Last week approximately 250 students attended UW-Platteville’s Study Abroad Fair. Information about academic opportunities available across the world for students was the focus of the event.

The fair was held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 30 in the Platteville North and South rooms of the Pioneer Student Center.

The fair experimented with a new organizational layout this year.

“In previous years, the fair was set up as a walk-through setting which was effective,” said Donna Anderson, Director of the Institute for Study Abroad Programs. “But this year the ballroom setting should bring more interested and committed students.”

Assistant Director of the Institute for Study Abroad Programs, Russ Braby, said another change made was inviting the provider organizations to have booths, in addition to the booths for each country.

The Study Abroad Office, which sponsored the fair, invited STA Travel to provide information about airfare cost estimates, an employee of the Platteville Post Office to explain how to apply for a passport, a representative from the Financial Aid Office to talk about financial aid opportunities and a representative from affiliated program providers to answer questions about their study abroad experiences.

Katie Hierlmeier, mechanical engineering major, said she is considering going to Australia because they have 36 schools to choose from with many opportunities in her field, and because students are able to receive financial aid from UW-P.

The Study Abroad Office is aiming to raise the percentage of students who study abroad from 10 percent to 25 percent, and will be hosting another study abroad fair in February.