested in post-graduate fellowship opportunities should visit the Fellowships and Grants website for more information. Please contact staff well in advance (if possible, more than a year before applying) in order to have time to plan a competitive application.

The Office of Global Programs recommends that students who wish to pursue an international career consider working abroad within the first few years after graduation.

Working outside the United States can be incredibly rewarding for recent college graduates. Not only can it be a springboard for an international career and the development of intercultural communication skills, but it can also help graduates gain professional experience, improve foreign language abilities and become more self-reliant. And, of course, graduates who work outside the United States get to make friends in a new community and see the world!

Each year Global Programs and the Career and Community Engagement Center co-sponsor a Work Abroad Workshop and Post-Study Abroad Resume Building Session. Some of the handouts used in the workshop are found below:

• Work Abroad and Volunteer Abroad Organizations
• Example of Internationalized Resume
• Post Study Abroad Reflection Exercise by Dr. Bruce LaBrack
• Do You Have What It Takes To Work Abroad?