USAC Program, University of Lüneburg
Wright State is one of several American members of the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) , which has campus programs in 17 countries. What follows is a description of the USAC program in Lüneburg, Germany.
THE PROGRAM - The Lüneburg program began with 20 students and has grown to between 30 and 40. Wright State's first student in the program, German major Becky Bruce, attended for a spring semester. Since then Kim Ricks (summer), David Tedford, Mary Arvai (fall), and David Southworth (fall & spring) have participated.
Students have the option of living in a dormitory or with a family. The dorm has the advantage of requiring no commuting and putting the student in close touch with German students in a residential group called a WG (Wohngemeinschaft). Living in town requires a bus or bike ride, but students may enjoy getting away from campus. They may also prefer the home environment of living with a family.
The USAC program is geared toward helping the student adjust to university life in a new culture. USAC participants are met at the Hamburg airport and taken to the dorm or home that can be prearranged by the program. They are paired up in a "buddy system" with a German student who has studied abroad and is aware of the needs of foreign students. The university's foreign students regularly get together in a downtown café for a party in which the USAC students participate. The full-time director is always available for guidance and assistance.
Upon arrival, each student who has had some German takes a language placement test. It is also possible for students with no German background to begin language study in Lüneburg and make tremendous strides through intensive courses. In each semester, the group also takes a four-day trip to a major cultural attraction, generally Berlin .
While the opportunity exists for advanced American students to attend some classes with German students, most of them will take their courses with the USAC staff and students. The USAC academic year parallels that of American universities, while the German year does not. The German winter semester runs from October to February, the summer semester from April to July.
THE DIRECTOR - Since 1995, USAC's administrative director in Lüneburg has been Frau Eva Vosshagen , a native German with extensive study abroad experience and a desire to help American students understand the subtle cultural differences that they will encounter in Germany. She has a Master's degree in linguistics and teaches language courses in the program. Frau Vosshagen works closely with Professor Müller-Rummel of the University of Lüneburg, (a University of Florida Ph.D.), Dr. Carmelo Urza, USAC coordinator at the University of Nevada-Reno, and whichever American visiting professor is currently in residence at USAC-Lüneburg.
THE UNIVERSITY - The University of Lüneburg, like other USAC member schools abroad, is relatively new, small, in a small to medium-sized city (66,000), and not far from a major cultural center: Hamburg is a 1/2-hour train ride away. The university is pleased to have the connection to USAC and is impressed with the academic quality of the program. Apparently, the Germans consider many American study abroad programs to be nothing but glorified vacations.
The new campus on the edge of town is a former military base that has been totally remodeled. The three-story red-brick buildings serve as dormitories and apartments, classrooms, and labs, including one dedicated to foreign language study and one with computers that provides each student with an e-mail account. (This allows students fast, easy, and cheap communication with friends and family back home.) Two large drill areas of the former army post have been turned into green space. The center of the campus is a new student union complex that connects the snack bar, large lecture halls, the student services wing, and the library via a glass arcade . Another new building houses the Mensa , a very reasonably-priced dining hall.
THE CITY - Lüneburg is a beautiful North German city that retains a medieval center undamaged in WW II. Most of the old homes have been renovated. Unlike many towns whose historic buildings are acquired by businesses, these are still available as private residences, which contributes to the very livable quality of the city. Much of downtown is closed to automobile traffic, and bicycles are very popular. Twice a week there is a farmers market in the center of town, next to the town hall , the origins of which date to 1240. The "tavern district," popular with students, is really but two parallel streets of inns and cafés, many of which survive from the 14th-16th centuries, when Lüneburg was a wealthy salt trading city in the Hanseatic League .
Anyone desiring more information about any of the USAC programs can contact the University Center for International Education, E190D Student Union, 775-5745 or visit the USAC Web site .